Serge Robert
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 "Uncle Serge" in French. HistorySerge Robert began his career as the first official bassist for Les Colocs in 1990, replacing Marc Déry.[1][2] His tenure was marked by creative tensions with frontman André "Dédé" Fortin, who opposed Robert’s desire to pursue outside projects.[1] Financial concerns also contributed to his departure in 1995.[1] After leaving, he played in Les Quarts de Rouge and Les Blaireaux before launching his solo career as Mononc' Serge.[3] Mononc’ Serge first developed his musical persona on the community radio station CIBL, where he created irreverent songs inspired by current events.[4] His early success led to his debut album, Mononc' Serge chante 97 (1997).[4] His provocative and often vulgar humor became a defining feature of his work.[4] 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.[5] 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.[4] The collaboration proved popular, leading to the release of a live DVD, La Pâques Satanique.[4] 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.[4] Unlike their previous collaboration, this album focused on original songs with a consistent heavy metal sound.[4] 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).[4] In interviews, Mononc' Serge explained that while his stage persona is crude and provocative, he personally considers himself a reserved and polite individual.[4] However, he continues to embrace controversial lyrics, believing that vulgarity and satire can coexist with thoughtful social commentary.[4] Return to Topical Satire: Mononc' Serge 2015In 2014, Mononc' Serge returned to writing songs inspired by current events for the television show Ce show, hosted by Mike Ward on MusiquePlus.[6] He later adapted this approach into online video segments for Voir.[6] 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.[6] While continuing his characteristic irreverent style, some songs adopted a more reflective tone, addressing issues such as freedom of speech and political discourse.[6] Mon voyage au Canada: 15 Years LaterFifteen years after its release, Mon voyage au Canada remains one of Mononc’ Serge’s most unique and memorable albums.[7] Blending folk, rock, and sharp humor, the album takes listeners on a musical journey across the country, highlighting Canada’s quirks and contradictions along the way.[7] The project began as a songwriting challenge on CIBL, with the goal of creating songs inspired by each province and territory.[7] While some tracks directly reference specific places, others (Fourrer, Fini d’chier) are more loosely connected.[7] Initially, Mononc’ Serge planned to keep the lyrics relatively clean, but as the project evolved, his signature raw and unfiltered style took over.[7] The album includes fan favorites like Marijuana, which received strong airplay, and Destruction, a powerful rock anthem.[7] Over the years, Mon voyage au Canada has remained a standout in Mononc’ Serge’s discography, showcasing his ability to mix music, humor, and social commentary in a way that still resonates today.[7] Discography
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