Jacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and songw… Read Full Bio ↴Jacques Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in Belgium and France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French, he became a major influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers such as David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Leonard Cohen, Marc Almond and Rod McKuen. English translations of his songs were recorded by many top performers in the United States, including Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, the Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Scott Walker, and Andy Williams. In French-speaking countries, Brel was also a successful actor, appearing in ten films. He also directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. Jacques Brel has sold over 25 million records worldwide, and is the third best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time.

Brel was born on 8th April 1929 in Schaarbeek, a district of Brussels, and lived half of his life in Paris. He died of lung cancer on 9th October 1978 in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris, and is buried in the Marquesas Islands.

Although the Brels spoke French, they were of Flemish descent, with some of the family originating from Zandvoorde, near Ieper. Brel's father was co-owner of a cardboard factory and Brel started his professional life at that firm, apparently destined to follow in his father's footsteps. However he had no interest in it, showing instead an interest in the arts, having joined the Catholic-humanist youth organisation Franche Cordée, where he did some singing and acting. At Franche Cordée he met Thérèse Michielsen ('Miche'), and they married in 1950.

In the early 1950s Brel achieved some minor success in Belgium, singing his own songs. A 78rpm record ("La foire"/"Il y a") was released as a result. From 1954 Brel seriously pursued a singing career. He quit his job and moved to Paris, writing music and singing in the city's cabarets and music-halls.. In January 1955 he supported in the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels the performances of the Belgian pop and variety pioneer Bobbejaan Schoepen. After some success his wife and daughters joined him from Belgium. By 1956 he was touring Europe and he recorded the song "Quand on n'a que l'amour", which brought him his first major recognition. He appeared in a show with Maurice Chevalier and Michel Legrand.

By the end of the 1950s Miche and Brel's three daughters moved to Brussels. He and his family led separate lives from then on. Under the influence of his friend Georges Pasquier ('Jojo') and pianists Gérard Jouannest and François Rauber, Brel's style changed. He was no longer a Catholic-humanist troubadour, but sang grimmer songs about love, death, and the struggle that is life. The music became more complex and his themes more diverse, exploring love ("Je t'aime", "Litanies pour un retour"), society ("Les singes", "Les bourgeois", "Jaurès") and spiritual concerns ("Le bon Dieu", "Dites, si c'était vrai", "Fernand"). His work is not limited to one style. He was as proficient in comic compositions ("Le lion", "Comment tuer l'amant de sa femme...") as in more emotional ones ("Voir un ami pleurer", "Fils de...", "Jojo"). He composed and recorded his songs almost exclusively in French, and is widely recognised in French-speaking countries as one of the best French-language composers of all time.

Brel himself occasionally included parts of his songs in Flemish (Dutch), one of the three official languages of Belgium, as in Marieke. He also recorded eight other Flemish versions of songs, such as Mijn vlakke land (Le plat Pays), Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne me quitte pas), Rosa, De Burgerij (Les Bourgeois), and De Nuttelozen van de Nacht (Les paumés du petit matin). Since his own command of the language was poor, these were translated by Ernst van Altena, renowned translator of French song. Although France was Brel's "spiritual home" and he expressed contradictory statements about his native Belgium, some of his best compositions pay tribute to Belgium.

A very successful theatrical review of his songs, "Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris," was launched in 1968. It featured English translations of his songs, and it was late made into a film.

To English-speaking listeners, Brel's best-known song is probably "Seasons in the Sun," a hit for Terry Jacks in 1973. Its English lyrics are a translation by Rod McKuen of Brel's "Le Moribond."

For twenty years he was a major star gaining recognition beyond French audiences. In 1973 he retreated to French Polynesia, remaining there until 1977 when he returned to Paris and recorded his well-received final album.

A heavy smoker, it was discovered in 1973 that Brel had lung cancer. He died in 1978 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia only a few yards away from painter Paul Gauguin.

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01La Valse A Mille Temps3:47

02La Tendresse2:37

PT2M37S

Jacques Brel

03Ne me quitte pas3:46

04La Dame Patronnesse2:37

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La Tendresse
Jacques Brel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pour un peu de tendresse
Je donn'rais les diamants
Que le diable caresse
Dans mes coffres d'argent
Pourquoi crois-tu, la belle
Que les marins au port
Vident leurs escarcelles
Pour offrir des trésors
À de fausses princesses
Pour un peu de tendresse?

Pour un peu de tendresse
Je chang'rais de visage
Je changerais d'ivresse
Je chang'rais de langage
Pourquoi crois-tu, la belle
Qu'au sommet de leurs chants
Emp'reurs et ménestrels
Abandonnent souvent
Puissances et richesses
Pour un peu de tendresse?

Pour un peu de tendresse
Je t'offrirais le temps
Qu'il reste de jeunesse
À l'été finissant
Pourquoi crois-tu, la belle
Que monte ma chanson
Vers la claire dentelle
Qui danse sur ton front
Penché vers ma détresse
Pour un peu de tendresse?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jacques Brel's song "La Tendresse" speak of the search for tenderness, a human need that is often eclipsed by the pursuit of wealth, fame or power. The first stanza suggests that even diamonds, the most precious and coveted of gems, are meaningless compared to the warmth of a gentle touch. The second stanza goes further, saying that one would change everything about themselves - their appearance, state of mind, even their language - for just a bit of tenderness. The final stanza is a declaration of love, offering the remaining time of youth to a beloved, and asking why the singer's song rises to the clear lace that dances on the beloved's forehead, while the singer is bent over their own sadness, searching for tenderness.

This song is a reflection on the value of tenderness and the way it can move a person to greatness, even when they seem to have everything else. The singer questions why people with power or wealth would abandon it all for a little tenderness, highlighting the importance of emotional and spiritual sustenance in the face of all else. Ultimately, the song speaks to the human condition, showing how tenderness can be found even in the midst of sorrow, failure or disappointment, and how it can offer hope, joy and meaning to all who seek it.

Line by Line Meaning

Pour un peu de tendresse
In order to experience even the slightest bit of tenderness

Je donn'rais les diamants
I would give away all the diamonds

Que le diable caresse
That the devil caresses in my silver coffers

Dans mes coffres d'argent
In my silver coffers

Pourquoi crois-tu, la belle
Why do you think, my dear

Que les marins au port
That the sailors at port

Vident leurs escarcelles
Empty their purse

Pour offrir des trésors
To offer treasures

À de fausses princesses
To false princesses

Je chang'rais de visage
I would change my face

Je changerais d'ivresse
I would change my intoxication

Je chang'rais de langage
I would change my language

Qu'au sommet de leurs chants
That at the pinnacle of their songs

Emp'reurs et ménestrels
Emperors and minstrels

Abandonnent souvent
Often abandon

Puissances et richesses
Power and riches

Je t'offrirais le temps
I would offer you the time

Qu'il reste de jeunesse
That remains of youthfulness

À l'été finissant
At the end of summer

Que monte ma chanson
That my song climbs up

Vers la claire dentelle
Towards the clear lace

Qui danse sur ton front
That dances on your forehead

Penché vers ma détresse
Leaning towards my distress

Pour un peu de tendresse?
All for just a little bit of tenderness?

Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Jacques Brel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@michelsitbon5759

2y↑8

Pour un peu de tendresse
je donnerai les diamants
que le diable caresse
dans mes coffres d'argent

Pourquoi crois-tu la belle
que les marins au port
vident leurs escarcelles
pour offrir des trésors
à de fausses princesses ?

Pour un peu de tendresse…

Pour un peu de tendresse
je changerai de visage
je changerai d'ivresse
je changerai de langage

Pourquoi crois-tu la belle
qu'au sommet de leur chant
empereurs et ménestrels
abandonnent souvent
puissance et richesse ?

Pour un peu de tendresse…

Pour un peu de tendresse
je t'offrirai le le temps
qu'il reste de jeunesse
à l'été finissant

Pourquoi crois-tu la belle
que monte ma chanson
vers la claire dentelle
qui danse sur ton front
penché vers ma détresse ?

Pour un peu de tendresse…