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
Wight Is Wight
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dylan is Dylan
Wight is Wight
Viva Donovan
C'est comme un soleil
Dans le gris du ciel
Wight is Wight, et
Hippie, hippie-pie
Hippie-pie
Ils sont arrivés dans l'île nue
Sans un bagages et les pieds nus
Comme un cyclone inattendu
Comme une fleur avant la saison
Comme une pluie de papillons
À laquelle on a jamais cru
Wight is Wight
Dylan is Dylan
Wight is Wight
Viva Donovan
C'est comme un soleil
Dans le gris du ciel
Wight is Wight, et
Hippie, hippie-pie
Hippie-pie
Hippie-pie
Toi qui a voulu t'emprisonner
As-tu le droit de condamner
Celui qui cherche à s'évader?
Chacun mène sa vie comme il veut
Tu ne peux plus baisser les yeux
Car aussi vrai que tu es né
Wight is Wight
Dylan is Dylan
Wight is Wight
Viva Donovan
C'est comme un soleil
Dans le gris du ciel
Wight is Wight, et
Hippie, hippie-pie
Hippie-pie
Wight is Wight
Dylan is Dylan
Wight is Wight
Viva Donovan
C'est comme un soleil
Dans le gris du ciel
Wight is Wight, et
Hippie, hippie, pie
Wight is Wight
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la
The lyrics to Michel Delpech's song "Wight is Wight" consist of a group of people arriving on the island of Wight, with nothing but their bare feet and a sense of rebellion. The island is used as a metaphor for freedom and self-expression, with the lyrics stating that "Wight is Wight" and you cannot imprison those who seek to escape. The phrase "Dylan is Dylan" pays homage to Bob Dylan, who was a prominent figure in the 60s counterculture, while "Viva Donovan" gives a shoutout to the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, who was also a popular figure during this time.
The lyrics celebrate the hippie movement which was characterized by anti-conformist values, experimentation with drugs, rejection of materialism, and promotion of peace and love. The hippies are depicted as symbols of hope and freedom, and the song celebrates their courage to break free from societal norms and expectations. The phrase "Hippie hippie-pie" is repeated throughout the song, creating a catchy tune that emphasizes the carefree nature of the hippie movement.
Line by Line Meaning
Wight is Wight
The island of Wight is just what it is, nothing more, nothing less.
Dylan is Dylan
Bob Dylan is Bob Dylan, unique and irreplaceable.
Viva Donovan
Donovan is celebrated and cheered on.
C'est comme un soleil
Dans le gris du ciel
Their arrival on the island felt like a beam of sunshine on an overcast day.
Wight is Wight, et
Hippie, hippie-pie
Hippie-pie
Wight is what it is and can't be anything else; the hippies love it.
Ils sont arrivés dans l'île nue
Sans un bagages et les pieds nus
Comme un cyclone inattendu
They arrived on the island with nothing, like an unexpected storm.
Comme une fleur avant la saison
Comme une pluie de papillons
À laquelle on a jamais cru
They appeared like flowers out of season or a sudden swarm of butterflies, something surprising and hard to believe.
Toi qui a voulu t'emprisonner
As-tu le droit de condamner
Celui qui cherche à s'évader?
Those who try to hold others back have no right to judge someone who wants to break free.
Chacun mène sa vie comme il veut
Tu ne peux plus baisser les yeux
Car aussi vrai que tu es né
Everyone can live their life however they want, and you can't ignore them because it's an undeniable fact of life.
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la
The repeated melody underscores the message that everyone has the right to be themselves and live their life as they wish.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHEL DELPECH, ROLAND RICHARD VINCENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gerardcapobianco9364
En 70 j'avais 18 ans les années 70 et 80 c'était super et en plus on avait de vrais chanteurs comme delpech et pas de chanteurs aussi mauvais que depuis plusieurs années. Delpech vs étiez un vrai chanteur
@letigre2999
Le beau gosse avec son beau sourire et sa belle voix je ne me lasse pas de cette chanson.
@cindydehelly5792
Ma mère me l'a fait connaître j'aurais adoré vivre dans les années 70 rien a voir avec ces années pourries
@jipeon6446
La société c'est comme le poisson, quand elle est pourrie elle est morte
@bilalleking
MAIS TA TELLEMENT RAISON 💪🏻
@bastienboitte2010
J'avoue.. mais faut se calmer hein 😂🎉🎉🎉
@huguesdamez
Des années paradisiaque chez nous ❤
@riadbenyacoub8080
On pouvait tout dire
@anasthasieaigbede5974
Très belle chanson apaisante qui me fait ressourcer dans le passé. Merci à Mr DELPECHE. de me faire rêver. 👌👌❤😘
@jean-marcroland9034
C'était la belle epoque , le reve etait la ,l insouciance paix a ton ame tu es une belle personne merci