"Formidable" (translated in English also as formidable, synonym of tremendous, impressive) is a song written and produced by Belgian singer Stromae. The song was released as a digital download in Belgium on 4 June 2013 as the second single from his second studio album Racine carrée (2013). The song entered at the number 1 spot the week of its release in Belgium and reached number 1 in France. It was his most financially successful single since "Alors on Danse" in 2009.
Music video { "type": "ExternalData", "service": "page", "title": "Formidable.map"
On 21 May 2013, amateur videos surfaced on YouTube showing Stromae apparently drunk and wandering at the Louise/Louiza tram and metro station in Brussels during the daybreak, which eventually went viral. It was revealed days later that the incident was part of the taping for a music video; this was confirmed during the TV programme Ce soir (ou jamais!) on France 2 in which Stromae discussed and also performed "Formidable", which is about the story of a drunk man just separated from his girlfriend.
The video, taken by cameras hidden around the station, appears to show a drunken, disheveled, and distraught Stromae stumbling around the station, shouting snatches of the song's lyrics at passersby, falling down, and on several occasions appearing on the verge of stepping into traffic. Onlookers are shown recording the incident with their cellphones, but only one person intervenes to prevent Stromae from sitting in the path of an oncoming tram. The music cuts off abruptly as three policemen, unaware that this is a taping, approach Stromae to assess his wellness and to inquire if he has been drinking. Stromae reassures them, and the video resumes. In the video's final scene, Stromae leaves, followed by his camera crew, and displays that his drunkenness was only an act by grinning into the camera, straightening his clothing, and clicking his heels. The video is subtitled "ceci n'est pas une leçon" ("this is not a lesson").
The video won the award for the "Music video of the year" category at the 2014 Victoires de la Musique.
Track listing
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts + 2013–2014 weekly chart performance for "Formidable" Chart (2013–2014) Peakposition Belgium (Ultratop Flanders Urban) 1
+ 20232025 weekly chart performance for "Formidable" Chart (2023–2025) Peakposition Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) 70
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "Formidable" Chart (2013) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 7 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 2 France (SNEP) 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 85 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 55 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 59 Chart (2014) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 63 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 48 France (SNEP) 42
Certifications
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Release history + Release dates and formats for "Formidable" Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Belgium 1 June 2013 Digital download Mosaert iTunes - Music - Formidable - Single by Stromae
Cheyenne Toney cover
On 6 December 2013, during the fourth live show of the fourth season of the Dutch television programme The Voice of Holland, Dutch singer Cheyenne Toney performed a cover of "Formidable". She sang her own written cover, with lyrics translated from French to Dutch. Her version of the song reached the peak position in the Mega Single Top 100 (charting higher than the original) and the eighteenth position in the Dutch Top 40.
Charts + 2013 weekly chart performance for "Formidable" (Cheyenne Toney version) Chart (2013) Peakposition
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "Formidable" (Cheyenne Toney version) Chart (2013) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 156
Arabic version A Maghrebi Arabic version of the song by Moroccan Canadian performer Nadia Essadiqi was an internet hit in October 2015.La "formidable" reprise de Stromae en arabe par une chanteuse québécoise, La Libre Belgique, 30 October 2015. Accessed 14 December 2015. On 17 November, she went on to perform the song live on the VivaCité radio chart show Tip TopEagles of Death Metal, Louise Attaque & La Bronze c'est dans le Tip Top de ce 17/11, VivaCité website, accessed 14 December 2015. and on Le Petit Journal (Canal+).La Bronze « Formidable » - Le Petit Journal du 17/11 , Canal+ website, accessed 14 December 2015.
Noam Bettan cover On 17 January 2026, Israeli singer Noam Bettan performed the song during the thirty-second episode of the twelfth season of the Israeli reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa. This version peaked at number 71 on the official Mako Hitlist Israeli Chart.
Charts + Chart performance for "Formidable" (Noam Bettan version) Chart (2026) Peakposition Israel (Mako Hitlist) 71
References
External links