Son of an opera singer and an Italian piano teacher (Liette), he was raised by his grandparents in Toulouse, where he heard Glenn Miller, Édith Piaf and Louis Armstrong (among others) on the radio.
In 1947 he failed his baccalaureat and commenced a career in journalism, writing for various journals including Le Journal des Curistes at Vichy and L'Echo d'Alger. At the same time he wrote songs for Marcel Amont (Le barbier de Belleville, Le balayeur du roi) and Philippe Clay (Joseph, La sentinelle). He met Georges Brassens, who became his friend and mentor.
In 1949 he performed his military service in the foreign legion at Rabat, Morocco.
He sent his lyrics to Marguerite Monnot, Édith Piaf's songwriter, who put them to music. (Méphisto, Le Sentier de la guerre). He started to sing for a livelihood in 1959 in a Parisian cabaret in Montmartre, Le lapin agile.
In 1962, he decided to sing his works himself: Une petite fille and Cécile ma fille (dedicated to his daughter, born in 1962 to his wife Sylvie, whom he met at Le lapin agile). These songs made him immediately known to the larger public, which he had already started to penetrate by participating in the concerts of Dalida.
A car accident immobilised him for several months in 1963. The following year he travelled to Brazil, and sang in prestigious halls in Paris: the Olympia, the Palais, the Théâtre de la Ville.
Following the death of his friend Jacques Audiberti in 1965 he wrote, in homage, the song Chanson pour le maçon.
The events of May 1968 inspired him to the torrential Paris Mai, a plea for life, which would be banned from the airwaves. The same year he recorded his first live album at the Olympia: Une soirée avec Claude Nougaro.
His career continued normally punctuated with success: Le jazz et la java, Tu verras, Île de Ré, Armstrong, Toulouse, Petit taureau. But in 1984, his recording company did not renew his contract. Nougaro left for New York, seeking inspiration, and while there wrote and recorded a self-financed disc, Nougayork, whose resounding success was a surprise.
In 1988 Victoires de la musique rewarded him with best album and best artist, and between 1993 and 1997 he released three new albums.
His health deteriorated after 1995, when he underwent a heart operation. In 2003, his condition left him unable to appear at the festival du Verbe at Toulouse. From 1998 to 2004 he devoted himself more to concerts and festivals, apart from an album in aid of children suffering from AIDS. Having undergone further surgery in early 2004, he died of cancer in March, 74 years old.
His music drew inspiration, among other sources, from American jazz, from which he borrowed heavily (Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins), but also from Brazilian music (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Baden Powell de Aquino, Chico Buarque).
Sing Sing Song
Claude Nougaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now you're singin' with a swing
Sing sing sing, sing, everybody start to sing like dee dee dee, bah bah bah dah
Now you're singin' with a swing.
When the music goes around,
Everybody's goes go to town.
But here is one thing you should know
Now you're singin with a swing
Swing swing swing swing, listen to the trumpet swing
Blow blow blow blow, listen to the trombones go
When the music goes around,
Everybody's goes go to town.
But here is one thing you should know
Sing sing sing sing everybody start to sing like dee dee dee, bah bah bah dah
Everybody go!
Sing sing sing sing everybody start to sing like dee dee dee, bah bah bah dah
Now you're singin with a swing
Sing sing sing sing everybody start to sing like dee dee dee, bah bah bah dah
Now you're singin with a swing
Swing swing swing, everybody start to swing
Now your swingin while you sing
When the music goes around, everybody goes to town
Just relax and take is slow
SIng sing
Start singing, keep swinging
Now you're singing with a swing
The lyrics of Claude Nougaro's song Sing Sing Song are a call to everybody to start singing with a swing. The repetition of the phrases "Sing sing sing" and "dee dee dee, bah bah bah dah" serve to create a catchy, upbeat rhythm that invites listeners to join in. The energy of the song is infectious, and the listener cannot resist tapping their feet and moving along to the swinging beat. The lyrics also highlight the joy and communal nature of music, as the line "when the music goes around, everybody goes to town" suggests.
The song's emphasis on swing music is also significant. Swing music originated in the 1930s and is characterized by its strong rhythm, improvisation, and emphasis on collective playing. Nougaro's song pays homage to this style of music and encourages listeners to embrace its upbeat, joyful qualities. The lyrics also encourage people to let go of their inhibitions and get lost in the music, as evidenced by lines such as "just relax and take it slow" and "start singing, keep swinging."
Overall, Sing Sing Song is a celebration of music's ability to bring people together, lift their spirits, and inspire them to dance and sing. It captures the essence of swing music, and its lively, infectious rhythm will remain a classic for generations to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing, sing, sing, sing everybody start to sing like dee dee dee, bah bah bah dah
Get ready to sing and make some noise, letting the rhythm take over as you sing with a sense of joy and carefreeness.
Now you're singin' with a swing
You have picked up the right rhythm with perfect swing and style.
