Mononc’ Serge

Mononc' Serge (born Serge Robert, 1970) is a Québécois musician and poet known for his satirical songs about politicians, local celebrities, and social issues. His lyrics often mix humor with sharp criticism, particularly of the Quebec federalist movement and Canadian politics. "Mononc' Serge" translates to "Unc Serge" in French. Serge Robert began his career as the first official bassist for Les Colocs in 1990, replacing Marc Déry. His tenure was marked by creative tensions with frontman André "Dédé" Fortin, who opposed Robert’s desire to pursue outside projects. Financial concerns also contributed to his departure in 1995. After leaving, he played in Les Quarts de Rouge and Les Blaireaux before launching his solo career as Mononc' Serge. Mononc’ Serge first developed his musical persona on the community radio station CIBL, where he created irreverent songs inspired by current events. His early success led to his debut album, Mononc' Serge chante 97 (1997). His provocative and often vulgar humor became a defining feature of his work. His 2001 album Mon voyage au Canada (My Trip to Canada) features one song for each Canadian province and territory, mostly poking fun at each of them. The project began as a songwriting challenge on CIBL. In 2003, Mononc' Serge partnered with the thrash metal band Anonymus to release L'Académie du massacre, an album featuring heavy metal versions of his existing songs alongside a few new compositions. The collaboration proved popular, leading to the release of a live DVD, La Pâques Satanique. By 2008, growing fan demand led Mononc' Serge to reunite with Anonymus for a second album, Musique barbare, this time composed entirely of new material. Unlike their previous collaboration, this album focused on original songs with a consistent heavy metal sound. The lyrics tackled a variety of themes, from drug use at Woodstock en Beauce to self-deprecating reflections on his own artistic style (Tout l'monde se crisse de Mononc' Serge). In interviews, Mononc' Serge explained that while his stage persona is crude and provocative, he personally considers himself a reserved and polite individual. However, he continues to embrace controversial lyrics, believing that vulgarity and satire can coexist with thoughtful social commentary. In 2014, Mononc' Serge returned to writing songs inspired by current events for the television show Ce show, hosted by Mike Ward on MusiquePlus. He later adapted this approach into online video segments for Voir. His 2015 album, Mononc' Serge 2015, marked a return to political and cultural satire, featuring songs about figures such as Philippe Couillard, Pierre Karl Péladeau, and Stephen Harper, as well as broader topics like media coverage and social tensions. 1997: Mononc' Serge chante 97 1998: Mourir pour le Canada 1998: Mononc' Serge chante 98 2000: 13 tounes trash 2001: Mon voyage au Canada 2003: L'Académie du massacre (with Anonymus) 2006: Serge Blanc d'Amérique 2008: Musique barbare (with Anonymus) 2011: Final Bâton DVD recorded Live in Montreal 2010.12.28 and Quebec 2010.12.29 (with Anonymus) 2012: Ca, c'est d'la femme! 2013: Pourquoi Mononc' Serge joues-tu du rock'n'roll? 2015: Mononc' Serge 2015 2017: Révolution conservatrice 2019: Réchauffé 2020: Réchauffé II 2021: L'an 8000 2024: Métal canadien-français (with Anonymus) Rioux, Maxime (10 June 2010). "Souvenirs d'un authentique ex-«Coloc»". L'Express (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2025. Dolbec, Michel (21 December 1994). "Les Colocs tentent leur chance au pays de leur idole Boris Vian". BAnQ (in French). La Tribune. p. 6 (B6). Retrieved 22 January 2025. "Serge Robert tient à sa liberté". BAnQ (in French). 15 August 1999. p. B3. Retrieved 17 March 2025. Montminy, Marie-Josée (5 December 2008). "La double personnalité de Monnoc' Serge". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 18 March 2025. Cormier, Sylvain (9 September 2001). "Expérience de fédéralisme extrême Mononc'Serge réinvente la chanson d'humour politique féroce. Faire réagir est sa mission. Coûte que coûte". BAnQ. Québec, QC: Le Devoir. p. C7. Retrieved 17 March 2025. Boisvert-Magnen, Olivier (8 September 2016). "Il y a 15 ans : Mononc' Serge – Mon voyage au Canada". Voir.ca (in French). Retrieved 18 March 2025. Blais, Marie-Christine (6 June 2015). "Mononc' Serge, l'homme qui plantait du monde". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2025. Canada portal Music portal Culture of Quebec Les Colocs Music of Quebec