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.
Les F
Jacques Brel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Messieurs les Flamingants, j'ai deux mots а vous rire
Il y a trop longtemps que vous me faites frire
А vous souffler dans l'cul, pour dev'nir autobus
Vous voilа acrobates mais vraiment rien de plus
Nazis durant les guerres et catholiques, entre elles
Vous oscillez sans cesse du fusil au missel
Bien qu'il y ait des rues а Gand qui pissent dans les deux langues
Tu vois, quand j'pense а vous, j'aime que rien ne se perde
Messieurs les Flamingants, je vous emmerde
Vous salissez la Flandre, mais la Flandre vous juge
Voyez la mer du Nord, elle s'est enfuie de Bruges
Cessez de me gonfler mes vieilles roubignoles
Avec votre art flamand italo-espagnol
Vous кtes tellement, tellement beaucoup trop lourds
Que quand les soirs d'orage, des Chinois cultivйs
Me demandent d'oщ je suis, je rйponds fatiguй
Et les larmes aux dents "Ik ben van Luxembourg"
Et si, aux jeunes femmes, on ose un chant flamand
Elles s'envolent en rкvant aux oiseaux roses et blancs
Et je vous interdis d'espйrer que jamais
А Londres, sous la pluie, on puisse vous croire anglais
Et je vous interdis, а New York ou Milan
D'йructer, messeigneurs, autrement qu'en flamand
Vous n'aurez pas l'air con, vraiment pas con du tout
Et moi, je m'interdis de dire que je m'en fous
Et je vous interdis d'obliger nos enfants
Qui ne vous ont rien fait, а aboyer flamand
Et si mes frиres se taisent et bien tant pis pour elles
Je chante, persiste et signe, je m'appelle Jacques Brel.
The lyrics of Jacques Brel's Les Flamingants are a satirical commentary on the political and cultural tensions between the French-speaking Walloons and Dutch-speaking Flemish people in Belgium. Brel mocks the arrogance and self-importance of the Flemish nationalists, accusing them of being Nazis during the war and hypocritical Catholics in peacetime. He dismisses their art as a poor imitation of Italian and Spanish styles and their language as a burden on the country.
Brel's tone is one of anger and frustration, but also humor and irony. He ridicules the Flemish nationalists' claims to cultural superiority, pointing out their lack of sophistication and creativity. He also expresses his sense of identity as a French-speaking Belgian who refuses to be intimidated by the Flemish nationalists' attempts to impose their language and culture on the rest of the country.
The song has become a classic of Belgian popular culture, and is still a controversial and divisive topic. Brel's criticism of Flemish nationalism has been seen by some as anti-Flemish, while others view it as a powerful statement against racism, chauvinism, and intolerance.
Line by Line Meaning
Les Flamingants, chanson comique!
Addressing the Flamingants (Flemish National Party), Jacques Brel calls them a comical song.
Messieurs les Flamingants, j'ai deux mots а vous rire
Jacques Brel speaks to the Flamingants and says that he has two words to laugh at them.
Il y a trop longtemps que vous me faites frire
Jacques Brel states that the Flamingants have been making him laugh for too long.
А vous souffler dans l'cul, pour dev'nir autobus
Jacques Brel suggests that the Flamingants should be blown into a bus through their bottoms.
Vous voilа acrobates mais vraiment rien de plus
Jacques Brel implies that the Flamingants are nothing more than acrobats.
Nazis durant les guerres et catholiques, entre elles
Jacques Brel mentions the Flamingants' past as Nazis during the war and their present as devout Catholics.
Vous oscillez sans cesse du fusil au missel
Jacques Brel says that the Flamingants are constantly oscillating between the gun and the missal.
Vos regards sont lointains, votre humour est exsangue
Jacques Brel observes that the Flamingants have faraway looks and no sense of humour.
Bien qu'il y ait des rues а Gand qui pissent dans les deux langues
Jacques Brel acknowledges that while there are streets in Ghent with both languages, it doesn't change his opinion on the Flamingants.
Tu vois, quand j'pense а vous, j'aime que rien ne se perde
Jacques Brel insists that he doesn't want to leave anything unsaid when thinking about the Flamingants.
Messieurs les Flamingants, je vous emmerde
Jacques Brel rudely tells the Flamingants that he despises them.
Vous salissez la Flandre, mais la Flandre vous juge
Jacques Brel accuses the Flamingants of causing damage to Flanders and warns them of judgement from Flanders.
Voyez la mer du Nord, elle s'est enfuie de Bruges
Jacques Brel implies that the beauty of the North Sea has left Bruges due to the Flamingants' actions.
Cessez de me gonfler mes vieilles roubignoles
Jacques Brel asks the Flamingants to stop bothering him with their nonsense.
Avec votre art flamand italo-espagnol
Jacques Brel sarcastically comments on the Flamingants' art as a mix of Flemish, Italian, and Spanish culture.
Vous кtes tellement, tellement beaucoup trop lourds
Jacques Brel complains that the Flamingants are too heavy and difficult to deal with.
Que quand les soirs d'orage, des Chinois cultivйs
Jacques Brel uses the metaphor of wise Chinese people during a storm to highlight how the Flamingants make him feel.
Me demandent d'oщ je suis, je rйponds fatiguй
Jacques Brel says that whenever wise Chinese people ask him where he's from during a storm, he responds with exhaustion.
Et les larmes aux dents "Ik ben van Luxembourg"
Jacques Brel sarcastically claims that he's from Luxembourg with tears in his eyes.
