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.
avant
Johnny Hallyday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qu'est-c'qui t'a décidé?
Coup de tête ou bien pire
L'idéal, les idées
Si les apparences
Ressemblent à un coup à tirer
Est-c'que ta main tremble
Avant de frapper?
Se porter volontaire
Pour la basse besogne
Obligé à se taire
Le premier qui grogne
Sous les grands ensembles
Laisse-le faire, isolé
Est-c'que ta main tremble
Avant de frapper?
Dans l'ombre, et l'attente
Un doigt sur la détente
Dans l'ombre, et l'attente
Un doigt sur la détente
Comme tu as renoncé
À ton libre arbitre
Celui qui a le titre
T'envoie les yeux fermés
Comme un chien
Un chien enragé
Est-c'que ta main tremble
Avant de frapper?
Dans l'ombre, et l'attente
Un doigt sur la détente
Dans l'ombre, et l'attente
Un doigt sur la détente
Un doigt sur la détente
The lyrics of Johnny Hallyday's song "Avant" delve into themes of decision-making, inner conflict, and the consequences of actions. The opening verse questions the motives behind a crucial decision - whether it was impulsive or driven by something deeper such as ideals and convictions. The uncertainty and tension are palpable, as there is a sense of hesitation and doubt before taking a significant step. The imagery of a trembling hand before striking highlights the emotional turmoil and gravity of the situation at hand.
The second verse delves into the darker aspects of being compelled to carry out a task, possibly against one's will or moral compass. The idea of being forced to remain silent even in the face of dissent reflects a sense of helplessness and isolation. The repetition of whether the hand trembles before striking emphasizes the internal struggle and conflict with one's own conscience and values.
The chorus underscores the tension and anticipation that precede an action with irreversible consequences. The imagery of having a finger on the trigger metaphorically represents being on the brink of making a crucial decision that can have lasting repercussions. The repetitive nature of the chorus conveys a sense of building pressure and anxiety, mirroring the heightened emotions and stakes involved.
The final verse explores the concept of relinquishing one's autonomy and succumbing to external influences or authority figures. The imagery of being sent off blindly like an enraged dog implies a loss of control and agency, further highlighting themes of power dynamics and manipulation. The lingering question of whether the hand trembles before striking resonates with the overarching theme of internal conflict and moral dilemmas. The repetition of having a finger on the trigger serves as a haunting reminder of the weight of one's actions and the uncertainties that come with making impactful choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Au moment de choisir
When it comes to making a decision
Qu'est-c'qui t'a décidé?
What made you decide?
Coup de tête ou bien pire
Was it a rash decision or something worse?
L'idéal, les idées
The ideal, the ideas
Si les apparences
If appearances
Ressemblent à un coup à tirer
Seem like a shot to be taken
Est-c'que ta main tremble
Does your hand tremble
Avant de frapper?
Before striking?
Se porter volontaire
To volunteer
Pour la basse besogne
For the dirty work
Obligé à se taire
Forced to remain silent
Le premier qui grogne
The first one who complains
Sous les grands ensembles
Under the big structures
Laisse-le faire, isolé
Let him do it, alone
Est-c'que ta main tremble
Does your hand tremble
Avant de frapper?
Before striking?
Dans l'ombre, et l'attente
In the shadows, and waiting
Un doigt sur la détente
A finger on the trigger
Dans l'ombre, et l'attente
In the shadows, and waiting
Un doigt sur la détente
A finger on the trigger
Comme tu as renoncé
As you have given up
À ton libre arbitre
Your free will
Celui qui a le titre
The one with the title
T'envoie les yeux fermés
Sends you blindly
Comme un chien
Like a dog
Un chien enragé
A rabid dog
Est-c'que ta main tremble
Does your hand tremble
Avant de frapper?
Before striking?
Un doigt sur la détente
A finger on the trigger
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PIERRE JOUISHOMME, MAXIME RODOLPHE NOUCHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind