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
Paris A Marée Basse
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tout près de moi sur la terrasse
Paris s’est mis à marée basse
Il est à nous jusqu'à lundi.
De vendredi ne reste plus
Qu’un crépuscule un peu fugace
Paris s’est mis à marée basse
On ne dirait jamais que Paris, quand il veut,
Paris fait les gros yeux, que Paris fait la tête
On ne dirait jamais que Paris a connu
Tant de vents, tant de crues, tant vécu de tempêtes.
Viens regarder tomber la nuit
Tout près de moi sur la terrasse
Paris s’est mis à marée basse
Il est à nous jusqu'à lundi.
Regarde les Champs-Elysées
C’est l’Atlantide à la surface
Paris s’est mis à marée basse
L’amour est aux grandes marées.
The song Paris A Marée Basse by Michel Delpech paints a vivid picture of the city at low tide, when the Seine river recedes and reveals a different side of Paris. The lyrics describe how the city is transformed when the crowds disperse and the landmarks take on a new character. The opening verse invites the listener to watch as night falls over the city from a terrace, and reveals how Paris is now available to them until the following Monday. The second verse builds on this image, describing how the crowds have retreated with the tide.
The chorus repeats the theme of transformation, highlighting how Paris has weathered so many storms and yet still endures. It is a reminder that the city is more than just its surface appearance and can endure, just like the love that comes to life during the high tides.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the magic of Paris, and how its beauty and resilience can be discovered anew, when the tide is right.
Line by Line Meaning
Viens regarder tomber la nuit
Come watch the night fall
Tout près de moi sur la terrasse
Close to me on the terrace
Paris s’est mis à marée basse
Paris has a low tide
Il est à nous jusqu'à lundi.
It's ours until Monday.
De vendredi ne reste plus
From Friday, there's no longer
Qu’un crépuscule un peu fugace
Only a fleeting twilight
La grande foule est au reflux.
The big crowd is at ebb.
On ne dirait jamais que Paris, quand il veut,
You would never say that Paris, when it wants,
Paris fait les gros yeux, que Paris fait la tête
Paris pouts and frowns
On ne dirait jamais que Paris a connu
You would never say that Paris has known
Tant de vents, tant de crues, tant vécu de tempêtes.
So many winds, so many floods, so many storms lived through.
Regarde les Champs-Elysées
Look at the Champs-Elysées
C’est l’Atlantide à la surface
It's Atlantis on the surface
L’amour est aux grandes marées.
Love is at high tide.
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.