Initially, Pourcel studied classical violin at the Paris Conservatoire, but he found the allure of jazz irresistible. In particular, he was an idol of Stephane Grappelli. Following his studies, he joined a number of jazz combos, which led him to his role as the leader of the French Fiddlers, who he joined in the late '40s. The French Fiddlers were a group of violinists that performed jazzy versions of classical numbers or classical arrangements of pop and jazz tunes. They signed to Pathe-Marconi and continued to refine their sound so they could reach a broader audience. The group earned their first hit in 1952 with a version of "Blue Tango."
In 1959, the French Fiddlers had a hit with an easy listening version of the Platters' "Only You" that featured a prominent beat; appropriately, it was credited to Franck Pourcel and His Rockin' Strings. It was a sound that became quite popular during the '60s, though frequently other musicians were more successful with it than Pourcel. Indeed, "Only You" was his only U.S. Top Ten hit. Nevertheless, he and the Fiddlers — who recorded under a variety of names — sold over 15 million records internationally by the early '70s. Pourcel continued to record easy listening albums and compose film scores throughout the '70s and into the '80s.
In 1958, he recorded an LP with the Viennese’s Waltzes, and then decided to lead his « Variety » public to the discovery and appreciation of popular classical pieces.
With his « Pages Celebres » he leds the sale of EMI Classics, but he felt no special vanity from this, for he considered himself in the service of music. He will record 17 LPs with the most famous classical orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra, The London Philharmonic, The Lamoureux Orchestra, The BBC Orchestra…..
In 1979, following the evolution of the recording techniques, the series came to be called Classics in Digital.
« Adapting pop songs or classical pieces is a very delicate work because you have to dose the effects. I studied classics, and I am persuaded that if Mozart or Beethoven were here today they would wrote their music in a different arrangement. For them or the Variety, I write a kind of translation, according to my style, I think I am not betraying them. I often compare music with cooking. For the same recipe a chef can do something personal, the name of the dish remains the same, but the taste is different. Same thing with a score…. I was lucky in my life to be able to succeed in interpreting, my way, some music composed by others. I arrange it (or disarrange), and the original composers are happy ».
« Franck has the talent to ennoble the most simple melodies…..entering his music was and still is like entering the Pantheon » said Salvatore Adamo
A few of his musicians started a career on their own: » Michel Legrand was playing piano, when he was young. In my orchestra I had Raymond Lefevre, Paul Mauriat and Jean-Claude Casadessus, at that time playing percussions in my classical recordings ».
Between 1956 and 1972 he was the regular conductor for France at the Eurovision song contest, and he toured a lot in Japan, USA, South America, and appears on TV -show specials, all around the world.
A very discreet man, he never played up his personal or professional life. His record company has always had difficulty to write a biography mentioning how many records he sold (the sales if they were to be piled, one on top of the other, would represent 20 times the high of the Eiffel Tower), or how many gold records he got throughout the 58 countries where his albums were released. He was proud of his trophies, but didn’t talk about them. He smashed all sales records for the Europeans orchestras without fanfare or boosting.
He rather preferred to show his back directing the orchestra than his face to a camera. He rarely put his picture on the front of a cover « to recognize someone you have to appear on TV or movies. The public knows my name, I was the first one to do this kind of music in Europe ».
Nevertheless I watched him in 1984, during the pageant of Miss Mexico. He was President of the jury, and all the beautiful girls wanted to sit on his laps. He did not look unhappy!!!
His records have been exported to 58 countries; »I am going to surprise some people, but I have been the number 1 in the exportation of French records for 20 years (in 1982). Music is easier to export than songs with lyrics. When a record is produced in France it can be released the morning after in Yokohama or Los Angeles: there is no local version «
I remember that in 1975 Franck was asked by Air France to compose the Anthem for the new supersonic Concorde, because he was considered one of the 3 most exported French product with Brigitte Bardot and Air France.
He has composed some songs that he recorded, but rarely, because he did not liked his own compositions.
The most famous, « Chariot », started like a joke. It was composed with his friends Paul Mauriat and Raymond Lefevre , with lyrics by Jacques Plante. At that time, in 1962, everything coming from the US was striking gold, so they invented a story that the song was the soundtrack of a new western movie produced by the 20th century Fox »You’ll never See It ». Petula Clark sung the song and had a hit. In the USA the song was recorded as « I will Follow Him » by Little Peggy March., a fifteen years old singer, became number 1 in the Billboard charts all categories for 3 weeks, and in 1992 the song became the main theme for « Sister Act » 1 and 2, with Whoopie Goldberg. More recently, Eminem included some bars in his song « Guilty Conscience ».
From 1968, Franck worked with Claude-Michel Schonberg then artistic director at Pathe-marconi EMI records. A personal and professional relationship started and Franck produced Claude-Michel’s big hit « le Premier Pas’ and the following albums.
A show-biz star, against all odds, concerts all over the world, around 200 LPs recorded, more than 3000 titles in his repertoire, this was Franck Pourcel, my father. Five years after his death, thousands of faithful fans around the world send me messages, and these 4 Cds with some 100 titles from his catalogue, are dedicated to them.
« Hearing this heavenly fiddler, I now understand why instrument makers call the body of a violin its soul »
These words are from the French poet Jean Cocteau : the fiddler was Franck Pourcel.
Il
Franck Pourcel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comme c'est étrange
Nous avons vu un capitaine
Portant sa valise
Et un crabe
Un gros nabab
Manquant de glaçon
Pour son whisky
Les hommes vont jouer aux pollueurs
Sur d'autres planètes
Et les femmes déjà bercent leurs
Bébés-éprouvettes
Le monde change
Comme c'est étrange
Les pauvres phoques
Enlèvent leur froc
Pour courir plus vite
L'usine dépose
Son écume rose
Les pétroliers déroulent aux mouettes
Une drôle de moquette
On manque de sous pour la recherche
Contre le cancer
Heureusement qu'on en a pour les
Centrales nucléaires
Le monde change
Comme c'est étrange
Les députes les cardinaux
Ont tous leur sono
Même chez les rouges
On dit que ça bouge
Paraît qu'y vont faire du goulag
Un grand Disneyland
On dit que Nixon prenait
Des cours de sténo
Paraît qu'cmin Dada est mort
Pauvres asticots
Le monde change
Comme c'est étrange
Certains régimes pour la santé
Sont très contestés
En crgentine
La nicotine
Tue plus qu'à Londres ou à Lima
Question de climat
Le joueur de foot vend ses mollets
cu pris du filet
Mai soixante-huit laisse des barbus
Qui pointent au chomdu
Le monde change
Comme c'est étrange
On voit des purs
cvec des durs
S'accorder gaiement
Chacun fabrique
Sa bombe unique
Tout en prêchant
Naturellement
Le désarmement
Plus je les vois de mon balcon
Plus je pense à regret
Que ces colombes et ces faucons
M'ont l'air de vrais...
The lyrics of Franck Pourcel's song "Il" reflect on the changing state of the world and how baffling it can be to witness these transformations. The opening lines set the tone by highlighting the unexpected nature of these changes. The mention of a captain carrying a suitcase and a crab symbolizes the juxtaposition of mundane and strange occurrences. The reference to a rich man lacking ice for his whisky and trying to buy the ice caps alludes to a sense of entitlement and disregard for the environment.
The second paragraph delves deeper into the consequences of human actions on the planet. The imagery of seals shedding their fur to run faster, industrial pollution turning water pink, and oil tankers rolling out bizarre carpets for seagulls paints a vivid picture of environmental degradation. The lyrics also touch upon the prioritization of funding for nuclear facilities over cancer research, reflecting skewed societal values and misplaced investments.
The third stanza delves into political and societal shifts, referencing politicians, cardinals, and even communists all embracing modern technologies like sound systems. The mention of Nixon taking shorthand lessons and Dadaism being pronounced dead speaks to the changing ideologies and figures of influence in the world. The idea of a former prison camp becoming a tourist attraction like Disneyland underscores the unsettling and surreal nature of these changes.
In the final stanza, the lyrics address health trends, political dissent, and societal divisions. The mention of athletes selling their calves at market price, the legacy of the 1968 protests leaving disillusioned individuals, and the juxtaposition of peaceful doves and aggressive hawks allude to the complexities and contradictions in society. The closing lines express a sense of resignation and reflection, as the singer observes the world from their balcony and contemplates the paradox of peace efforts amidst the proliferation of individual weapons. Overall, the lyrics of "Il" offer a poignant commentary on the shifting landscapes of the world and the confounding nature of these changes.
Line by Line Meaning
Le monde change
The world is evolving
Comme c'est étrange
How strange it is
Nous avons vu un capitaine
We saw a captain
Portant sa valise
Carrying his suitcase
Et un crabe
And a crab
Un gros nabab
A big tycoon
Manquant de glaçon
Lacking ice
Pour son whisky
For his whiskey
Acheter la banquise
Buying the ice floe
Les hommes vont jouer aux pollueurs
Men will play the polluters
Sur d'autres planètes
On other planets
Et les femmes déjà bercent leurs
And women are already rocking their
Bébés-éprouvettes
Test tube babies
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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