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
Mon Equipage
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qui jour sur un piano
Quatre types de mon âge
Dans le même bateau
Mon équipage
Mon équipage
C’est un forçat des galères
Un engagé volontaire
Pour hisser mon drapeau
Mon équipage
Mon équipage
C’est une fille qui j’aime
Le premier matelot
Qui m’est nommé capitaine
Quand j’avais un radeau
Mon équipage
Mon équipage
Aussi longue soit la route
Jusqu’à l’île au trésor
J’ai juré coûte que coûte
D’y mener à bon port
Mon équipage
Mon équipage
Mon équipage
Mon équipage
The song "Mon Equipage" by Michel Delpech is a tribute to the people who have been instrumental in his journey as a musician. The song starts with the image of a man playing the piano in the clouds, which represents Delpech himself as a dreamer who is passionate about his art. The four men of his age in the same boat with him in the second line refer to his bandmates, who have been with him through thick and thin.
The second verse talks about the struggles that Delpech and his band have faced while pursuing their dream. The forçat des galères or the galley slave with two amplifiers on his back metaphorically suggests the difficulties they have faced in carrying their equipment from one place to another for performances. The engaged volunteer is a reference to the dedicated fans who have supported the band in their journey.
Line by Line Meaning
C’est un fou dans les nuages
There's a madman in the clouds
Qui jour sur un piano
Playing on a piano
Quatre types de mon âge
Four guys my age
Dans le même bateau
In the same boat
Mon équipage
My crew
C’est un forçat des galères
He's a slave of the galleys
Deux amplis sur le dos
With two amps on his back
Un engagé volontaire
A volunteer
Pour hisser mon drapeau
To hoist my flag
Mon équipage
My crew
C’est une fille qui j’aime
It's a girl I love
Le premier matelot
The first sailor
Qui m’est nommé capitaine
Who's appointed me captain
Quand j’avais un radeau
When I had a raft
Mon équipage
My crew
Aussi longue soit la route
No matter how long the road
Jusqu’à l’île au trésor
To the treasure island
J’ai juré coûte que coûte
I vowed no matter what
D’y mener à bon port
To bring them to a safe harbor
Mon équipage
My crew
Mon équipage
My crew
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, ALLO MUSIC EDITIONS
Written by: Roland VINCENT, Michel DELPECH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind