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
Quel Souvenir Papa
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et quand les Allemands t'ont pris
Tu venais de faire ce jour-là
Sauter la gare de triage
Quand elle a su que tu partais
Dans un camp de prisonniers
J'en connais une qui ce jour-là
A du beaucoup pleurer pour toi
Quel souvenir papa
Quel souvenir tu as
Tu as fini par t'évader
Tu as trouvé l'amitié
Dans la maison d'un Alsacien
Qui t'a fait passer la frontière
Tu as fais la route à vélo
Tu as rejoint ton réseau
J'en connais une qui t'a caché
En attendant la fin de la guerre
Quel souvenir papa
Quel souvenir tu as
Tu as connu des privations
Mais avec tes compagnons
Tu tirais bien de temps en temps
Un lièvre dans la campagne
Le jour de la libération
Tu as repris ton vrai nom
J'en connais une qui ce jour-là
A du beaucoup pleurer de joie
Quel souvenir papa
Quel souvenir tu as
Quel souvenir papa
Quel souvenir tu as
The lyrics of Michel Delpech's song "Quel Souvenir Papa" tell the story of a father who was a member of the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) during World War II. The father was taken prisoner by the Germans after he had jumped a railway yard on the day he was to depart for a prisoner of war camp, much to the sorrow of someone who cared for him deeply. But the father eventually managed to escape and sought refuge in the home of an Alsatian who helped him cross the border to join his resistance group. During this time, he and his comrades went through a period of scarcity, although they managed to catch a hare in the countryside from time to time. When the war ended, the father returned home to the welcoming arms of the person who missed him so much.
The lyrics of "Quel Souvenir Papa" serve as a tribute to the resilience of those who fought in the resistance during World War II, and to the sacrifices they made for the cause of freedom. It is a reminder of the courage of people who lived through difficult times and of the loved ones who waited for them to return. The song has a melancholic and nostalgic tone that reflects the turbulent but proud history of France during the war.
Line by Line Meaning
Tu étais dans les FFI
You were a part of the French Resistance movement
Et quand les Allemands t'ont pris
And when the Germans captured you
Tu venais de faire ce jour-là
You had just jumped over the train yard
Sauter la gare de triage
Jump over the train yard
Quand elle a su que tu partais
When she found out that you were leaving
Dans un camp de prisonniers
To a prisoner of war camp
J'en connais une qui ce jour-là
I know someone who that day
A du beaucoup pleurer pour toi
Cried a lot for you
Quel souvenir papa
What a memory, Dad
Quel souvenir tu as
What a memory you have
Tu as fini par t'évader
You eventually escaped
Tu as trouvé l'amitié
You found friendship
Dans la maison d'un Alsacien
In the house of an Alsatian
Qui t'a fait passer la frontière
Who helped you cross the border
Tu as fais la route à vélo
You went by bike
Tu as rejoint ton réseau
You rejoined your group
J'en connais une qui t'a caché
I know someone who hid you
En attendant la fin de la guerre
While waiting for the end of the war
Tu as connu des privations
You experienced deprivations
Mais avec tes compagnons
But with your companions
Tu tirais bien de temps en temps
You hunted occasionally
Un lièvre dans la campagne
A hare in the countryside
Le jour de la libération
On the day of liberation
Tu as repris ton vrai nom
You took back your real name
J'en connais une qui ce jour-là
I know someone who on that day
A du beaucoup pleurer de joie
Cried a lot of joy for you
Quel souvenir papa
What a memory, Dad
Quel souvenir tu as
What a memory you have
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Françoise Fouine
merci à toutes et tous d'âtre passés,, hélas, Michel n'est plus,, il reste ses belles et douces chansons, un super poète,,,un grand talent de la chanson française,,
aandredanyel
je viens juste d'écouter "les aveux" et je me replonge dans l'univers de Michel
une chanson que je redécouvre , elle est belle
aandredanyel
et oui , bises Françoise
Françoise Fouine
+aandredanyel oui encore une très belle chanson de Michel,,,il y en a tant,,
yolande wathelet
magnifique ,je ne la connaissais pas ,je pense a mon pére en l'écoutent
Françoise Fouine
+yolande wathelet merci de votre passage,,
Françoise Fouine
merci à vous tous d'être passés bien que je n'ai pas fait de partage,,, merci merci,,,bisous
jeannine lambolez
SUPERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR <3 <3 en plus je ne la connaissais pas
merci <3
Françoise Fouine
♥
Odette Hodel
merci pour le partage de ta vidéo avec MICHEL sa chanson et ses photos****Gros Bisous***