Born in a Parisian suburb in a wealthy family, he had a happy childhood. His father owned a small business. In high school, influenced by the great chansonniers of his time Luis Mariano, Charles Aznavour and Gilbert Bécaud, he formed with classmates a band.
Studying at the Petit Conservatoire de Mireille, where Yves Duteil and Françoise Hardy had been discovered, he made his first single, Anatole in 1963. He meets Roland Vincent who becomes his regular composer. Michels first hit Chez Laurette the following year is from the musical he plays in 'Copains-Clopant' . In 1966 appears his album Inventaire 66, while he is opening act for Leny Escudero. As Jacques Brel, in 1967, provides a series of farewell performances in the Parisian music theater Olympia, Delpech is the support act. Johnny Stark, the impresario of Mireille Mathieu, decides to accompany him. Michel is touring as a supporting act along with Mireille, to the US and the USSR.
In 1968 he won the French Grand Prix du Disque with "Il ya des jours où on ferait mieux de rester au lit".
In 1969 he composed the song hippie Wight is Wight in French about the British Isle of Wight Festival that summer. It became a huge hit in France, Sandie Shaw covered it the following year. In 1970 he regrets the break-up of The Beatles in the song Et Paul chantait Yesterday, brings the album Un coup de pied dans la montagne and he breaks up with Johnny Stark.
In 1971 Delpech scored a European hit with Pour un flirt; even in Britain it reached the charts. Further chansons by him were Que Marianne était jolie (1972) and Les divorcés (1974), Le Chasseur (1974) and Le Loir-et-Cher (1977).
The following years Delpech devoted primarily to composing and writing lyrics. He had a comeback in 1983 with the single Animaux, animaux and his successful album Loin d'ici in 1985, followed in 1989 by J'étais un ange. In 1992 with Roland Vincent he made the album Les Voix du Brésil. Delpech then took a five year sabbatical.
From 1997 Delpech was particularly productive. J'étais un ange is the title of an album in 2000 that heralds a tour with musician friends such as Alain Chamfort, Charlélie Couture, Claude Nougaro, Marc Lavoine and Pierre Richard providing inspiration for the album Comme vous (2004) and Live -album Ce lundi-là au Bataclan (2004).
In 2006 he even released an album consisting of five CDs Delpech inventaires followed by Michel Delpech & ... Delpech with repertoire old and new and of musical contemporaries like Bénabar, Francis Cabrel, Alain Souchon, Cali, Laurent Voulzy, Julien Clerc and Clarika. In 2008 appeared a live DVD, Live au Grand Rex, which is widely acclaimed as an excellent live recording.
Delpech fought three years against throat cancer. On January 2, 2016 Delpech died in Paris
30 manières de quitter une fille
Michel Delpech Lyrics
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"Le problème est entièrement dans ta tête.", me dit-elle.
"La réponse est facile si tu pensais logiquement.
J'aimerai bien t'aider dans ta lutte pour être libre.
Y'a sûrement trente manières de quitter une fille."
Elle me dit que c'est pas mon habitude de m'imposer
Et "J'espère que ce que je vais te dire ne sera pas mal interprété
Y'a sûrement trente manières de quitter une fille,
Trente manières de quitter une fille."
Te faufile par derrière, Pierre, change tous tes plans, Jean.
Y faut pas que tu les traque, Jack, pense pas et vas t-en
Ou si elle te colle, Paul, pas besoin que tu discute plus.
Tu saute dans un tax, Max, pense pas et vas t-en.
Te faufile par derrière, Pierre, change tous tes plans, Jean.
Y faut pas que tu les traque, Jack, pense pas et vas t-en
Ou si elle te colle, Paul, pas besoin que tu discute plus.
Tu saute dans un tax, Max, pense pas et vas t-en.
Elle me dit: "Ça m'ennuie tellement de te voir souffrir.
Je voudrais pouvoir faire quelque chose qui te redonnerait le sourire."
Je lui dis: "Je suis très touché,
mais voudrais tu m'expliquer encore les trente manières."
