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.
Pour moi la vie va commencer
Johnny Hallyday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En revenant dans ce pays
Là où le soleil et le vent
Là où mes amis, mes parents
Avaient gardé mon cœur d'enfant
Pour moi la vie va commencer
Et mon passé sort de l'oubli
Chevauchant avec mes amis
Pour moi la vie va commencer
Pour moi la vie va commencer
Je peux voir descendre la nuit
Sans avoir peur d'être surpris
Tandis qu'au loin comme un troupeau
Passent les ombres des chevaux
Pour moi la vie va commencer
Et sous le ciel de ce pays
Sans jamais connaître l'ennui
Mes années passeront sans bruit
Entre le ciel et mes amis
Pour moi la vie va commencer
Pour moi la vie va commencer
Pour moi la vie va commencer
The lyrics of "Pour moi la vie va commencer" by Johnny Hallyday describe the artist's return to his home country, where he finds solace in the familiarity of his surroundings and the people he knows. He reflects on how his past has shaped him and helped him remain connected to his inner child, and imagines a future where he can live without fear and experience the simple pleasures of life, such as riding horses with his friends. The song is characterized by a strong sense of nostalgia and a longing for a simpler time before the challenges of adulthood set in.
The first verse sets the scene for the song, with Johnny Hallyday describing his return to his home country and the positive feelings it evokes in him. He mentions the sun, wind, and the presence of his loved ones, all of which help him reconnect with his childhood self. In the second verse, he reflects on his past, which he sees as something that has helped him become who he is today. This allows him to look towards the future with hope and optimism, knowing that he has the strength to face whatever comes his way.
The third verse is perhaps the most poignant, as Johnny Hallyday describes the peacefulness and beauty of the world around him. He speaks of the night descending without fear, and the shadows of horses passing in the distance. This serves as a metaphor for the passing of time, and the importance of living in the moment rather than worrying about the future. The final verse emphasizes the importance of friendship and community, with Johnny Hallyday imagining a future where he can live a fulfilling life surrounded by those he loves.
Overall, "Pour moi la vie va commencer" is a deeply introspective song that speaks to the human desire for connection, belonging, and purpose. It touches on themes of nostalgia, hope, and the passage of time, with Johnny Hallyday painting a vivid and emotionally resonant portrait of his life and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour moi la vie va commencer
The start of a new beginning, a chance to start afresh.
En revenant dans ce pays
Returning to a place where one grew up, filled with memories and nostalgia.
Là où le soleil et le vent
A place filled with natural beauty and freedom.
Là où mes amis, mes parents
A place where one has relationships that are important and uplifting.
Avaient gardé mon cœur d'enfant
A place where the innocence of childhood can be held onto and remembered.
Et mon passé sort de l'oubli
The memories of the past are brought back to life, no longer forgotten.
Foulant le sol de ma prairie
Walking on familiar ground, with a sense of belonging and home.
Chevauchant avec mes amis
Riding horses with friends, enjoying the freedom and joy of youth.
Je peux voir descendre la nuit
A sense of calm and security in being able to watch nightfall without fear.
Sans avoir peur d'être surpris
Unburdened by anxiety and worry, feeling safe in one's surroundings.
Tandis qu'au loin comme un troupeau
Watching from afar, with detachment but also appreciation, the beauty of nature.
Passent les ombres des chevaux
Appreciating and admiring the beauty of horses and the natural world.
Et sous le ciel de ce pays
Feeling a sense of belonging and comfort under the sky of one's homeland.
Sans jamais connaître l'ennui
Never experiencing boredom, because of the love and enjoyment of the surroundings.
Mes années passeront sans bruit
The years will pass by, but in a gentle and peaceful way.
Entre le ciel et mes amis
Living life in between the comforting familiarity of one's homeland and the support of friends.
Pour moi la vie va commencer
The start of a new beginning, filled with hope and promise.
Pour moi la vie va commencer
The start of a new beginning, filled with excitement and anticipation.
Pour moi la vie va commencer
The start of a new beginning, filled with optimism and joy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, FRANCIS DREYFUS MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jean-Jacques Henri Robert Debout
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vince011
Mes parents n'étaient pas fans de Johnny, pas de vinyles, pas de CD, pas de K7 mais je l'entendais régulièrement sur Radio Nostalgie ou à la TV lors des émissions de variétés et notamment "Salut les copains"... Aujourd'hui Johnny est parti et je m'aperçois que je connais toutes ses chansons les plus connues plus ou moins par coeur. Johnny a conquis des générations entières, il est un homme, une voix, un artiste et sa disparition ne laisse personne indifférent. Comme Claude François, Dalida, Piaf et bien d'autres il est et restera éternel. Johnny merci pour toute ton oeuvre, musicale et cinématographique, merci d'avoir été l'homme que tu as été et repose en paix.
Hallyday passion
Moi aussi à la maison, pas de vinyle, pas de cd, rien de Johnny. Beau-père et mère pas fan. Puis moi en 1978, à l'âge de 5 ans, je le découvre à la télé, depuis je suis devenu un grand fan. Vu plusieurs fois sur scène. Aujourd'hui c'est un grand vide. Ma passion pour ce grand artiste qu'il a été ne m'a jamais quitté et ne me quittera jamais.
silvia samez
L homme? Discutible comme chanteur,OUI
stephane
C'est une autre vie qui commence pour notre Johnny national ! J'ai jamais été fan de ces chansons, mais quand on voit une telle longévité professionnelle, sans jamais être ringard ; il a toujours su se réinventer au bon moment, le génie pour s'entourer des meilleurs ! Le plus grand respect pour cet homme de spectacle mais surtout de scène, qui ne savait pas chanter en playback qui donnait tout dès qu'il avait un micro dans la main.
R.I.P Johnny , une idole nous quitte mais une légende intemporelle est née
DUCELLIER MARCEL
comme tout le monde il a "fait du play-back"
CSE GIH MARLIOZ
Pas énormément.. en live concert ce n’était pas du play black Johnny la star française
FanJohnny63 Jojo63
@DUCELLIER MARCEL j amais
Josyane Courteille
@DUCELLIER MARCEL pas mon Johnny. Ca sûrement pas.
Isabelle MOREAU PORTALIS
Je l'écoute régulièrement, cette chanson (tous les jours...);
C'est d'une beauté ..... la musique en disant autant que les paroles : on retire celles ci, on comprend parfaitement de quoi ça peut parler, cette musique toute d'allégresse... (mais on a besoin de lui !) : Un Johnny heureux, ivre de bonheur même, pas tourmenté... Bellissimo.
ghast craft
Beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful, amazing, magnificent, it makes me cry every time!!