Tonight Stromae headlines a sold out Madison Square Garden as the first non-English speaking performer, but doesn't make him immune to San Francisco traffic laws, as the Belgian pop star got pulled over while on the other coast for trying to perform the song "Ave Cesaria" in the back of a truck.
The misunderstanding was cleared up quickly, but they did have to continue the video as stationary performers, due to their lack of seat belts.
Stromae was just breaking down all the instrumental parts to the song as part of a video series "Stromae Takes America" premiered by Billboard, when the cops caught the band.
"We're going to get pulled over," the band's drummer yelled out in French.
"Are you serious?" Stromae yelled. "Sh*t dude, ball breakers!"
However, that didn't stop the band from performing a stripped-down version of the pop song. With just an acoustic bass, an accordion, some percussive instruments, many hand caps and a cavaquinho, which Stromae described as a small guitar, the band perched up on the now parked truck and gave the song the feeling of an American backyard jam session.
The bed of the truck shook the camera as the band dressed in matching vests and bolo hats stomped and clapped their way through the song on the hot day, with Stromae dancing in a head-to-toe floral suit weaving in and out of the small remaining spaces of the truck.
What Stromae has accomplished is something short of a miracle. With no singles or albums really infiltrating the American charts he's managed to become the first French speaking pop artist to headline Madison Square Garden all while garnering a sold out crowd. Janelle Monae and Jidenna will join him on stage Thursday night (October 1) for the performance, marking a high point for the Belgian artist as he's attempted to gain a foothold in the U.S. music market.
Watch the San Francisco edition of the video series below via Billboard.
