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.

Les Prénoms De Paris
Jacques Brel Lyrics

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Le soleil qui se lève
Et caresse les toits
Et c'est Paris le jour

La Seine qui se promène
Et me guide du doigt
Et c'est Paris toujours

Et mon cœur qui s'arrête
Sur ton cœur qui sourit
Et c'est Paris bonjour

Et ta main dans ma main
Qui me dit déjà oui
Et c'est Paris l'amour

Le premier rendez-vous
À l'île Saint-Louis
C'est Paris qui commence

Et le premier baiser
Volé aux Tuileries
Et c'est Paris la chance

Et le premier baiser
Reçu sous un portail
Et c'est Paris romance

Et deux têtes qui tournent
En regardant Versailles
Et c'est Paris la France

Des jours que l'on oublie
Qui oublient de nous voir
Et c'est Paris l'espoir

Des heures où nos regards
Ne sont qu'un seul regard
Et c'est Paris miroir

Rien que des nuits encore
Qui séparent nos chansons
Et c'est Paris bonsoir

Et ce jour-là enfin
Où tu ne dis plus non
Et c'est Paris ce soir

Une chambre un peu triste
Où s'arrête la ronde
Et c'est Paris nous deux

Un regard qui reçoit
La tendresse du monde
Et c'est Paris tes yeux

Ce serment que je pleure
Plutôt que ne le dis
C'est Paris si tu veux

Et savoir que demain
Sera comme aujourd'hui
C'est Paris merveilleux

Mais la fin du voyage
La fin de la chanson
Et c'est Paris tout gris

Dernier jour, dernière heure
Première larme aussi
Et c'est Paris la pluie

Ces jardins remontés
Qui n'ont plus leur parure
Et c'est Paris l'ennui

La gare où s'accomplit
La dernière déchirure
C'est Paris fini

Loin des yeux, loin du cœur
Chassé du paradis
Et c'est Paris chagrin

Mais une lettre de toi
Une lettre qui dit oui
Et c'est Paris demain

Des villes et des villages
Les roues tremblent de chance
C'est Paris en chemin

Et toi qui m'attends là

Et tout qui recommence
Et c'est Paris, je reviens

Overall Meaning

The song "Les Prénoms De Paris" by Jacques Brel is a beautiful depiction of the city of Paris and the various emotions it brings to people. Starting with the sunrise and the way it caresses the rooftops, the first verse personifies Paris as a living thing, greeting people with a cheerful "bonjour". The second verse describes the Seine river, which guides the singer and serves as a constant presence in the city. The third verse describes the feeling of falling in love in Paris, from the first date on l'île Saint-Louis to the first kiss in the Tuileries. The fourth verse expresses the hope and passion that can be found in Paris, through the intimacy of shared looks and the comfort of pavements.

The song then takes a bittersweet turn, as the singer describes the moments that lead to the end of a relationship, and the sorrow of leaving Paris behind. The final part of the song, however, brings back hope and joy, as the singer receives a letter letting them know that they can return to Paris and start anew. Overall, "Les Prénoms De Paris" is a love letter to the city and all the emotions it can evoke, from happiness and love to sadness and regret.

Les Prénoms De ParisJacques Brel Lyrics

Mary M. Brandes

on La Valse à Mille Temps

Les Prénoms De Paris
Jacques Brel Lyrics