When Alain Bashung was one year old he was sent to the Strasbourg area, in Wingersheim, to stay with his grandparents. He spent his childhood in the country in a conservative environment. When he was five years old he discovered Music most notably Kurt Weill, as he played harmonica. He was also a Choirboy in the church at Wingersheim and played basket-ball. At School he was regarded serious child.
He returned to Paris in 1959, where he discovered the great names of Chanson Française, the radio, American Rock with Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Whilst studying to become an accountant, he started a short lived Band with friends “les Dunces” whose style swong between Folk and Rockabilly. He quickly dropped his studies.
Bashung started a band with musicians met in Royan, a new band playing in Restaurants, Hotels and most of all the American bases. his career started with some difficulties with the release of his first single at 19 years of age “Pourquoi rêvez-vous des États-Unis ?” in 1966. He released a dozen singles, one using the pseudonym David Bergen, and two others. In 1971/1972 under the pseudonym "Hendrick Darmen" compositor and singer of the band “Monkey Bizness”. He wrote a number of songs for stars of the time like Noël Deschamps, but doesn't appear to have reached success.
In 1973, he played Robespierre in the Musical “La Révolution française” written by Claude-Michel Schönberg. He met Dick Rivers the singer of Les Chats Sauvages, for whom he composed and produced music.
He met musician Andy Scott and the songwriter Boris Bergman, and in 1977 wrote his first innovative LP “Romans photos”, though it was a Commercial failure in the context of Punk storming music.
In 1979, he released “Roulette russe”, a very dark and more Rock orientated album.
He confirmed his talent with critical acclaim and public success in 1981, with the rock influenced album “pizza”, mainly with one single from the album “Gaby, oh Gaby” that finally got Bashung success in the charts in 1981 followed by the single “Vertige de l'amour”, and started touring the bigger venues Notably “l'Olympia” in Paris.
In 1982, Bashung collaborated with Serge Gainsbourg on the complex album “Play blessures”, that did not achieve commercial success.
In 1983, he confused his fan base with an album deviating from the previous rock style, “Figure imposée”. In 1985, he came back with a number of titles written for “SOS Racisme” (anti-racism organisation).
In 1986, he released “Passé le Rio Grande”, which won him a “Victoire de la Musique”. Two singles achieved some success over the airwaves: “Malédiction” and “L'arrivée du tour”. However the album itself did not sell much.
In 1992, he started a long partnership with writer Jean Fauque, for “Osez Joséphine”, an album which also contains some cover of classic Rock such as “Night in White Satin”. His fan base grew and the album sold 350 000 copies. In 1994, he followed up with “Chatterton,” collaborating with Sonny Landreth, Ally McErlaine, Link Wray, Marc Ribot and Stéphane Belmondo. The key single extracted from this album is “Ma petite entreprise.” He started a two-year tour that results in the 1995 live album, “Confessions publiques.”
After recording a duet with Brigitte Fontaine "City" for her album "Les Palaces", Bashung returned to the musical world following a stint acting and in 1998 with “Fantaisie militaire”. While making this album in collaboration with Rodolphe Burger, Les Valentins and Jean-Marc Lederman. He will receive three Victoires de la Musique for the Album in 1999.
In 2002, he released the “L'imprudence” album to further critical acclaim. During the same year, he recorded with his wife, actress and comedian Chloé Mons “le Cantique des cantiques”. They created this title for their wedding in 2001, on a music written by Rodolphe Burger and on the basis a a new translation of the “Cantique des cantiques” from the Bible by the Author Olivier Cadiot.
In 2004, he released live double album “La tournée des grands espaces."
In 2005, for the twentieth Victoires de la Musique, he received an award for the best album of the last 20 years for “Fantaisie militaire.”
In the beginning of 2007, he participates in the tour “Les Aventuriers d'un autre Monde” with Jean-Louis Aubert (Téléphone), Cali, Daniel Darc, Richard Kolinka (Téléphone) and Raphaeël.
In March 2009, he recieved three Victoires de la Musique for his last album "Bleu Pétrol".
