Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French r… Read Full Bio ↴Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French record producer, actor, singer, popular songwriter, and musical theatre composer.

These include the musicals:

* La Révolution Française (1973)
* Les Misérables (1980 french version- 1985 english version)
* Miss Saigon (1989)
* Martin Guerre (1996)
* Wuthering Heights (ballet 2001)
* The Pirate Queen (2006)
* Marguerite (2009)

Schönberg began his career as a record producer and a singer. By the early 1970s he had become successful.

He wrote most of the music for the French musical and rock opera, La Révolution Française, France's first rock opera, in 1973, and also played the role of King Louis XVI in the show's production that year.

In 1974 he wrote the music and the lyrics of the song "Le Premier Pas", which became the number 1 popular song in France that year and sold over 1 million copies. Le Premier Pas was produced by Franck Pourcel. He recorded albums as a singer until 1985.

Schönberg then made an album in which he sang his own songs. In 1978, he dedicated his full attention to musicals when he and Alain Boublil conceived the idea for a stage musical version of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which opened at the Palias de Sports in Paris in 1980. The musical opened to acclaim in London in 1985 and on Broadway in 1987. The Broadway production was nominated for twelve Tony Awards and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score . In 1989, Schönberg and Boublil took London by storm with the musical Miss Saigon, which starred Lea Salonga and Jonathan Pryce. In its transition to Broadway, the show broke advance-ticket sales, earning $24 million before its premiere on April 11, 1991 [1]. The show was nominated for ten Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.

In 1997, Schönberg and Boublil premiered a new musical, Martin Guerre at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. The musical won the 1997 Olivier Award and went on to tour the UK and the United States.

Schönberg's latest project with Boublil is The Pirate Queen, a musical about the 16th century Irish pirate, chieftain and adventuress Grace O'Malley. The Pirate Queen completed its 8-week pre-Broadway tryout at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre on November 26, 2006. The show is undergoing further development in preparation for its Broadway previews at the Hilton Theater in March 2007. The Broadway opening date is April 5, 2007. Miss Saigon co-lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. has come on-board to work with Boublil on revisions to the book and lyrics. Additionally, Graciela Daniele will work on the musical staging.

Les Miserables celebrated its twentieth anniversary in London on October 8, 2005. The Broadway production closed on May 18, 2003, making it the third-longest-running Broadway musical following Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. Schönberg will oversee the production of Les Miserables that is returning to Broadway for a six-month engagement at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 9, 2006.

Claude-Michel Schönberg is also an ex-husband of France 2 evening news anchor Béatrice Schönberg.
He lives in London, and has 3 children.
He is actually writing the music and for the first time the arrangements, for a new ballet to be created in UK in 2011: Cléopâtra.

Back at the Barricade
Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now we pledge ourselves to hold this barricade
Let them come in their legions
And they will be met
Have faith in yourselves
And don't be afraid
Let's give 'em a screwing
That they'll never forget!
This is where it begins!

And if I should die in the fight to be free
Where the fighting is hardest
There will I be
Let them come if they dare
We'll be there!

You at the barricade listen to this
No one is coming to help you to fight
You're on your own
You have no friends
Give up your guns - or die!

Damn their warnings, damn their lies
They will see the people rise!

Damn their warnings, damn their lies
They will see the people rise!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Claude-Michel Schönberg's "Back at the Barricade" serve as an empowering call to arms for the rebels fighting against their oppressors. The song is a rallying cry, as the protesters pledge themselves to hold the barricade, come what may. The first few lines set the tone for the song - they are ready to face the opposition and will hold nothing back. The rebels are outnumbered, but their willpower and courage remain unbreakable, and they have faith in themselves. They are not afraid of fighting for what they believe in, and they will give the enemy a taste of their own medicine.

The next verse is directed towards the listeners at the barricade. The rebels are fighting for their freedom on their own, and no one is coming to help them. They are urged to give up their guns voluntarily, or die. The authority's warnings and lies are being disregarded, and the people's uprising is imminent. The repetitive chorus, "Damn their warnings, damn their lies, they will see the people rise," is symbolic of the rebels' determination and commitment to fighting against their oppressors.

Overall, "Back at the Barricade" is an empowering and emotional song that inspires the listener and the rebels to fight against injustice and tyranny, even if that means sacrificing their own lives in the process.

Line by Line Meaning

Now we pledge ourselves to hold this barricade
We promise to defend this barricade with all of our strength

Let them come in their legions
We are ready for them to attack in massive numbers

And they will be met
We will not run away or hide from them

Have faith in yourselves
Believe in your own abilities and courage

And don't be afraid
Do not let fear control you

Let's give 'em a screwing that they'll never forget!
We will defeat them so badly that they will always remember it

This is where it begins!
The start of the battle is upon us

And if I should die in the fight to be free
Even if I die fighting for freedom

Where the fighting is hardest
Where the battle is the most intense

There will I be
I will still be there fighting

Let them come if they dare
We dare them to attack us