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
L'Âge d'or
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
L'âge d'or où les hommes seraient chacun pour l'autre
Je serais passeur, crieur ou pêcheur
Et toi tu peindrais des vieux astronautes
Près des chiens tranquilles, ton grand peigne en écaille dans les cheveux
Moi, je dirais partout, en riant, que je suis ton amoureux
On parlerait jamais d'argent, d'attentats
La Terre serait belle, comme toi
On serait douze milliards mais tous les deux
On lirait saint Paul et la bonne Parole
On l'apporterait dans toutes les campagnes
Sans la peur au ventre, avec l'amour du ciel versé sur nous
On irait classer les guerres, les famines, sur la planète John Irving
On serait si fort en médecine qu'on aurait le gène de l'innocence
Ce serait des temps de bonté tout l'temps
L'âge d'or où les hommes seraient chacun pour l'autre
On changerait d'Éden comme on change de jardin, une fois heureux
Toi, près des chiens tranquilles, ton grand peigne en écaille
Dans les cheveux
Moi qui dirais partout, en riant, que je suis ton amoureux.
The song "L'Âge d'or" by Michel Delpech talks about a utopian world that does not exist, where people live in harmony, surrounded by beauty, and where there is no need for money or fear. The singer imagines this world where everyone would be for one another, and where he and his love interest would live as lovers. He would work as a messenger, crier or fisherman, and his partner would create art. They would be surrounded by dogs and would laugh together, declaring their love for one another openly.
The utopian world that the singer describes is one where they would read the Bible, bringing good news to people everywhere, uplifting spirits without fear. In this world, people would have no fear of the future, and their faith would allow them to take on the world with love and forgiveness. They would be able to cure diseases and return society to the purity of the past.
"L'Âge d'or" brings a dreamlike quality to the world that has never existed. The unknown world that the singer describes, with beauty, peace, no fear, or worries, is one that resonates with listeners even today. The song’s overall message is that it is possible to build a world where people live harmoniously, where love is unconditional, and where materialism has no place.
Line by Line Meaning
Ce serait des temps de beauté tout l'temps
It would be a time of constant beauty
L'âge d'or où les hommes seraient chacun pour l'autre
The golden age where men would be for each other
Je serais passeur, crieur ou pêcheur
I would be a ferryman, a town crier or a fisherman
Et toi tu peindrais des vieux astronautes
And you would paint old astronauts
Près des chiens tranquilles, ton grand peigne en écaille dans les cheveux
Near the tranquil dogs, your large tortoiseshell comb in your hair
Moi, je dirais partout, en riant, que je suis ton amoureux
I would say everywhere, laughing, that I am your lover
On parlerait jamais d'argent, d'attentats
We would never talk about money, attacks
Ce serait bien loin, ces choses-là
These things would be far away
La Terre serait belle, comme toi
The Earth would be beautiful, like you
On serait douze milliards mais tous les deux
There would be twelve billion of us but just the two of us
On lirait saint Paul et la bonne Parole
We would read Saint Paul and the good Word
On l'apporterait dans toutes les campagnes
We would bring it to all the countryside
Sans la peur au ventre, avec l'amour du ciel versé sur nous
Without fear, with the love of Heaven poured over us
On irait classer les guerres, les famines, sur la planète John Irving
We would go to classify wars, famines on the John Irving planet
On serait si fort en médecine qu'on aurait le gène de l'innocence
We would be so strong in medicine that we would have the gene of innocence
Ce serait des temps de bonté tout l'temps
It would be a time of constant kindness
L'âge d'or où les hommes seraient chacun pour l'autre
The golden age where men would be for each other
On changerait d'Éden comme on change de jardin, une fois heureux
We would change Eden as we change garden, once happy
Toi, près des chiens tranquilles, ton grand peigne en écaille
You, near the tranquil dogs, your large tortoiseshell comb
Dans les cheveux
In your hair
Moi qui dirais partout, en riant, que je suis ton amoureux
Me who would say everywhere, laughing, that I am your lover
Writer(s): Pierre Papadiamandis, Jean Michel Delpech, Francis Basset, Michel Delpech
Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dominique Buchs
Toujours un moment de bonheur que d'ecouter Michel Delpech. Quelles belles photos, quel sourire et sa voix de velours......on t'aime Michel tu es éternel et toujours dans les cœurs 💕 ❤❤❤❤
dickou46
Un grand merci !
Monique DV
Jolie chanson avec un défilé de belles photos de Michel !!
dickou46
Merci
Agnès Caron
bisous mon tendre ami un bon moment avec Michel Delpech un chanteur innoublie des belles années très belles photos de l artiste je te souhaite une bonne journée avec des averses de bisous ☔💋💋💕💕😉
dickou46
Bisous Agnès
Jacqueline Brancourt
Bonjour dickou bon mercredi superbe chanson merci les meilleurs sont partis 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸👏👏👏🎙🎙🎙🌷😘
dickou46
Bonne soirée, bisous Jacqueline
Jacqueline Brancourt
@dickou46 bonne soirée mon ami bisous
Patty Dumonceau
Merci