Charles Trenet (May 18, 1913, Narbonne, France – February 19, 2001, Créteil… Read Full Bio ↴Charles Trenet (May 18, 1913, Narbonne, France – February 19, 2001, Créteil, France) was a French singer and songwriter, most famous for his recordings from the late 1930s through the mid-1950s, though his career continued through the 1990s. In an era in which it was exceptional for a singer to write his or her own material, Trenet wrote prolifically and preferred to record his own songs.
Some of his best known songs include "Boum...!", "Y'A D'La Joie", "Que Reste-T-Il De Nos Amours?", "Ménilmontant", and "Douce France". His catalog of songs is enormous, numbering close to a thousand. While many of his songs mined relatively conventional topics such as love, Paris, and nostalgia for his younger days, what set Trenet's songs apart were their personal, poetic, sometimes quite eccentric qualities, often infused with a warm wit. Some of his songs had unconventional subject matter, with whimsical imagery bordering on the surreal. "Y'A D'La Joie" evokes "joy" through a series of disconnected (though all vaguely phallic) images, including that of a subway car shooting out of its tunnel into the air, the Eiffel Tower crossing the street and a baker making excellent bread. The lovers engaged in a minuet in "La Polka Du Roi" reveal themselves at length to be "no longer human": they are made of wax and trapped in the Musée Grévin. Many of his hits from the 1930s and 1940s effectively combine the melodic and verbal nuance of French song with American swing rhythms.
Other artists have had hits with some of Trenet's songs, such as the American Bobby Darin's success with "Beyond the Sea" ("La Mer"). Darin's version preserved the charming chording of Trenet's original which the author dashed off in about an hour in 1946 as an homage to the French coastline, once again free of battleships and the scars of World War II.
Other Trenet songs were recorded by such popular French singers as Maurice Chevalier, Jean Sablon, and Frehel.
Some of his best known songs include "Boum...!", "Y'A D'La Joie", "Que Reste-T-Il De Nos Amours?", "Ménilmontant", and "Douce France". His catalog of songs is enormous, numbering close to a thousand. While many of his songs mined relatively conventional topics such as love, Paris, and nostalgia for his younger days, what set Trenet's songs apart were their personal, poetic, sometimes quite eccentric qualities, often infused with a warm wit. Some of his songs had unconventional subject matter, with whimsical imagery bordering on the surreal. "Y'A D'La Joie" evokes "joy" through a series of disconnected (though all vaguely phallic) images, including that of a subway car shooting out of its tunnel into the air, the Eiffel Tower crossing the street and a baker making excellent bread. The lovers engaged in a minuet in "La Polka Du Roi" reveal themselves at length to be "no longer human": they are made of wax and trapped in the Musée Grévin. Many of his hits from the 1930s and 1940s effectively combine the melodic and verbal nuance of French song with American swing rhythms.
Other artists have had hits with some of Trenet's songs, such as the American Bobby Darin's success with "Beyond the Sea" ("La Mer"). Darin's version preserved the charming chording of Trenet's original which the author dashed off in about an hour in 1946 as an homage to the French coastline, once again free of battleships and the scars of World War II.
Other Trenet songs were recorded by such popular French singers as Maurice Chevalier, Jean Sablon, and Frehel.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Charles Trenet : 10ème anniversaire
Charles Trenet Lyrics
Bonsoir Jolie Madame J'ai couru dans la nuit vers une humble chaumière. J'ai cou…
Boum! La pendule fait tic-tac-tic-tic Les oiseaux du lac pic-pac-p…
De la fenétre d'en haut Sur la lande chemine Une gamine C'est la fille du facteur El…
Débit De L'Eau, Débit De Lait Dans ma rue, y a deux boutiques Dans l'une on vend…
Douce France Il revient à ma mémoire Des souvenirs familiers Je revois …
Fleur Bleue Un doux parfum qu'on respire C'est fleur bleue Un regard q…
France dimanche France dimanche, sous les branches De l'allée des marronnier…
Il Pleut Dans Ma Chambre Il pleut dans ma chambre J'écoute la pluie Douce pluie de …
J'ai connu de vous Il ne faut pas Madame Que vous passiez sans me voir Non,…
J'ai Ta Main Nous sommes allongés Sur l'herbe de l'été Il est tard, on en…
Je chante Je chante ! Je chante soir et matin, Je chante sur mon…
La folle complainte Les jours de repassage Dans la maison qui dort La bonne n'es…
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) La mer Qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs A des…
La Polka Du Roi Voulez-vous danser marquise Voulez-vous danser le menuet V…
La Route Enchantée Le ciel est plein de joie La nuit est parfumée…
La Vie Qui Va C'est la vie qui va toujours Vive la vie Vive l'amour La …
Le Grand Cafe Au Grand Café, vous êtes entré par hasard Tout ébloui par…
Le jardin extraordinaire C'est un jardin extraordinaire: Il y a des canards qui parle…
Le Noël des enfants noirs Les petits Noirs d'Afrique Ont le même Bon Dieu que nous Ils…
Le soleil et la lune Sur le toit de l'hôtel où je vis avec toi Quand…
Mam'zelle Clio Mam'zelle Clio Mam'zelle Clio Le premier jour je me rapp…
Menilmontant Ménilmontant mais oui madame C'est là que j'ai laissé mon c…
Ménilmontant Ménilmontant mais oui madame C'est là que j'ai laissé mon cœ…
Mes jeunes années Mes jeunes annéesCourent dans la montagneCourent dans les se…
Moi J'aime Le Music Hall Moi j'aime le music-hall Ses jongleurs, ses danseuses légère…
Nationale 7 De toutes les routes de France d'Europe Celle que j'préfère …
Où Sont-Ils Donc? Où sont-ils donc tous ces pays Dont on nous parle dans…
Papa pique et maman coud Je suis né dans un village Près du ciel plein d'oiseaux, J…
Pigeon Vole Amoureux d'une cousine Qui pouvait avoir vingt ans, Je viv…
Que Reste-t-il De Nos Amours Ce soir, le vent qui frappe à ma porte Me parle…
Rendez-vous sous la pluie En pleines vacances Pour moi quelle chance Tu m'avais dit : …
Revoir Paris Revoir Paris Un petit séjour d'un mois Revoir Paris Et me…
Sous le Lit de Lily Oh quelle heure est-il ? Il est midi Qui vous l'a dit…
Tout Est Au Duc Le navire accoste au quai Je vais débarquer Chez le Duc de…
Un rien me fait chanter Un rien me fait chanter Un rien me fait danser Un rien…
Verlaine Les sanglots longs Des violons De l'automne, Blessent mon…
Vous qui passez sans me voir Vous qui passez sans me voir Sans même me dire bonsoir Don…
Y'a D'la Joie Y'a d'la joie! Bonjour, bonjour les hirondelles Y'a d'la joi…