Born in Paris, France to a poor and dysfunctional family, Marguerite Boulc'h was a child left to a life on the streets in the dark side of Paris. In her teens she got a break when she met one of the female music-hall performers who heard her sing and introduced her to show business promoters. She began performing under the stage name "Pervenche" and soon met and married Robert Hollard, a performer who used the nom de guerre "Roberty." Alcohol entered her life at an early age and her drinking became a problem for her husband. Their marriage did not last long and Boulc'h's husband left her for the Parisian singer, Damia. Fréhel then began a relationship with Maurice Chevalier but that too did not last long and after he left her for the much older megastar Mistinguett, the distraught girl, still only 19 years old, attempted suicide.
Following her failed suicide attempt, in 1911 Marguerite Boulc'h tried to escape her pain and travelled to Bucharest, Romania and then to Russia where she remained for more than ten years. Lost in a world of alcohol and drugs, she returned to Paris in 1923 to a shocked public that saw the wasted shadow of the singer they had known and loved. She then signalled a new beginning by switching to the stage name "Fréhel", taking the name from Cap Fréhel in Brittany where her parents had been born. Singing as Fréhel, at the Paris Olympia in 1924 she recaptured the former magic with a powerful performance and was soon headlining at the most popular venues in the country. Part of what is now referred to as the bal musette, Fréhel often sang accompanied by pipes and/or an accordion player.
In the 1930s, she appeared in several motion pictures, almost always portraying a singer in a minor or supporting role. The most notable films in which she performed were 1931's De Coeur des Lilas, based on the Tristan Bernard play, and Pépé le Moko that starred Jean Gabin. While her alcohol abuse continued, she nevertheless was a major show business force of 1930s France. Of all her songs, her 1939 "La Java Bleue", with music by Vincent Scotto, proved her most popular.
Despite being one of Europe's most sought after performers, her destructive addictions led to her dropping out of sight for years. She never found the love she had sought for so long and died in 1951, a wretched drunk, alone in a hotel in Pigalle. She was interred in the Cimetière de Pantin, near Paris.
Her 1934 recording "Si tu n'étais pas là" was featured in the 2001 soundtrack for the film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (Amélie).
Some of Fréhel's best known songs:
* "Comme un moineau" (1925)
* "Où est-il donc? " (1926)
* "À la dérive" (1932)
* "Où sont tous mes amants" (1935)
* "Tel qu'il est" (1936)
* "La der des der" (1939)
* "La java bleue" (1939)
Films:
* De Coeur des Lilas (1931)
* La Rue sans nom (1934)
* Le roman d'un tricheur (1936)
* Pépé le Moko (1937)
* L'Innocent (1937)
* La Rue sans joie (1938)
Derrière la clique
Fréhel Lyrics
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Miscellaneous
Como La Flor
Susurro: Como la flor, con tanto amor
Me diste tú, se marchitó
Me marcho hoy, yo sé perder
Pero, ¡Ay! ¡Ay! Cómo me duele
Sin embargo, te deseo lo mejor
Si en mí no encontraste felicidad
Tal vez alguien más te la dará
Coro: Como la flor, con tanto amor
Me diste tú, se marchitó
Me marcho hoy, yo sé perder
Pero, ¡Ay! Cómo me duele
¡Ay! Cómo me duele
Si vieras cómo duele perder tu amor
Con tu adiós te llevas mi corazón
No sé si pueda volver a amar
Porque te di todo el amor que pude dar
Coro: Como la flor, con tanto amor
Me diste tú, se marchitó
Me marcho hoy, yo sé perder
Pero, ¡Ay! Cómo me duele
¡Ay! Cómo me duele
Como la flor, con tanto amor
Me diste tú, se marchitó
Me marcho hoy, yo sé perder
Pero, ¡Ay! Cómo me duele
¡Ay! Cómo me duele
The lyrics to Fréhel's song "Derrière la clique" tell the story of a woman who is fed up with the superficiality of the society she is surrounded by. She sees through the false smiles and shallow conversations, understanding that everyone is only putting on a facade to fit in with the popular crowd. The chorus reveals her longing to break free from this cycle of conformity and live an authentic life, but she knows it won't be easy. She understands that society places immense pressure on people to conform, and it can be overwhelming to try to buck the trend. However, she refuses to give up and is determined to find her own path.
Fréhel's words are powerful and resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in. "Derrière la clique" is a call to action, urging listeners to be true to themselves and not be afraid to stand out from the crowd. The song carries a message that is still relevant today, reminding us that it is important to stay true to ourselves and not let the expectations of others dictate our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Como la flor, con tanto amor
Me diste tú, se marchitó
Me marcho hoy, yo sé perder
Pero, ¡Ay! ¡Ay! Cómo me duele
You gave me so much love, like a flower, but it withered away. I know how to lose, but it still hurts me so much.
Yo sé que tienes un nuevo amor
Sin embargo, te deseo lo mejor
Si en mí no encontraste felicidad
Tal vez alguien más te la dará
I know you have a new love now, but I still wish you the best. If you didn't find happiness with me, maybe someone else will give it to you.
Si vieras cómo duele perder tu amor
Con tu adiós te llevas mi corazón
No sé si pueda volver a amar
Porque te di todo el amor que pude dar
If you could see how much losing your love hurts me. With your goodbye, you take my heart. I don't know if I can love again because I already gave you all the love I had.
Como la flor, con tanto amor
Me diste tú, se marchitó
Me marcho hoy, yo sé perder
Pero, ¡Ay! Cómo me duele
¡Ay! Cómo me duele
You gave me so much love, like a flower, but it withered away. I know how to lose, but it still hurts me so much.
Como la flor, con tanto amor
Me diste tú, se marchitó
Me marcho hoy, yo sé perder
Pero, ¡Ay! Cómo me duele
¡Ay! Cómo me duele
You gave me so much love, like a flower, but it withered away. I know how to lose, but it still hurts me so much.
Writer(s): Henri Poussigue, Louis Leplay
Contributed by Sophia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.