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
Elisabeth De Quelque Chose
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qui mettez tant de grâce a vous retirer du jeu
Il faut qu'une main posée sur votre épaule
Vous pousse vers la vie, cette main tendre et légère
On a tous quelque chose en nous de Tennessee
Cette volonté de prolonger la nuit
Ce désir fou de vivre une autre vie
Quelque chose de Tennessee
Cette force qui nous pousse vers l'infini
Y a peu d'amour avec tell'ment d'envie
Si peu d'amour avec tell'ment de bruit
Quelque chose en nous de Tennessee
Ainsi vivait Tennessee
Le cœur en fièvre et le corps démoli
Avec cette formidable envie de vie
Ce rêve en nous c'était son cri à lui
Quelque chose de Tennessee
Comme une étoile qui s'éteint dans la nuit
A l'heure où d'autres s'aiment à la folie
Sans un éclat de voix et sans un bruit
Sans un seul amour, sans un seul ami
Ainsi disparut Tennessee
A certaines heures de la nuit
Quand le cœur de la ville s'est endormi
Il flotte un sentiment comme une envie
Ce rêve en nous, avec ses mots à lui
Quelque chose de Tennessee
Quelque chose de Tennessee
Oh oui Tennessee
Y a quelque chose en nous de Tennessee
Oh oui Tennesse...
The song "Elisabeth De Quelque Chose" by Michel Delpech explores the universal human longing to escape the mundane and ordinary aspects of life, and instead embrace a more exciting and fulfilling existence. The lyrics address the weak yet wonderful nature of individuals who gracefully withdraw from the conventional path. It depicts how they require a gentle and tender hand placed on their shoulder to push them towards living life to the fullest.
The chorus emphasizes that everyone has a little bit of Tennessee within them. Tennessee is symbolic of a desire to prolong the night, to live an alternate life, and to fulfill one's dreams. It represents an innate force that propels individuals towards infinite possibilities and ambitions. The lyrics describe a scarcity of love despite the abundance of desire, highlighting the contrast between the intensity of yearning and the absence of meaningful connections.
The song pays tribute to Tennessee, who lived with a feverish heart and a broken body, but with an unwavering passion for life. Tennessee is portrayed as embodying the dreams and aspirations that reside within each individual. His dreams were his own unique expression, and they resonated with others who also longed for a life beyond the ordinary.
The lyrics also touch upon the tragic end of Tennessee, where his star fades away into the night, unnoticed and without any significant impact. It illustrates the contrast between the intensity of other people's love and the silence surrounding Tennessee's departure. There is an underlying feeling of loneliness and lack of companionship, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of fame and the fleeting connections that exist in the world.
Overall, "Elisabeth De Quelque Chose" by Michel Delpech is a poignant reflection on the human desire for a more extraordinary and fulfilling existence. It highlights the innate longing present in every individual and the delicate balance between ambition and meaningful connections. The song serves as a reminder to embrace our dreams, for they are what truly define us and give meaning to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
A vous autres, hommes faibles et merveilleux
To you, weak and wonderful men
Qui mettez tant de grâce a vous retirer du jeu
Who put so much grace into withdrawing from the game
Il faut qu'une main posée sur votre épaule
There must be a hand placed on your shoulder
Vous pousse vers la vie, cette main tendre et légère
Pushing you towards life, this tender and light hand
On a tous quelque chose en nous de Tennessee
We all have something of Tennessee within us
Cette volonté de prolonger la nuit
This will to prolong the night
Ce désir fou de vivre une autre vie
This crazy desire to live another life
Ce rêve en nous avec ses mots à lui
This dream within us with its own words
Quelque chose de Tennessee
Something of Tennessee
Cette force qui nous pousse vers l'infini
This force that pushes us towards infinity
Y a peu d'amour avec tell'ment d'envie
There is little love with so much desire
Si peu d'amour avec tell'ment de bruit
So little love with so much noise
Quelque chose en nous de Tennessee
Something of Tennessee within us
Ainsi vivait Tennessee
Thus lived Tennessee
Le cœur en fièvre et le corps démoli
Heart aflame and body demolished
Avec cette formidable envie de vie
With this tremendous desire for life
Ce rêve en nous c'était son cri à lui
This dream within us was his cry
Quelque chose de Tennessee
Something of Tennessee
Comme une étoile qui s'éteint dans la nuit
Like a star that fades away in the night
A l'heure où d'autres s'aiment à la folie
At the time when others love each other madly
Sans un éclat de voix et sans un bruit
Without a burst of voice and without a noise
Sans un seul amour, sans un seul ami
Without a single love, without a single friend
Ainsi disparut Tennessee
Thus disappeared Tennessee
A certaines heures de la nuit
At certain hours of the night
Quand le cœur de la ville s'est endormi
When the heart of the city falls asleep
Il flotte un sentiment comme une envie
A feeling floats like a desire
Ce rêve en nous, avec ses mots à lui
This dream within us, with its own words
Quelque chose de Tennessee
Something of Tennessee
Y a quelque chose en nous de Tennessee
There is something of Tennessee within us
Oh oui Tennessee
Oh yes Tennessee
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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