Et si, aux jeunes femmes, on ose un chant flamand
Jacques Brel suggests that if someone were to sing a Flemish song to young women,
Elles s'envolent en rкvant aux oiseaux roses et blancs
it would cause the women to dream of pink and white birds and fly away.
Et je vous interdis d'espйrer que jamais
Jacques Brel forbids the Flamingants from hoping that,
А Londres, sous la pluie, on puisse vous croire anglais
in London, under the rain, they could be mistaken for English.
Et je vous interdis, а New York ou Milan
Jacques Brel also forbids the Flamingants from,
D'йructer, messeigneurs, autrement qu'en flamand
belching anything other than Flemish in New York or Milan.
Vous n'aurez pas l'air con, vraiment pas con du tout
Jacques Brel says that the Flamingants won't look dumb, not even a bit.
Et moi, je m'interdis de dire que je m'en fous
Jacques Brel admits that he can't say that he doesn't care.
Et je vous interdis d'obliger nos enfants
Jacques Brel tells the Flamingants to stop forcing their language on children.
Qui ne vous ont rien fait, а aboyer flamand
He insists that the children have done nothing wrong and shouldn't have to bark in Flemish.
Et si mes frиres se taisent et bien tant pis pour elles
Jacques Brel accepts that his brothers may not speak up and choose to stay quiet about this issue.
Je chante, persiste et signe, je m'appelle Jacques Brel.
However, he is determined to persist and sign his name to being against the Flamingants.
Contributed by Sydney R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michel Loncin
"Todd (*) évoque succinctement mais correctement la question linguistico-communautaire, qui obsédait un Brel ‘fier et honteux d'être Belge’ et dénonce l'amalgame que fait Brel: nationalisme flamand = fascistes = Flamingants = Flamands. Brel est unitariste comme son père. Il ne semble pas se rendre compte à quel point les Flamands ont failli perdre leur langue et leur culture, qu'ils ont été exploités et humiliés par les Fransquillons, la bourgeoisie possédante francophone.(in, Septentrion. Jaargang 14 (1985) ) ...
(*) Olivier Todd - "Jacques Brel, une vie"
Ce que Willy Devos, l'auteur de cet article, se garde bien de dire, c'est que "cette bourgeoisie possédante francophone" était , en fait la bourgeoisie FLAMANDE (tout particulièrement celle de Gand, Bruges et Anvers) parlant le français et MEPRISANT le PEUPLE flamand ... à l'instar de la bourgeoisie francophone de Bruxelles, Liège ou Charleroi, MEPRISANT de même le PEUPLE wallon !!! Et il convient de dire ... de rappeler que cette même bourgeoisie flamande s'est ... "convertie" au flamingantisme et au nationalisme flamand par opportunisme politique et électoral !!!
SURTOUT, il convient à présent de dénoncer cette Flandre (bourgeoisie et peuples désormais confondus !), enrichie par les investissements venus d'une Wallonie alors PROSPÈRE ... qui a "oublié" ce qu'elle doit de fait à cette Wallonie, applique sans scrupule le "œil pour œil - dent pour dent" à l'égard de la francophonie qui, depuis un demi siècle, ne se remet pas de la ruine de cette industrie qui a fait autrefois sa prospérité (essentiellement par la faute de ses "politiciens" !) et taxe la globalité du peuple wallon de ... "FAINÉANT" et "PROFITEUR" ... tout en lui faisant "sentir" le poids de sa ... "MAJORITÉ" !!!
Jean-Luc Vanmelo
Ces paroles de notre grand Jacques m'ont fait comprendre beaucoup de choses!
Wizard of Oz
Un régal. Merci pour ce super album ...
nilivier
Rappeler quand même que la famille Brel était francophone mais flamande. Ce qui rend encore plus savoureuse cette chanson.
Jean-Luc Vanmelo
Oui Francophone comme tu le signales si bien, mais Flamand avant tout d'origine de Bruges! Ils ont adopté le Français tout simplement parce que le Flamand n'est pas une langue mais bien un dialectique! Et que le Français était la langue de référence en Flandre à son époque!!!
nilivier
@Jean-Luc Vanmelo Merci à toi pour ces précisions utiles (et qui ne vont pas manquer d'agacer les flamingants) !
Jean-Luc Vanmelo
Oui tout à fait nilivrier, tu sais cette expérience à Bruxelles en côtoyant les Flamands pendant environ 14 ans! m'a fait comprendre beaucoup de choses par rapport à cette grosse dénonciation de notre grand Jacques, nous Francophone, nous ne pouvons pas comprendre ce que la Flandre a connu en son temps, surtout quand il dit "Et je vous interdis d'obliger nos enfants, car ils ne vous rien fait, à aboyer Flamand! La bourgeoisie Flamande avait adopté le Français au sein de leur famille! N'oublions pas non plus que les hauts gradés de l'armée Belge, à l'époque, étaient déjà Flamand et qu'ils donnaient leurs ordres en Français que les Flamands ne comprenaient pas et qu'ils en ont payé un lourd tribu :( pendant le première guerre mondial "14-18" d'où leur haine vis à vis des francophones!
Carmen SIMONETTI
ce génie à l'état pur je suis une inconditionnelle brélienne depuis mes 14 ans et toujours d'actualité visionnaire
Jean-Luc Vanmelo
Perso, ça fait 60 ans que j'admire ce monument!
red ibis
La melodie de cette chanson ressemble à a rã de Joao Donato.
Nao acha ?
Abraço
Carmen SIMONETTI
@Jean-Luc Vanmelo jé ne crois pas brel n a jamais copíe personne buen dia