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
Je Ne T'Aurais Pas Vue
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'avais donné mon âme au diable, je n'lui avais même pas vendue
Tant de chevaux m'emportaient dans la poussière
Je ne t'aurais pas vue
Même si tu étais venue dans un halo de lumière
Je ne t'aurais pas vue
Je m'enivrais du rire de ceux qui ne voient pas qu'ils sont perdus
Tant de chevaux m'emportaient dans la poussière
Je ne t'aurais pas vue
Même si tu étais venue dans un halo de lumière
Je ne t'aurais pas vue
Même si tu étais venue dans un halo de lumière
Je ne t'aurais pas vue.
The lyrics of Michel Delpech's song "Je Ne T'Aurais Pas Vue" reflect a sense of regret and introspection about a lost opportunity for love. The singer describes a past period in their life when they were ignorant, aimless, and spiritually adrift. They had surrendered their soul to darkness without even receiving anything in return. This metaphorical submission to the devil symbolizes a lack of self-awareness, purpose, and moral compass.
The imagery of being carried away by a multitude of horses in a cloud of dust conveys a sense of chaos and distraction that consumed the singer's attention and energy. Despite being surrounded by such frenetic activity, the singer states that they would not have noticed the presence of the person addressed in the song even if they had appeared in a radiant halo of light. This emphasizes the extent to which the singer was emotionally detached and blind to potential connections or opportunities for love.
The lyrics delve into the narrative of emotional numbness and indifference that characterized the singer's past attitudes towards love and relationships. The mention of the singer's lack of capacity to love at the time highlights their emotional unavailability and self-absorption. The singer confesses that they were so focused on superficial pleasures and the laughter of others who were also lost in their own ways, that they were unable to recognize or appreciate meaningful connections that might have crossed their path.
The repeated assertion that even if the person of interest had appeared in a luminous halo, the singer still would not have seen them, underscores the deep-seated blindness and emotional barriers that prevented the singer from recognizing the potential for love and companionship. The song's poignant lyrics convey a sense of missed opportunities, unrealized emotions, and the regret of not being able to perceive and appreciate the beauty and significance of love when it was right before them.
Line by Line Meaning
En ce temps-là, je t'ignorais, j'étais sans garde et sans but
During that time, I ignored you, I was defenseless and aimless
J'avais donné mon âme au diable, je n'lui avais même pas vendue
I had given my soul to the devil, I hadn't even sold it to him
Tant de chevaux m'emportaient dans la poussière
So many horses carried me away in the dust
Je ne t'aurais pas vue
I wouldn't have seen you
Même si tu étais venue dans un halo de lumière
Even if you had come in a halo of light
En ce temps-là, j'aimais si peu, comment t'aurais-je entendue ?
During that time, I loved so little, how could I have heard you?
Je m'enivrais du rire de ceux qui ne voient pas qu'ils sont perdus
I was intoxicated by the laughter of those who don't see that they are lost
Même si tu étais venue dans un halo de lumière
Even if you had come in a halo of light
Je ne t'aurais pas vue
I wouldn't have seen you
Même si tu étais venue dans un halo de lumière
Even if you had come in a halo of light
Je ne t'aurais pas vue.
I wouldn't have seen you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS PIERRE BASSET, JEAN MICHEL DELPECH, LAURENT FOULON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leo Callier
J adore merci Hélène
Françoise Fouine
chouette ta vidéo Jeanine, merci bisous
JANGAU
merci Françoise bisous
Françoise Fouine
♥♥♥