Between 1963 and 1964, Dutronc was the guitarist for a group called El Toro et les Cyclones who recorded several EPs. During this time he could frequently be seen on stage at the Golf Drouot as backing guitarist for stars like Eddy Mitchell. He then went and did his obligatory military service. After his return he landed a job as assistant at Vogue Records to Artistic Director Jacques Wolfsohn. In this capacity he arranged songs (there is no indication that he wrote the lyrics for any of these songs) for several lesser known artists like Zou Zou and CLeo. In 1966 (or maybe the end of 1965), he was teamed with writer Jacques Lanzmann, then director at Lui magazine, to create songs for artists who were arranged to be the next big thing. Benjamin was the first of these singers. But his first EP did horribly and he was unceremoniously booted from Vogue. One day after hearing the demos that Dutronc had made of a song, Wolfsohn declared that Jacques should do the record for release. "Et moi, et moi, et moi" was unleashed on the world in 1966 and overnight one of France's biggest stars was born.
With Lanzmann in charge of the lyrics and Dutronc taking care of the music, the two created some of the most lasting songs in French pop history. There is almost no French person alive who does not know "Et moi, et moi, et moi", "Les Playboys", and "Le cactus". Other great songs include "Mini, mini, mini", "Le responsable", "J'ai un tigre dans ma guitare", and "L'opportuniste". The music on most of these songs is a British garage sound and Dutronc has often been compared to Ray Davies of The Kinks, and that comparison works musically as well. What really set Dutronc apart from the other singers of the time was his parody. His songs are not celebrating the "youth generation" but mocking it. Dutronc's biggest hit was the beautiful "Il est cinq heures, Paris s'eveille", with the classical flute player Roger Bourdin (not as some had thought Jean-Pierre Rampal) performing an essential part. In this song, Dutronc manages to paint a remarkably correct picture of the French capital in the early morning hours in the late 1960's.
Dutronc's "La fille du père Noël" and David Bowie's "Jean Genie" share a riff likely derived from the Yardbirds' accelerated version of Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man." The Belgian singer Arno recorded a medley of the Dutronc and Bowie songs ("Jean Baltazaarr") with the American singer Beverly Jo Scott that makes clear their similarities.
In 1973, Dutronc began a second career as an actor in the film Antoine et Sébastien, directed by Jean-Marie Périer, a career that would afterward occupy the greater share of his attention. Directors for whom he has worked include Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Lelouch and Maurice Pialat. He has also returned to recording in recent years.
Also in 1973, "Et moi, et moi, et moi" was adapted with English lyrics by Ray Dorset, leader of Mungo Jerry. "Alright Alright Alright" became a UK No. 3 hit for the group.
Interestingly, the early Dutronc songs usually had a classic late-sixties freakbeat backing (provided by session musicians) that has managed to win Jacques Dutronc a new audience in the hip retro clubs of the UK and USA in the late 1990s, and this continues today. (Ironically, most of the people who will be dancing to the likes of "Le Cactus" will have no idea what the words actually mean). Because of this, he is celebrated in the 1997 Cornershop song "Brimful of Asha" thus: "Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogie/The Heavy Hitters and the Chichi music."
He currently lives in the town of Monticello on the island of Corsica.
L'Opportuniste
Jacques Dutronc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je suis pour le socialisme
Et pour le capitalisme
Parce que je suis opportuniste
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
Toujours du bon côté
Je n'ai pas peur des profiteurs
Ni même des agitateurs
J'fais confiance aux électeurs
Et j'en profite pour faire mon beurre
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste, je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je suis de tous les partis
Je suis de toutes les party
Je suis de toutes les coteries
Je suis le roi des convertis
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste, je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je crie vive la révolution
Je crie vive les institutions
Je crie vive les manifestations
Je crie vive la collaboration
Non, jamais je ne conteste
Ni revendique ni ne proteste
Je ne sais faire qu'un seul geste
Celui de retourner ma veste, de retourner ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je l'ai tellement retournée
Qu'elle craque de tous côtés
À la prochaine révolution
Je retourne mon pantalon
The lyrics of Jacques Dutronc's "L'Opportuniste" speak of a man who is willing to align himself with any political or social view that will benefit him. He claims to support communism, socialism, and capitalism, essentially all the ideologies out there, as long as he can gain from it. He is dubbed an opportunist since he takes the side that is most beneficial to him in any given situation. He does not side with the protestors, the dissenters, or even the profiteers - he only trusts in the voters to advance his interests.