Swing swing swing swing, listen to the trumpet swing
Lose yourself into the music, feel the rhythm of the trumpet notes swing in sync with your body.
Blow blow blow blow, listen to the trombones go
Listen to the enchanting sound of the trombones, as they blow in unison and add a magical touch to the music.
When the music goes around,
Everybody's goes go to town.
But here is one thing you should know
Music has a way of bringing people together, and when it's played, everyone starts to enjoy it and have fun. But don't forget to listen closely to the lyrics and the message music is trying to convey.
Everybody go!
Join in and have fun with the music, let it take over and make you move.
Swing swing swing, everybody start to swing
Now your swingin while you sing
Let the music and rhythm engulf you completely and make you start to swing, as you lose yourself in its magic and start to sing to the rhythm.
Just relax and take is slow
The pace of the music can sometimes be slowed down, but it's still perfect for you to keep singing and keep swinging.
Start singing, keep swinging
Now you're singing with a swing
Let your voice and body move with the rhythm, and before you know it, you'll be enjoying the music and singing with the perfect swing and style.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOUIS PRIMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alain Cubeddu
Quand le jour se lève sur Sing-Sing
On ne s'inquiète pas pour le temps
Qu'il pleuve ou qu'il fasse beau à Sing-Sing
On sortira pas pour autant
Vaut mieux laisser au clou la clé des champs
Ou sinon ça crache des pruneaux
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson colle à la peau
Quand le jour se lève sur Sing-Sing
Par contre on s'inquiète pour le temps
Le temps qui reste à tirer à Sing-Sing
Y a de quoi se faire des cheveux blancs
Il paraît que c'est chouette d'avoir vingt ans
Oui mais pas derrière des barreaux
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson dure un peu trop
Quand le jour se lève sur Sing-Sing
Et qu'c'est le dimanche qu'on attend
On va voir l'orchestre de Sing-Sing
Il faut dire qu'il swingue méchamment
L'dernier batteur avait le rythme dans le sang
Sur la chaise il fit trois petits sauts
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson chauffe un peu trop
Et quand la nuit tombe sur Sing-Sing
On r'voit nos amours dans le temps
On s'dit qu'on sortira de Sing-Sing
Quand nos poules n'auront plus de dents
Pensent-elles encore à nous en ce moment
Ou font-elles brûler nos photos
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson a le coeur gros
Ainsi meurt la chanson de Sing-Sing
Jusqu'à demain, évidemment...
nathalie moura
Quelle rythme... Bravo à Nougaro 💕💕💕💕💕inoubliable
Max MORANDO
Certains affirment que cette chanson a vieilli. Elle m'evoque tout simplement une certaine époque, celle des films de gangsters en noir et blanc des Annees 1930, 1940 et 1950. En cela, elle constitue un document, et un document garde toute sa valeur. Il ne vieillit jamais: il nous fait voyager dans le temps, quand les gardiens et les détenus portaient des uniformes différents et quand la chaise électrique était largement employée.
virnowi
j'entendu dans le radio FIP.... merci de me faire decouvrir ce chanteur magnifique!
oliounidizlove
+virnowi Alors, beaucoup à découvrir sur Claude Nougaro !.:)
Alain Cubeddu
Quand le jour se lève sur Sing-Sing
On ne s'inquiète pas pour le temps
Qu'il pleuve ou qu'il fasse beau à Sing-Sing
On sortira pas pour autant
Vaut mieux laisser au clou la clé des champs
Ou sinon ça crache des pruneaux
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson colle à la peau
Quand le jour se lève sur Sing-Sing
Par contre on s'inquiète pour le temps
Le temps qui reste à tirer à Sing-Sing
Y a de quoi se faire des cheveux blancs
Il paraît que c'est chouette d'avoir vingt ans
Oui mais pas derrière des barreaux
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson dure un peu trop
Quand le jour se lève sur Sing-Sing
Et qu'c'est le dimanche qu'on attend
On va voir l'orchestre de Sing-Sing
Il faut dire qu'il swingue méchamment
L'dernier batteur avait le rythme dans le sang
Sur la chaise il fit trois petits sauts
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson chauffe un peu trop
Et quand la nuit tombe sur Sing-Sing
On r'voit nos amours dans le temps
On s'dit qu'on sortira de Sing-Sing
Quand nos poules n'auront plus de dents
Pensent-elles encore à nous en ce moment
Ou font-elles brûler nos photos
Oh, Sing-Sing, oh, Sing-Sing
Ta chanson, ta chanson a le coeur gros
Ainsi meurt la chanson de Sing-Sing
Jusqu'à demain, évidemment...
alexandra pecot
Moi je l’apprends en classe elle est trop trop bien
Sorriaux Océane
La même je l’apprend actuellement
What
Mon frère l'apprend en classe
Quentin Grivet
Moi aussi
luna mundo
Moi aussi au collège