He died of a heart attack at the age of 45.
Berger first became known to the French public in the 1960s as singer of hit song Salut les copains, after which he became record producer and songwriter for EMI and where he wrote amongst others Les Girafes for Bourvil in 1967. In the early 1970s, he moved to Warner Music where he produced the early albums of Véronique Sanson, and Allah once again in 1989. In 1973, he was responsible for producing the album Message personnel, the title track of which relaunched the career of Françoise Hardy. He also produced the single Je suis moi for Hardy.
Berger started writing for France Gall in 1974, produced all her albums from 1975, and married her on 22 June 1976.
In 1985, he produced Johnny Hallyday's album Rock'n'Roll Attitude and also his stage-show, followed by Le Tour de France 1988 of France Gall in 1987.
In 1978, he composed the musical: Starmania, with lyrics by Luc Plamondon. The musical starred France Gall, Daniel Balavoine, Diane Dufresne, Nanette Workman, Eric Estève and Fabienne Thibeault. It was a big success in France in the 1980s and 1990s. An English version: Tycoon was released in 1991 with lyrics by Tim Rice, but it did not achieve the success the original version had in France.
Partnered by producer Jerome Savary, and by lyricist Luc Plamondon in 1980, he produced the musical La Légende de Jimmy, inspired by the life of James Dean. However, this bombed. Dreams in stone, was conceived as an American musical, co-arranged with Michel Bernholc, recorded in the United States. The show never saw the light of day, but the album was nevertheless released in 1982. The album was a complete flop and is not well-known.
As composer, Berger scored several film projects, which included Mektoub, a 1970 film by Algerian Director Ali Ghalem, Robert Benayoun's Sérieux comme le plaisir in 1975, Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Tout feu, tout flamme in 1982 and Rive droite, rive gauche the 1984 film by Philippe Labro. He is also known for his Orangina advertisement jingle.
Berger was one of a handful of French artists who participated readily and actively in humanitarian acts: in 1985, he worked exclusively for Action Écoles alongside France Gall, Richard Berry and Daniel Balavoine, then later for Ethiopia with Renaud (Chanteurs Sans Frontières) and for Les Restos du cœur with comedian Coluche.
On 2 August 1992, a few weeks after the first album of duets with France Gall came out, Michel Berger died of a heart attack, in the middle of a tennis match. He is buried in the cimetière de Montmartre in Paris. His untimely death came as a shock to many people because he had been one of the most popular French singer-songwriter of the 70's and 80's. Moreover, unlike many pop stars, he came across as a nice and simple man, more interested in music and family life than in rock & roll excesses. As a matter of fact, his marriage with France Gall was remarkably stable.
Seras-tu Là
Michel Berger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
autour de nous, nous rendre fous
Seras-tu là?
Pour nos souvenirs et nos amours
Inoubliables, inconsolables
Seras-tu là?
Sauras-tu vivre le plus mauvais?
La solitude, le temps qui passe
Et l'habitude, regardes-les
Nos ennemis, dis-moi que oui
Dis-moi que oui
Quand nos secrets n'auront plus cours
Et quand les jours auront passé
Seras-tu là?
Pour, pour nos soupirs sur le passé
Que l'on voulait que l'on rêvait
Seras-tu là?
Le plus mauvais
La solitude, le temps qui passe
Et l'habitude reqardes-les
Nos ennemis, dis-moi que oui
Dis-moi que oui?
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Seras-tu là?
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Seras-tu là?
The lyrics of Michel Berger's Seras-tu Là depict the singer feeling uncertain about the future of their relationship with their partner. The song reflects on the power of memories and how they can haunt and drive one wild, asking the question: "When our regrets come to dance around us and make us crazy, will you be there?" The singer wonders whether their partner will be there to reminisce about the unforgettable and inconsolable memories they have shared together.
The chorus emphasizes the uncertainty of the future as the singer asks, "Will you be there?" and questions whether their partner will be able to keep up with them, live through the worst times, face the ever-constant passage of time, the crushing power of loneliness, the numbing force of routine and habit, and all the challenges life may bring. The singer seeks reassurance and wants their partner to promise that they will always be by his side no matter what, even when secrets are revealed and the glory days are long gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Et quand nos regrets viendront danser autour de nous, nous rendre fous Seras-tu là?
When our regrets come to dance around us and drive us crazy, will you be there?
Pour nos souvenirs et nos amours Inoubliables, inconsolables Seras-tu là?
For our unforgettable, inconsolable memories and loves, will you be there?
Pourras-tu suivre là où je vais? Sauras-tu vivre le plus mauvais? La solitude, le temps qui passe Et l'habitude, regardes-les Nos ennemis, dis-moi que oui Dis-moi que oui
Can you follow where I'm going? Can you handle the worst? Look at our enemies: loneliness, time, and habit. Tell me you will. Tell me you will.
Quand nos secrets n'auront plus cours Et quand les jours auront passé Seras-tu là?
When our secrets no longer matter and the days have gone by, will you be there?
Pour, pour nos soupirs sur le passé Que l'on voulait que l'on rêvait Seras-tu là?
For our sighs over the past that we wanted, that we dreamt of, will you be there?
Le plus mauvais La solitude, le temps qui passe Et l'habitude regardes-les Nos ennemis, dis-moi que oui Dis-moi que oui?
The worst: loneliness, time, and habit. Look at them, our enemies. Tell me you will. Tell me you will?
Seras-tu là? La, la, la, la La, la, la, la La, la, la, la La, la, la, la
Will you be there? La, la, la, la La, la, la, la La, la, la, la La, la, la, la
Seras-tu là?
Will you be there?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michel Berger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dream.of.words.
Tellement touchant... C'est ce genre de chansons françaises qui se font de plus en plus rares aujourd'hui, ces perles qui nourrissent notre soif d'émotion. Merci l'INA de nous faire redécouvrir ces intemporels.
@coletteguerin7666
Exact
@tatakuss6185
Bouleversant, intemporel et sublime
@cyllansse
rare ??? il n'y a plus du tout cette qualité de nos jours, tu veux dire....
@nilivier
Oui c"est vrai mais c'est aussi pareque c'est une chanson autobiographique en quelque sorte. C'est à Véronique Samson qu'il s'adresse.
@danielv62
@nilivier ou pas... faut arrêter avec ça aussi hein!
@laurencedepuiset9858
Ton départ 30 ans aujourd'hui... et tu règnes toujours sur la musique française, auteur compositeur interprète inégalé avec Daniel Balavoine que tu as retrouvé trop tôt... Je vous imagine tous les 3 là-haut avec France Gall entrain de refaire le monde et de composer pour quand nous arriverons ;)) Inoubliable, inconsolables c'est évident ! Une de tes plus belles chansons avec "pour me comprendre", "chanter pour ceux" et "le paradis blanc" (pour moi) mais tant de chefs d'œuvre méconnus et à redécouvrir... Tu nous manques !!!
@fredericgiloux1471
Bonjour,
Je suis TRÈS TOUCHÉ de ce que vous avez écrit Laurence 🥲
Franchement très touchant.
Je ne peux pas faire mieux 😊
Merci beaucoup Laurence.
Frédéric
PS: Je ne m'en remettrai jamais de leurs disparition à tous les 3
@nirinaramangasalama3265
J'aime écouter ces paroles de Michel Berger. Il chante avec son coeur. Avec tendresse et espérance.. Seras tu là. Dis oui.
@JustFUN-md6pv
Le plus grand artiste français toutes époques confondues.