He passed away on March 14th, 2009 of complications of metastatic lung cancer.
Bruxelles
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aussitôt que Paris me trahi
Et je sens que son amour est gris, et puis
Elle me soupçonne d'être avec toi, le soir
Je reconnais, c'est vrai
Tous les soirs, dans ma tête
C'est la fête des anciens combattants
D'une guerre qui est toujours à faire
Bruxelles, attends-moi, j'arrive
Bientôt je prends la dérive
Michel, te rappelles-tu de la détresse
De la kermesse de la gare du Midi?
Te rappelles-tu de ta Sophie
Qui ne t'avait même pas reconnu?
Les néons, les Léon, les "nom di d'ju"
Sublime décadence, la danse des panses
Ministère de la bière, artère vers l'enfer
Place de Broukère
Bruxelles, attends-moi, j'arrive
Bientôt je prends la dérive
Cruel duel, celui qui oppose
Paris névrose et Bruxelles
L'abruti qui se dit que bientôt ce sera fini
L'ennui de l'ennui
Tu vas me revoir, mademoiselle Bruxelles
Mais je ne serai plus tel que tu m'as connu
Je serai abattu, courbattu, combattu
Mais je serai venu
Bruxelles, attends-moi, j'arrive
Bientôt je prends la dérive
Paris, je te laisse mon lit
In Alain Bashung's song "Bruxelles," the singer addresses the city of Brussels as a lover, expressing his desire to join her soon after feeling betrayed by Paris, his former love. The singer admits to being with Brussels at night, causing Paris to suspect him of betrayal. The lyrics reflect on the singer's memories of Brussels, including the jazz music of "ancient veterans," the "sublime decadence" of neon lights and beer, and the place of Broukère. The singer also mentions a friend named Michel and his kermesse experience at the Gare du Midi. The song expresses a sense of longing for Brussels, as the singer prepares to leave Paris and join her again, even though he will not be the same man she once knew.
Line by Line Meaning
Bruxelles, ma belle, je te rejoins bientôt
The singer is eagerly reuniting with the beautiful city of Brussels soon.
Aussitôt que Paris me trahi
As soon as Paris betrays the singer, he'll head to Brussels.
Et je sens que son amour est gris, et puis
The singer feels that Paris' love is dull and lackluster.
Elle me soupçonne d'être avec toi, le soir
Paris suspects that the singer is with someone else, possibly in Brussels.
Je reconnais, c'est vrai
The singer admits that this suspicion is true.
Tous les soirs, dans ma tête
Every night, in his mind, the singer celebrates old soldiers from a never-ending war.
C'est la fête des anciens combattants
The celebration is for veterans of a war that still rages.
Bruxelles, attends-moi, j'arrive
The singer asks Brussels to wait for him, he's coming.
Bientôt je prends la dérive
He'll soon drift towards Brussels.
Michel, te rappelles-tu de la détresse
The singer asks Michel if he remembers the sadness.
De la kermesse de la gare du Midi?
At the fair in Gare du Midi?
Te rappelles-tu de ta Sophie
Do you remember Sophie?
Qui ne t'avait même pas reconnu?
She didn't even recognize you?
Les néons, les Léon, les "nom di d'ju"
The singer recalls the decadence of Brussels with its neon signs and local dialect.
Sublime décadence, la danse des panses
The beautiful decadence of the city is reflected in the people's dancing.
Ministère de la bière, artère vers l'enfer
The Ministry of Beer is like a highway to hell.
Place de Broukère
The singer mentions the famous Brussels square.
Cruel duel, celui qui oppose
There's a cruel fight between two cities that the singer mentions.
Paris névrose et Bruxelles
Paris' neurosis and Brussels.
L'abruti qui se dit que bientôt ce sera fini
The singer calls himself an idiot for thinking that things will soon end.
L'ennui de l'ennui
The boredom of boredom.
Tu vas me revoir, mademoiselle Bruxelles
The singer promises to return to Brussels.
