Michel Delpech (Jean-Michel Delpech, Courbevoie, January 26, 1946 - Paris,… Read Full Bio ↴Michel Delpech (Jean-Michel Delpech, Courbevoie, January 26, 1946 - Paris, January 2, 2016) was a French chansonnier, novelist and actor.

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

Chez Laurette
Michel Delpech Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

À sa façon de nous appeler ses gosses
On voyait bien qu'elle nous aimait beaucoup
C'était chez elle que notre argent de poche
Disparaissait dans les machines à sous

Après les cours on allait boire un verre
Quand on entrait Laurette souriait
Et d'un seul coup, nos leçons, nos problèmes

Disparaissaient quand elle nous embrassait

C'était bien, chez Laurette
Quand on faisait la fête
Elle venait vers nous, Laurette

C'était bien, c'était chouette
Quand on était fauché
Elle payait pour nous, Laurette

Et plus encore, afin qu'on soit tranquille
Dans son café y avait un coin pour nous
On s'y mettait pour voir passer les filles
Et j'en connais qui nous plaisaient beaucoup

Si par hasard on avait l'âme en peine
Laurette seule savait nous consoler
Ell' nous parlait et l'on riait quand même
En un clin d'œil, elle pouvait tout changer

C'était bien chez Laurette
On y retournera
Pour ne pas l'oublier, Laurette

Ce sera bien, ce sera chouette
Et l'on reparlera
Des histoires du passé
Chez Laurette

Ce sera bien, ce sera chouette
Et l'on reparlera
Des histoir's du passé
Chez Laurette

Chez Laurette

Overall Meaning

The song "Chez Laurette" by Michel Delpech is a nostalgic tribute to a beloved neighborhood cafe, where a group of young people used to gather and find comfort in the warm presence of the owner, Laurette. The lyrics describe Laurette as someone who treated them like her own children, and who always welcomed them with a smile and a sympathetic ear. The cafe became a haven for the group, where they could forget about their worries and enjoy each other's company.

The first stanza describes how Laurette was like a mother figure to the group, indicating that she cared for them deeply. They mention how their pocket money would disappear into the slot machines in her cafe. The second stanza describes how they would go there after school to drink and relax. Laurette's presence would make all of their troubles fade away. The third stanza talks about how there was a special corner in the cafe just for them. This implies that they spent a lot of time there, watching the girls go by. The fourth stanza describes how Laurette was the only one who could console them when they were feeling down. She had the power to change their mood in an instant.

Overall, the song "Chez Laurette" is a bittersweet ode to a bygone era. It depicts a simpler time when people could find comfort and community in small, neighborhood cafes. The lyrics are beautifully nostalgic, and the melody is catchy and uplifting.

Line by Line Meaning

À sa façon de nous appeler ses gosses
From the way she called us her kids, it was clear that she loved us deeply.

On voyait bien qu'elle nous aimait beaucoup
It was evident that she loved us a lot.

C'était chez elle que notre argent de poche disparaissait dans les machines à sous
It was at her place where we spent our pocket money on slot machines.

Après les cours on allait boire un verre
After school, we would go for a drink.

Quand on entrait Laurette souriait
When we walked in, Laurette would smile.

Et d'un seul coup, nos leçons, nos problèmes disparaissaient quand elle nous embrassait
Suddenly, our lessons and problems disappeared when she gave us a kiss.

C'était bien, chez Laurette
It was nice at Laurette's place.

Quand on faisait la fête
Especially when we had a party.

Elle venait vers nous, Laurette
Laurette was always there for us.

C'était bien, c'était chouette
It was nice, it was great.

Quand on était fauché
Especially when we were broke.

Elle payait pour nous, Laurette
Laurette would pay for us.

Et plus encore, afin qu'on soit tranquille
And even more, just to make us feel comfortable.

Dans son café y avait un coin pour nous
There was a corner in her café reserved just for us.

On s'y mettait pour voir passer les filles
We would sit there and watch the girls pass by.

Et j'en connais qui nous plaisaient beaucoup
And I know some of them caught our fancy.

Si par hasard on avait l'âme en peine
Whenever we felt down or troubled.

Laurette seule savait nous consoler
Laurette was the only one who could comfort us.