Throughout the song, there is a repetition of the phrase "Je retourne ma veste" ("I turn my coat"), which means the act of changing allegiances to support the winning side. The song suggests that the singer has so often changed his position that his coat has become worn out and is in need of replacement.
In a satirical way, "L'Opportuniste" is a social commentary that highlights the superficial nature of political allegiances and the dangers inherent in self-interest that leads to compromising one's principles. The song was a hit in French culture, and it is still widely popular today due to its timeless and relatable message about opportunism.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis pour le communisme
I claim to support communism
Je suis pour le socialisme
I also claim to support socialism
Et pour le capitalisme
And capitalism too
Parce que je suis opportuniste
Because I am an opportunist
Il y en a qui contestent
Some people protest
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Some make demands and fight back
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
I only do one thing
Je retourne ma veste, je retourne ma veste
I switch sides, I switch sides
Toujours du bon côté
Always on the right side (for me)
Je n'ai pas peur des profiteurs
I'm not afraid of profiteers
Ni même des agitateurs
Or those who stir up trouble
J'fais confiance aux électeurs
I trust the voters
Et j'en profite pour faire mon beurre
And I take advantage of the situation to advance my own interests
Je suis de tous les partis
I am part of every political party
Je suis de toutes les party
I attend every party
Je suis de toutes les coteries
I am a member of every clique
Je suis le roi des convertis
I am the king of the converts
Je crie vive la révolution
I shout 'Long live the revolution'
Je crie vive les institutions
I shout 'Long live the institutions'
Je crie vive les manifestations
I shout 'Long live the protests'
Je crie vive la collaboration
I shout 'Long live collaboration' (even with those I've opposed before)
Non, jamais je ne conteste
No, I never contest anything
Ni revendique ni ne proteste
I don't make any demands or protest
Je ne sais faire qu'un seul geste
I only know how to switch sides
Celui de retourner ma veste, de retourner ma veste
The one where I switch sides, I switch sides
Toujours du bon côté
Always on the right side (for me)
Je l'ai tellement retournée
I've switched sides so often
Qu'elle craque de tous côtés
That it's starting to fall apart
À la prochaine révolution
When the next revolution comes
Je retourne mon pantalon
I'll even switch my pants (i.e. my allegiances)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Salut Ô Éditions, SO2 Édition, Quatryo Éditions
Written by: Anne Segalen, Jacques Dutronc, Jacques Lanzmann
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheTytyblack
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste, je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je l'ai tellement retournée
Qu'elle craque de tous côtés
À la prochaine révolution
Je retourne mon pantalon
Jacques Dutronc.
@chantalcodet4893
Et si on l'envoyait à l'Elysée aujourd'hui cette chanson ?... On est en plein dedans... Bravo Jacques !
@faridnabti2889
C'est ce qui se passe de toute époque c'est pas que aujourd'hui😅😅😅
@chantalcodet4893
@@faridnabti2889 C'est vrai, mais aujourd'hui ça dépasse l'entendement !
@johnkagabo4408
@@chantalcodet4893 , Cette Chanson ... Envoyé à l Elysée ... Hoohh !! 😅Certains sortiraient en courant , comme Si c'était une Bombe !!!!😅🤣😂
@palapadadouwa807
Oh ils la connaissent par cœur là bas tkt😎😎
Enfin j'espère 👸🏿🦁🐐
@christinedelmaere7216
Chanson intemporelle !!! de nos jours, ils ne se cachent même plus....
@johnkagabo4408
Hoooh !! P*** !! Français ... Vous devriez remercier Dieu de vous avoir donné un Artiste pareil !! Unique, Exceptionnel !! Et grâce à ces Ytb , j'espère que même les plus jeunes vont tomber dessus !!😉
@gwenaeldilhuit9905
Et pourtant cette chanson n'est pas d'hier ❤
@gwenaeldilhuit9905
C une merveille ❤❤❤❤❤
@suzannebellina7654
Je suis opportuniste à la grâce de dieu