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
Vu D'Avion Un Soir
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D'ici la mer est bleue
D'ici on pourrait croire
Que les gens sont heureux
La terre est un paradis vu d'avion
D'ici, il n'y a pas de guerre
Au loin on pourrait croire
Quelques peaux rouges assis en rond
Tous les hommes s'aiment vu d'avion
Si un jour je dois prendre un maоtre
Ce sera Jonathan
Le goйland
Qui passe au dessus du monde
Comme nous passons
Ce soir au dessus du Mont-Blanc
D'ici tout le monde est riche
D'ici y a pas de misиre
D'ici tout est possible
Tout est beau sur la terre
Tous les hommes sont йgaux vu d'avion.
In Michel Delpech's song "Vu D'Avion Un Soir," the singer describes their view from an airplane, pointing out the beautiful blonde sand, blue sea, and how happy the people below seem. However, they acknowledge that from up high, it's easy to believe that there is no war or strife. In the distance, they see what they describe as "peaux rouges," an old French term for Native Americans, sitting in a circle, and the singer imagines that all people love each other when seen from an airplane. They highlight the idea that the world is a paradise seen from a plane, and everyone appears equal and free of hardships, troubles, and suffering.
The final stanza of the song reveals the singer's hope for a better world, where everyone is equal and free from poverty and inequality. They mention that if they ever have to take an instructor in life, they would like it to be Jonathan, the seagull who flies over the world as they do over Mont Blanc. It's unclear if Jonathan is an actual seagull or a metaphor for something else, but they represent the idea of freedom and the ability to see things from a different perspective.
Overall, "Vu D'Avion Un Soir" touches on the theme of human perception and how it affects our understanding of the world we live in. The singer acknowledges that things may look different from high up in the sky, but they express hope for a world where everyone can live happily and equally.
Line by Line Meaning
D'ici le sable est blond
From up here, the sand looks like it's a beautiful blonde color.
D'ici la mer est bleue
From up here, the ocean appears to be a striking blue hue.
D'ici on pourrait croire
From up here, it's easy to believe that...
Que les gens sont heureux
...the people on the ground are happy.
La terre est un paradis vu d'avion
From up here, the Earth looks like a paradise.
D'ici, il n'y a pas de guerre
From up here, it seems like there's no war going on.
Au loin on pourrait croire
Far away, it's easy to believe that...
Qu'on voit
...we can see...
Quelques peaux rouges assis en rond
...a group of Native Americans sitting in a circle.
Tous les hommes s'aiment vu d'avion
From up here, it seems like all men love each other.
Si un jour je dois prendre un maоtre
If I ever have to take someone as my leader...
Ce sera Jonathan
...it would be Jonathan...
Le goйland
...the seagull...
Qui passe au dessus du monde
...that soars over the entire world.
Comme nous passons
Just as we are flying over...
Ce soir au dessus du Mont-Blanc
...Mont Blanc tonight.
D'ici tout le monde est riche
From up here, it looks like everyone is wealthy.
D'ici y a pas de misиre
From up here, it seems like there's no poverty.
D'ici tout est possible
From up here, anything seems achievable.
Tout est beau sur la terre
Everything on Earth looks beautiful.
Tous les hommes sont йgaux vu d'avion.
From up here, it appears that all men are equal.
Contributed by Camilla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Goldwing Channel
Sans doute l'une de ses plus belles chanson avec le talent indéniable de Julien Lepers au piano !
Youssef Haddi oueld Jadida
D'ici on ne t'oublieras jamais,quel classe! quel gentillesse!quel chanteur merci merci pour le bonheur que tu nous a laissé merci Michel Delpech
Jacques Pablo
Comme j’aime cette chanson car j’adore l’avion , c’est magnifique vue d’avion ! Merci Monsieur Delpech.
Hassan annabi
Jacques vous devriez animer des ateliers sur le thème " Je n'ai pas peur de l'avion".
Philip HENRY
MAGNIFIQUE CHANSON.... Et au revoir Michel, sois heureux là où tu es maintenant. On ne t'oubliera pas.
Karim a
Pourquoi les Radios ne passent elles pas les tubes excellents de Michel DELPECH, elles vont attendre qu'il ne soit plus parmi nous pour dire que cet homme avait du génie, qu'il a écrit quelques une des meilleurs musiques Françaises de ces 50 dernières années, il faut lui dire maintenant, maintenant qu'il est là avec nous, pour qu'il comprenne avant de partir que des millions de Français l'aime vraiment comme grand chanteur et comme homme de grand talent qui à su toucher les coeurs et les âmes de millions de fans… love l'artiste.
Hassan annabi
Bien dit Karim et cela s'est passé comme tu l'a prédis!
emmanuel kornmann
UNE BELLE PERSONNE MERCI MR DELPECH !!!
thierry thierry
tu as raison,, karim ses mélodies touchent nos coeurs
Teauaa
+Karim a Parce que ce monde préfère le laid aujourd'hui ; le règne de lucifer.
Dieu merci il y a encore de beaux artistes.