Mais je ne serai plus tel que tu m'as connu
But he won't be the same person Brussels knew before.
Je serai abattu, courbattu, combattu
He'll be defeated, tired, and fought.
Mais je serai venu
But he'll have come.
Paris, je te laisse mon lit
The singer says goodbye to Paris and his bed.
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: DICK ANNEGARN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurent Potelle
« Bruxelles »
(de Dick Annegarn)
Bruxelles ma belle
Je te rejoins bientôt aussitôt que Paris me trahit
Et je sens que son amour aigrit
Et puis
Elle me soupçonne d'être avec toi le soir
Je reconnais c'est vrai tous les soirs dans ma tête
C'est la fête des anciens combattants d'une guerre
Qui est toujours à faire
Bruxelles attends-moi j'arrive
Bientôt je prends
La dérive
Michel te rappelles-tu de la détresse de la kermesse de la gare du Midi ?
Te rappelles-tu de ta Sophie qui ne t'avait même pas reconnu ?
Les néons, les Léon, les Nondedjeu sublime décadence la danse des panses,
Ministère de la bière
Artère vers l'Enfer
Place de Brouckère
Bruxelles attends- moi j'arrive
Bientôt je prends
La dérive
Cruel duel celui qui oppose Paris névrose et Bruxelles abruti qui se dit que bientôt
Ce sera fini
L'ennui de l'ennui
Tu vas me revoir Mademoiselle Bruxelles
Mais je ne serai plus tel que tu m'as connu
Je serai abattu courbatu combattu
Mais je serai venu
Bruxelles attends, j'arrive
Bientôt je prends
La dérive
Paris je te laisse mon lit
odile Bams
Paroles :
Bruxelles ma belle
Je te rejoins bientôt aussitôt que Paris me trahit
Et je sens que son amour aigrit
Et puis
Elle me soupçonne d'être avec toi le soir
Je reconnais c'est vrai tous les soirs dans ma tête
C'est la fête des anciens combattants d'une guerre
Qui est toujours à faire
Bruxelles attends-moi j'arrive
Bientôt je prends
La dérive
Michel te rappelles-tu de la détresse de la kermesse de la gare du Midi?
Te rappelles-tu de ta Sophie qui ne t'avait même pas reconnu?
Les néons, les Léon, les noms que sublime décadence la danse des panses,
Ministére de la biére
Artére vers l'Enfer
Place de Brouckere
Bruxelles attends- moi j'arrive
Bientôt je prends
La dérive
Cruel duel celui qui oppose Paris névrose et Bruxelles abruti qui se dit que bientôt
Ce sera fini
L'ennui de l'ennui
Tu vas me revoir Mademoiselle Bruxelles
Mais je ne serai plus tel que tu m'as connu
Je serai abattu courbatu combattu
Mais je serai venu
Bruxelles attends, j'arrive
Bientôt je prends
La dérive
Paris je te laisse mon lit
B B
Merci Alain … tu seras toujours dans nos cœurs ! Repose en paix
Vincent Poldereau
Superbe interprétation d'un immense artiste . R.I.P.
Varance Landuzière
Là Haut Alain, j'espère que tu vois Bruxelles, Alain tu restera dans nos esprits...Quelle belle voix, quel bel esprit!!!!Du talent, merci à Dick!Divin!
Charles CRÉ-ANGE
Interprétation magnifique et très belle orchestration. Une belle plage de nostalgie. Le Blues.
MARCEL MUSSARD
interprétation ????? ....c'est lui !
Nuysement
Une immense version d'une immense chanson...
Pierre Conte
C'est toujours émouvant de revoir Monsieur Bashung...qui chante une superbe chanson de Dick Annergarn très bien réorchestrée
VICTOR Martial
Chantée par lui... aujourd'hui... la tristesse l'emporte sur la folie . "Je serai abattu courbatu combattu mais je serai venu"
Didier Buron
Magnifiques, la chanson et l'interprète.
Chabaud Mariette
Bruxelles... son style...Alain... sa voix
Comme un vertige...merci💙