Dassin was born in New York City to Jules Dassin (Yiddish actor and film noir director) and Béatrice Launer. He began his childhood first in New York and Los Angeles, California. However after his father became a victim of the anti-communist policies of Senator Joseph McCarthy, he and his family moved from place to place across Europe.
After studying at Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, Dassin moved back to the United States to go to college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan after doing very well on his bachelor's exam. After college, he moved back again to France where, while working at a radio station, a record label convinced him to begin to record his songs.
By the early 1970s, Dassin's songs topped the charts in France and he became well known. Probably as a recognition of his parents' left leanings, Dassin's records were officially released in the USSR. However, the political views of his parents were not well known to the general public in the USSR, and Dassin's popularity in the USSR should be connected to his talent only. He was also a talented polyglot, recording songs in German, Spanish, Italian and Greek, as well as French and English.
He died of a heart attack during a vacation to Tahiti on August 20, 1980. He is buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Songs:Les Champs-Élysées ,L'été indien ,Ça va pas changer le Monde ,Et si tu n'existais pas, Salut ....
Kansas City
Joe Dassin Lyrics
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I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come!
They've got a lot of crazy women there
And I'm gonna get me one
I'm gonna be standing on the corner Twelfth street and Bank,
I'm gonna be standing on the corner, standing of Twelfth street and Bank!
And when that Kansas City woman comes
I might take a train, I might take a plane
I don't know how I'm gonna get there,
But I'm gonna get there just the same!
I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come!
They've got a lot of crazy women there
And I'm gonna get me one
I might take a train, I might take a plane
I don't know how I'm gonna get there,
But I'm gonna get there just the same!
I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come!
They've got a lot of crazy women there
And I'm gonna get me one
They've got a lot of crazy women there
And I'm gonna get me one!
In "Kansas City," Joe Dassin sings about his intentions to travel to the city in question to find himself a woman. The song is about the allure and excitement of going to a new place, and the thrill of anticipating what is to come. Dassin is confident that he will find the right woman for him in this new location, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get there.
The lyrics suggest that there are many "crazy women" in Kansas City, and Dassin is eager to find one for himself. There is an air of excitement and anticipation in the song, as Dassin talks about standing on the corner of Twelfth street and Bank, waiting for his Kansas City woman to come. He doesn't yet know how he will get there, but he is determined to find a way.
Overall, "Kansas City" is a fun and upbeat song about the adventure of seeking out new experiences and the excitement of navigating the unknown. It is a classic representation of American travel songs, and it remains a popular song to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come,
I am heading towards Kansas City and can't wait to be there!
They've got a lot of crazy women there
And I'm gonna get me one
Kansas City is known for its wild women and I plan to snag one for myself.
I'm gonna be standing on the corner Twelfth street and Bank,
I'm gonna be standing on the corner, standing of Twelfth street and Bank!
And when that Kansas City woman comes
I'm gonna get me mine
I'll be waiting for a woman on the corner of Twelfth street and Bank in Kansas City and as soon as she comes, I'll make my move and get what I want.
I might take a train, I might take a plane
I don't know how I'm gonna get there,
But I'm gonna get there just the same!
I'm not sure which mode of transportation I'll take, but I WILL get to Kansas City no matter what!
They've got a lot of crazy women there
And I'm gonna get me one
Once again, I'm going to Kansas City specifically to find and win over a crazy lady.
They've got a lot of crazy women there
And I'm gonna get me one!
My goal in going to Kansas City is to find and acquire a wild woman, and I won't settle for anything less.
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.