Hallyday's father, Léon Smet (1908–1989), was Belgian; his mother, Huguette Clerc (1920–2007), was French. Born in Paris, Hallyday took his stage name from his aunt Desta's husband and dance partner Lee Hallyday, a pseudonym for Lee Ketcham, an expatriate Oklahoman, performer, and MC at the Café de Paris where Johnny began his singing career. Johnny was raised by Desta and Lee from a very young age, with Lee being his first manager. Johnny was always very loyal to Lee and secured him a permanent job as a producer and A&R man with his label, Philips Records until Lee's retirement and relocation back to Oklahoma.
His debut single, "Laisse les filles" was released on the Vogue label in March 1960. His first album, Hello Johnny, was released in 1960. In 1961 his cover of "Let's Twist Again" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. It topped almost every European chart, although the track did not appear in the UK Singles Chart. He appeared on the American The Ed Sullivan Show with American singing star Connie Francis in a show that was taped at the Moulin Rouge nightclub in Paris. He also staged many appearances in the Paris Olympia under the management of the late Bruno Coquatrix. For their first concert, The Jimi Hendrix Experience opened for Johnny Hallyday in Évreux on 13 October 1966. Black-and-white footage, also from October 1966, exists of Hallyday partying with Hendrix, his manager Chas Chandler and others. There also is a widely published monochrome photograph of Hallyday walking somewhere in Paris in late May 1966 with Bob Dylan.
At the end of the 1960s, Hallyday made a string of albums with Mick Jones and Tommy Brown as musical directors, and Big Jim Sullivan, Bobby Graham and Jimmy Page as session musicians. These are Jeune Homme, Rivière... Ouvre ton Lit (a.k.a. Je suis né dans la rue) and Vie. On Je suis né dans la rue, Hallyday also hired both Peter Frampton and the Small Faces. Amongst their contributions are the songs Amen (Bang Bang), Reclamation (News Report), and Regarde Pour Moi (What You Will), which are variations of Small Faces and Humble Pie (Frampton's band) songs—tracks and they all play on the album. Often forgotten is Hallyday's non-LP single and EP track Que Je T'aime from the same sessions. By 1969 alone, his sales of records exceeded twelve million.
One of Hallyday's later concerts, 100% Johnny: Live à La Tour Eiffel in 2000, attracted an audience of 500,000 and 9.5 million television viewers (the show was broadcast live on French TV). In December 2005, Hallyday had his third number-one single in France, "Mon Plus Beau Noël" (after "Tous ensemble" and "Marie"), dedicated to his adopted daughter Jade. Shortly before announcing his retirement from touring, he released a blues-flavored album, Le Cœur d'un homme, on 12 November 2007. The album hit No. 1 in both France and French-speaking Belgium. In addition to the lead single "Always", Le Cœur d'un homme features "T'aimer si mal", a duet with bluesman Taj Mahal and "I Am the Blues", an English-language song written for Hallyday by U2's lead singer Bono. His next album, Ça ne finira jamais, released in 2008, another No. 1 on the French album chart, and its lead single, "Ça n'finira jamais", also reached No. 1. In 2008 he recorded a series of acoustic songs with French musician Drexl Jonez. Hallyday's most recent album, also a No. 1 hit in France, is Tour 66: Stade de France 2009, a live set recorded at Stade de France during his farewell tour with appearances by Drexl Jonez on the guitar.
French movie producers Michèle and Laurent Pétin introduced Johnny Hallyday to Hong Kong film director Johnnie To. Hallyday was cast as the main role of To's Vengeance after meeting with the director in early 2008. The shooting began in November 2008 and concluded in February 2009.
He was married for 15 years to popular Bulgarian-French singer Sylvie Vartan and the two were considered a "golden couple" for 20 years.
Hallyday completed 181 tours, had 18 platinum albums, and sold more than 110 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.
Hallyday remains largely unknown outside the Francophone world, thus earning the nickname "the biggest rock star you've never heard of" in English-speaking countries.
On December 5th, 2017 Hallyday died, at age 74, in Marnes-la-Coquette, France.
Cadillac
Johnny Hallyday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'veux plus saluer bien bas
Je veux plus qu'les gens d'en haut passent et me voient pas
J'vais semer aux Amériques
Je vais inventer des lois
Des métaux et des musiques, je vais fonder Détroit
Cadillac
Cadillac, si on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Cadillac
Ouais, il était comme ça
Cadillac, un petit gars né près d'Toulouse
Garonne, ouais
J'veux plus vivre dans une cage
J'veux plus planter de tabac
Au sud de la Loire, t'es rien si t'es pas Roi des Rois
Je m'en vais fonder une ville bleue
Oui, je m'en vais fonder Détroit
D'où jailliront des usines et un rock de combat
Cadillac
Oh, on est tous comme ça
Cadillac, sSi on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Cadillac, oh, oh
Ouais, il était comme ça
Cadillac
Un p'tit gars comme toi
Cadillac
Il était comme ça
Cadillac, sSi on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Cadillac, oh, oh
Il était comme ça
Cadillac, un petit gars né près d'Toulouse, Garonne
Musiques et limousines
Moteurs, métal et combats
Il a fallu qu'un p'tit gars vienne là pour fonder Détroit
Cadillac
Il a fallu qu'un p'tit gars
Vienne pour fonder Détroit
Oh, Cadillac
Oui, tu étais comme ça
Cadillac, si on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Oh, oh
Cadillac, si on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Oh, oh, Cadillac
Cadillac
The lyrics to Johnny Hallyday's song "Cadillac" speak about a desire to break free from societal constraints and pursue one's dreams without compromise. The singer expresses a desire to no longer bow down in submission and be overlooked by those in power, instead opting to spread his wings and head across the Atlantic to America. He speaks of wanting to create a new city, a place of innovation and cultural significance, where he can plant his own flag and be the master of his own destiny. The chorus speaks of Cadillac, a man who embodies this spirit of freedom and independence, unapologetically leaving those who don't appreciate him behind. The verse ends with a rallying cry to join him in the pursuit of building a better future, where music and industry intertwine to create something truly unique.
The song is a call to arms for those who feel trapped in their current circumstances and need the inspiration to find a new path. Its message is one of hope, encouraging listeners to take control of their lives and make something meaningful from the chaos. The reference to Cadillac is significant, as it signifies the ultimate symbol of freedom and independence, a luxury car that represents the American Dream. This dream is what the singer seeks to embody and share with others, a beacon of hope that leads to brighter horizons.
Overall, "Cadillac" is a powerful anthem that speaks to the heart of those seeking a way out of their current situation. Its lyrics are insightful, inspiring, and resonate with anyone who has ever felt unfulfilled or trapped. The message is clear: it's time to take action and make your dreams a reality, no matter the obstacles in your way.
Line by Line Meaning
J'veux plus courber l'échine
I don't want to bow down anymore
J'veux plus saluer bien bas
I don't want to greet others respectfully anymore
Je veux plus qu'les gens d'en haut passent et me voient pas
I don't want the people in power to ignore me anymore
J'vais semer aux Amériques
I'm going to travel to America
Je vais inventer des lois
I will create new rules
Des métaux et des musiques, je vais fonder Détroit
I will found Detroit with the creation of metals and music
Cadillac
Cadillac car brand
Oh, il était comme ça
Oh, that's the way he was
Cadillac, si on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Cadillac, if you're not liked, you leave
Ouais, il était comme ça
Yeah, that's the way he was
Cadillac, un petit gars né près d'Toulouse Garonne, ouais
Cadillac, a young boy born near Toulouse Garonne, yeah
J'veux plus vivre dans une cage
I don't want to live in a cage anymore
J'veux plus planter de tabac
I don't want to plant tobacco anymore
Au sud de la Loire, t'es rien si t'es pas Roi des Rois
In the south of the Loire, you are nothing if you are not the King of Kings
Je m'en vais fonder une ville bleue
I'm going to found a blue city
D'où jailliront des usines et un rock de combat
From where factories and rebellious rock music will emerge
Oh, on est tous comme ça
Oh, we are all like that
Cadillac, si on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Cadillac, if you're not liked, you leave
Cadillac, oh, oh
Cadillac, oh, oh
Il était comme ça
That's the way he was
Cadillac, un petit gars né près d'Toulouse, Garonne
Cadillac, a young boy born near Toulouse Garonne
Musiques et limousines
Music and limousines
Moteurs, métal et combats
Engines, metal and fights
Il a fallu qu'un p'tit gars vienne là pour fonder Détroit
It took a young boy to come and found Detroit
Il a fallu qu'un p'tit gars
It took a young boy
Vienne pour fonder Détroit
To come and found Detroit
Oui, tu étais comme ça
Yes, that's the way you were
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Georges Augier, Jean-Pierre Bucolo, Etienne Gil-Roda
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leconte fabienne
J'veux plus courber l'échine
J'veux plus saluer bien bas
Je veux plus qu'les gens d'en haut passent et me voient pas
J'vais semer aux Amériques
Je vais inventer des lois
Des métaux et des musiques, je vais fonder Détroit
Cadillac
Oh, il était comme ça
Cadillac, si on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Cadillac
Ouais, il était comme ça
Cadillac, un petit gars né près d'Toulouse
Garonne, ouais
J'veux plus vivre dans une cage
J'veux plus planter de tabac
Au sud de la Loire, t'es rien si t'es pas Roi des Rois
Je m'en vais fonder une ville bleue
Oui, je m'en vais fonder Détroit
D'où jailliront des usines et un rock de combat
Cadillac
Oh, on est tous comme ça
Cadillac, sSi on t'aime pas, tu t'en vas
Cadillac, oh, oh
Ouais, il était comme ça
Cadillac
Un p'tit…
Bruneau he
un vrai Rock de Johnny, une chanson énorme, un Johnny au sommet de sa forme et ça devient un chef d'œuvre.......
Vanina
Il frappe fort le son Hallyday🎵🎶🎶🎸🎸
Jojo
J'ai 17 ans et je suis fan de Johnny et je resterai fan pour tout jour 🙏🏻
Favre Raphael
Yes 👍 cool tu est sur le bon chemin
emmanuel dubas
Johnny restera toujours le meilleur dans nos cœurs 😊
normand breton
Superbe chanson la voix extraordinaire Johnny le top❤❤❤❤
Francoise Crl
Vu en concert à Bercy en 1990, géant, pas de mots !! Cadillac, chanson préférée du concert !!
Alors On N Attend Pas Patrick
Johnny tu as été, tu es et tu seras toujours eternellement le meilleur 👍
Jean marie Ferger
Je découvre notre jojo avec étonnement . Surtout ce morceau que je viens d' écouter après des années .j'en comprends le sens.
Merci.
cédric barbry
irremplaçable chanteur interprète hors du commun il nous manque !!!