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.
Stille Nacht
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heilige Nacht !
Alles Schläft, ein samwacht nur das traute, hoch heilige Paar
Holder knabe im lockigen Haar
Schlafe in himmlischer, Ruh'
Schlafe in himmlischer, Ruh !
Stille Nacht !
Hirten erst Kund gemacht
Lurch der Engel Halleluja
Tönt es laut von fern und nah
Christ der Retter ist da,
Christ der Retter ist da !
Stille Nacht !
Heilige Nacht !
Gottes Sohn wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem gott lichen Mund
Da uns schlägt die retlen de Stund,
Christ in deiner Geburt,
Christ in deiner Geburt !
The lyrics to Alain Bashung's song Stille Nacht are in German and the title translates to "Silent Night" in English. The song talks about the birth of Jesus Christ and the tranquility that fell upon the world at his arrival. The first paragraph of the song talks about the peaceful night where everything is asleep except for the holy couple that watches over the baby Jesus. The lyrics describe the child, Jesus, with curly hair and the wish that he sleeps peacefully in heaven.
The second paragraph speaks of the announcement of Jesus' birth to the shepherds by the angels, who sing Hallelujah. The lyrics mention that the Savior, Jesus, has arrived. The last paragraph talks about the joy at the birth of Jesus, who is depicted as the son of God who has come to save the world. The lyrics express love from God through the birth of Jesus, and the happiness that has come with his arrival.
Line by Line Meaning
Stille Nacht !
Quiet night!
Heilige Nacht !
Holy night!
Alles Schläft, ein samwacht nur das traute, hoch heilige Paar
Everyone is asleep, only the faithful, holy couple is awake
Holder knabe im lockigen Haar
The boy with curly hair
Schlafe in himmlischer, Ruh'
Sleep in heavenly peace
Schlafe in himmlischer, Ruh !
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Hirten erst Kund gemacht
The shepherds were the first to learn
Lurch der Engel Halleluja
Through the angel's Hallelujah
Tönt es laut von fern und nah
It resounds loudly from far and near
Christ der Retter ist da,
Christ the Savior is here
Christ der Retter ist da !
Christ the Savior is here!
Gottes Sohn wie lacht
God's son, how he laughs
Lieb' aus deinem gott lichen Mund
Love comes from your godly mouth
Da uns schlägt die retlen de Stund,
When the final hour comes for us
Christ in deiner Geburt,
Christ in your birth
Christ in deiner Geburt !
Christ in your birth!
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@didpen
Manoeuvre ... Pfffff quelle calamité ce mec ! Bashung notre Elvis d'Alsace ...
@powerearth8873
Ils nous restent ses trésors musicaux qu ils nous à légué et qui sont unique et éternel bravo Alain Bashung pour tt ça je sais qu'il nous entend et nous lis d'où il est !! "paix a toi Alain on t'aime fort 'nous les vrais purs et durs musicalement parlant et dans la vie "
@EverBlueMani
+Amiral Cronox Précisions : Cette chanson est d'origine autrichienne, mais Alain qui maîtrise parfaitement le Français et l'Allemand la destructure volontairement en lui donnant une intonation plus proche de l'Anglais. Les paroles de la chanson ne sont ici qu'un support au son qu'il veut donner. Il y a bien sûr un clin d'oeil a son enfance ou cette chanson est indifféremment chantée en Allemand comme en Français, mais un Allemand qui écouterait Stille Nacht version Alain aurait bien du mal a la comprendre tant les mots sont "volontairement" déformés. Du grand art vraiment !
@dom38ida3
Trés émouvant de voir Alain chanter en allemand "Still nacht", même si cette version ressemble beaucoup à celle du King (avec des variations qui manque un peu de justesse). Mais commence à poindre sa personnalité et sa façon unique qu'il avait de chanter les mots (maux). Il avait une formation classique puisqu'il été petit chanteur à la croix de bois (pour ceux qui ne le savaient pas).
@stedarw
Effectivement!
@femmecorbeau
joyeux noël (((((alain)))))) xoxoxoxooxox
@denismarcel2295
Revisionnage pour la nième fois
@fantomas2335
Ah ! Ce Manoeuvre...
@racamoni
@ Pardo, cette chanson est d'origine Allemande, et comme l'Alsace a des origines allemandes...voila l'travail ;)
@eric1faure
Stille nacht est chanté pour la première fois à la veille de Noël 1818 dans l'église Saint-Nicolas à la ville autrichienne d'Oberndorf bei Salzburg.