Elle me dit: "Dormons la dessus cette nuit tous les deux
Et je suis sure que demain matin, ce sera déjà plus lumineux."
Et puis elle m'a embrassé
Et je me suis dit "C'est pas la peine de s'angoisser.
Y'a sûrement trente manières de quitter une fille,
Trente manières de quitter une fille."
Te faufile par derrière, Pierre, change tous tes plans, Jean.
Y faut pas que tu les traque, Jack, pense pas et vas t-en
Ou si elle te colle, Paul, pas besoin que tu discute plus.
Tu saute dans un tax, Max, pense pas et vas t-en.
Te faufile par derrière, Pierre, change tous tes plans, Jean.
Y faut pas que tu les traque, Jack, pense pas et vas t-en
Ou si elle te colle, Paul, pas besoin que tu discute plus.
Tu saute dans un tax, Max, pense pas et vas t-en.
The lyrics of Michel Delpech's song "30 manières de quitter une fille", which translates to "30 Ways to Leave a Girl", are actually inspired by the famous song "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon. The song is a conversation between the singer and a girl, where she tells him that the problem is all in his head and there are 30 ways to leave a girl. She advises him to not chase the girl if she sticks around, just go away.
The lyrics then go on to suggest different ways to leave a girl in a playful and almost comedic way, such as sneaking away, changing plans, or taking a taxi. The conversation ends with the girl telling the singer that she would like to help him because she is sorry to see him suffer, but they both agree that there are many ways to leave a girl.
The song is an interesting take on the topic of breakups, as the lyrics make light of the situation and offer a lighthearted approach to leaving someone. It also highlights the idea that sometimes people just need to move on and there are many ways to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
Le problème est entièrement dans ta tête., me dit-elle.
She tells me that the entire problem is in my head.
La réponse est facile si tu pensais logiquement.
She says that the answer is easy if I think logically.
J'aimerai bien t'aider dans ta lutte pour être libre.
She expresses her desire to help me in my struggle for freedom.
Y'a sûrement trente manières de quitter une fille.
She suggests that there are surely thirty ways to leave a girl.
Elle me dit que c'est pas mon habitude de m'imposer
She points out that it's not my usual habit to assert myself.
Et "J'espère que ce que je vais te dire ne sera pas mal interprété
She hopes that what she's about to say won't be misunderstood.
Mais enfin, je me répète, au risque d'être un peu directe:
But she repeats herself, despite the risk of being a bit direct.
Te faufile par derrière, Pierre, change tous tes plans, Jean.
She advises Pierre to sneak away, and Jean to change all his plans.
Y faut pas que tu les traque, Jack, pense pas et vas t-en
She tells Jack not to pursue them, and to just leave without thinking.
Ou si elle te colle, Paul, pas besoin que tu discute plus.
She tells Paul that if she clings to him, he doesn't need to discuss it anymore.
Tu saute dans un tax, Max, pense pas et vas t-en.
She tells Max to jump in a taxi and just leave without thinking.
Elle me dit: "Ça m'ennuie tellement de te voir souffrir.
She tells me that it bothers her so much to see me suffer.
Je voudrais pouvoir faire quelque chose qui te redonnerait le sourire."
She wishes she could do something to make me smile again.
Je lui dis: "Je suis très touché,
I tell her that I'm very touched.
mais voudrais tu m'expliquer encore les trente manières."
I ask her to explain the thirty ways again.
Elle me dit: "Dormons la dessus cette nuit tous les deux
She suggests that we sleep on it together tonight.
Et je suis sure que demain matin, ce sera déjà plus lumineux."
She's confident that things will be clearer in the morning.
Et puis elle m'a embrassé
And then she kissed me.
Et je me suis dit "C'est pas la peine de s'angoisser.
And I thought to myself, there's no need to worry.
Trente manières de quitter une fille,
There are thirty ways to leave a girl.
Trente manières de quitter une fille."
Thirty ways to leave a girl.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHEL DELPECH, JEAN-MICHEL FRANCK RIVAT, PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind