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
89 Francs Boisson Comprise
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il paie et il s'en va
L' problème à chaque fois c'est d'
Transporter intact son flou artistique
Dans un autre endroit
Au bout d' la rue, il repère un genre de néon
Il se dépêche, redevenir lucide ce serait con
C'est un p'tit restaurant, il regarde à l'intérieur s'y a un bar
Et en toutes lettres à la craie,
Il voit écrit sous une lampe qui clignote
"Menu à quatre-vingt-neuf francs boisson comprise"
Il entre et montre ça au patron en bras d' chemise
"Vous pouvez comprendre pourquoi je bois pour cette somme dérisoire
C'est fou, on comprend enfin pourquoi j' me grise
Quatre-vingt-neuf francs boisson comprise
Boisson comprise
Quatre-vingt-neuf francs boisson comprise
Boisson comprise"
The song "89 Francs Boisson Comprise" by Michel Delpech is about a man who frequents a bar and drinks until he is in a state of artistic blur. He watches the tired bartender put the chairs on the table and then pays and leaves the bar. However, his problem each time is that he struggles to transport his artistic blur to another place. He spots a neon light at the end of the street and hurries towards it. He does not want to become sober again as it would be a waste. The neon light turns out to be a small restaurant with an illuminated chalkboard outside. On the chalkboard, he notices a menu offered at the price of 89 francs, which includes a drink. He goes inside and shows the menu to the owner who is casually dressed in a shirt. The man states that he drinks so much because he can't believe the price of the menu, and finally, he understands why he is always intoxicated. The phrase "89 francs boisson comprise" is repeated throughout the song.
The lyrics to the song represent the image of French society in the 60s and 70s, and the social and economic factors that contributed to the young generation's heavy drinking. The song reflects the economic recession, unemployment, and poverty that France suffered at the time, which led to a culture of drinking as a form of escapism.
Line by Line Meaning
Il regarde le barman fatigué mettre les chaises sur les tables
He watches the tired bartender stack chairs onto tables
Il paie et il s'en va
He pays and leaves
L' problème à chaque fois c'est d' Transporter intact son flou artistique Dans un autre endroit
The problem every time is to transport his artistic blur intact to another place
Au bout d' la rue, il repère un genre de néon Il se dépêche, redevenir lucide ce serait con
At the end of the street, he spots a kind of neon sign. He hurries, because it would be a shame to become lucid again
C'est un p'tit restaurant, il regarde à l'intérieur s'y a un bar Pas d' bar mais sur la porte une ardoise est accrochée
It's a small restaurant, he looks inside to see if there's a bar. There's no bar, but there's a chalkboard hanging on the door
Et en toutes lettres à la craie, Il voit écrit sous une lampe qui clignote
And in large chalk letters, he sees written under a flickering lamp
"Menu à quatre-vingt-neuf francs boisson comprise" Il entre et montre ça au patron en bras d' chemise
"Menu at 89 francs drink included", he enters and shows it to the owner in his undershirt
"Vous pouvez comprendre pourquoi je bois pour cette somme dérisoire C'est fou, on comprend enfin pourquoi j' me grise Quatre-vingt-neuf francs boisson comprise Boisson comprise Quatre-vingt-neuf francs boisson comprise Boisson comprise"
"You can understand why I drink for this meager amount. It's crazy, we finally understand why I get drunk. 89 francs drink included. Drink included. 89 francs drink included. Drink included."
Writer(s): jean baptiste brimont, francis bassett
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.