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
Lettre A Tout Ceux-Là
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
À tous ceux-là à qui un jour, j'ai fait du tort
Et d'une écriture humaine, lentement, lentement
À l'encre infiniment sympathique, j'leur dirai comme ça...
Hum, je leur dirai
"Pardon, navré, je n'savais pas qui nous sommes
En chair, en vrai, on mène tous une dure bataille
Moi, j'avais la mienne, je n'voyais pas
Que je vous blessais avec des paroles en l'air
Et des mots comme des lames
L'injustice a l'même regard que certaines compassions
On avance, on se perd, on se joue des repères
Je le sais maintenant que j'apprivoise les heures
Voulez-vous pardonner ? Me pardonner
J'étais, j'étais, j'étais un autre homme
Marchant dans les étoiles, j'ai ri de vos feux de Bengale
Sans penser à mal, je froissais vos destins"
Je leur dirai ça alors, doucement, un sourire leur viendra
Je mettrai en post-scriptum "Rendez-moi acceptable comme
Un geôlier qui ouvre enfin une porte, un pleutre qui s'exhorte"
Et, enfin responsable, je signerai mon nom, mon nom, mon nom !
In Michel Delpech's song "Lettre A Tout Ceux-Là" ("Letter to All Those"), the lyrics depict a speaker expressing remorse and seeking forgiveness from those they have wronged in the past. The singer expresses their intention to find the addresses of these individuals and write them a letter. They plan on using a human handwriting, slowly and with infinite sympathy, to convey their remorse. The singer admits that they didn't realize the impact of their words and actions, hurting others without fully understanding the consequences. They compare the injustice they caused to the way certain instances of compassion can also have a similar effect. The singer acknowledges that life is a constant battle and that they were too caught up in their own struggles to see how their words and actions were affecting others. They request forgiveness from those they wronged and express a desire to be accepted and redeemed.
Line by Line Meaning
J'vais trouver leur adresse et écrire une lettre
I will find their address and write a letter
À tous ceux-là à qui un jour, j'ai fait du tort
To all those whom I have harmed one day
Et d'une écriture humaine, lentement, lentement
And with a human handwriting, slowly, slowly
À l'encre infiniment sympathique, j'leur dirai comme ça...
With infinitely sympathetic ink, I will tell them like this...
Hum, je leur dirai
Hmm, I will tell them
"Pardon, navré, je n'savais pas qui nous sommes
"Sorry, I didn't know who we are
En chair, en vrai, on mène tous une dure bataille
In flesh, in reality, we all fight a tough battle
Moi, j'avais la mienne, je n'voyais pas
I had mine, I didn't see
Que je vous blessais avec des paroles en l'air
That I was hurting you with empty words
Et des mots comme des lames
And words like blades
L'injustice a l'même regard que certaines compassions
Injustice has the same look as certain compassions
On avance, on se perd, on se joue des repères
We move forward, get lost, play with references
Je le sais maintenant que j'apprivoise les heures
I know it now as I tame the hours
Voulez-vous pardonner ? Me pardonner
Will you forgive? Forgive me
J'étais, j'étais, j'étais un autre homme
I was, I was, I was another man
Marchant dans les étoiles, j'ai ri de vos feux de Bengale
Walking among the stars, I laughed at your Bengal lights
Sans penser à mal, je froissais vos destins"
Without intending harm, I crumpled your destinies"
Je leur dirai ça alors, doucement, un sourire leur viendra
I will tell them that softly, and a smile will come to them
Je mettrai en post-scriptum "Rendez-moi acceptable comme
I will put in a post-scriptum "Make me acceptable as
Un geôlier qui ouvre enfin une porte, un pleutre qui s'exhorte"
A jailer who finally opens a door, a coward who encourages oneself"
Et, enfin responsable, je signerai mon nom, mon nom, mon nom !
And, finally responsible, I will sign my name, my name, my name!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANCIS BASSET, MICHEL DELPECH, FRANCK LANGOLFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ghislaine Lessillard
Je ne connaissais pas cette chanson .les paroles son très belles .merci de me l avoir fait écouté.je vais l enregistrer . Et ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ merci à notre Michel .qui repose en paix parmi les anges 👼 👼 👼 👼. Maintenant .bisous Gigi.
Françoise Fouine
merci Gigi pour votre passage et commentaire,
Thierry Mary
Une façon de dire la vérité avec douceur et charme ! çà c'est Michel ! Du grand art !
Françoise Fouine
c'était lui, tout en douceur en délicatesse, un grand!!!
schuwey jm
En achetant l'album lors de sa sortie j'ai flashé sur ce morceau que je trouve tjs en 2018 extra et je ne comprends pas que cette chanson ne soit pas plus connue du grand public.... magnifique merci
schuwey jm
c'est ma lettre à tous ceux....
Françoise Fouine
les plus belles chansons ne sont pas forcément, les plus connues, hélas,, merci de votre passage,
Jasaï Lorenze
Quelle belle personne!Quelle belle âme ! Je l'adorais!
Françoise Fouine
il nous manque tant, merci de votre passage sur la vidéo,
Stéphane Ascargorta
@Françoise Fouine et moi donc