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
Y-a-t-il Une Fille Pour L'épouser
Michel Delpech Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pour une piaule où y'a pas d'chauffage
Il vous met le maximum
C'est une espèce de vieil avare
Qui habite au rez d'chaussée
C'est sûrement pas c'qu'y'a d'mieux à voir
Dans la société
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Une fille que c'gars-là pourrait intéresser
Y'a des mômes qui font d'la musique
Qui s'défoulent le samedi soir
Il hurle dans l'escalier d'service
Il est tard, il est tard
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Une fille que c'gars-là pourrait intéresser
Y'a des mômes qui font d'la musique
Qui s'défoulent le samedi soir
Il hurle dans l'escalier d'service
Il est tard, il est tard
Lui c'qu'il préfère c'est les fanfares
Militaires et disciplinées
C'est vraiment pas c'qu'y'a d'mieux à voir
Dans la société
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Une fille que c'gars-là pourrait intéresser
Y'a des mômes qui font d'la musique
Qui s'défoulent le samedi soir
Il hurle dans l'escalier d'service
Il est tard, il est tard
Je l'ai vu près d'la cage des singes
L'autr'jour en m'baladant au zoo
Il ricanait sous ses lunettes
En lisant les journaux
Lui c'qui l'fait rire c'est les histoires
Des gens qui s'font condamner
C'est vraiment pas c'qu'y'a d'mieux à voir
Dans la société
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Une fille que c'gars-là pourrait intéresser
Y'a des mômes qui font d'la musique
Qui s'défoulent le samedi soir
Il hurle dans l'escalier d'service
Il est tard, il est tard
The lyrics of Michel Delpech's song "Y-a-t-il Une Fille Pour L'épouser" depict a character who is portrayed as a stingy landlord, living on the ground floor of a building. The character is described as someone who charges high rent for small and poorly equipped rooms. The lyrics suggest that this person is not the most pleasant or admirable member of society, indicating that there is not much to admire about him.
The repeated questioning of whether there is a girl who would marry this man reflects the idea that he may not be the most appealing partner. The lyrics hint at his unfavorable qualities, such as being a late-night disturber and having an interest in military bands. The lyrics also mention young people who engage in music and social activities, contrasting their lively and expressive behavior with the negative portrayal of the central character.
The reference to the man's presence at the monkey enclosure in the zoo, where he is depicted as sneering and finding amusement in reading about others' misfortunes, further reinforces the negative image of this individual. This portrayal suggests that he takes pleasure in the misfortunes of others and finds entertainment in negative or tragic events, hinting at a lack of empathy or compassion.
Overall, the lyrics of "Y-a-t-il Une Fille Pour L'épouser" present a stark contrast between the character's unsavory traits and the more positive and vibrant qualities exhibited by the young musicians and people engaging in social activities. The lyrics ultimately raise questions about whether there is someone who would be willing to marry such an unappealing character, highlighting the theme of societal disconnection and the contrast between different lifestyles and values.
Line by Line Meaning
loyer de ses chambres de bonnes
Rent of his maid's rooms
Pour une piaule où y'a pas d'chauffage
For a room where there's no heating
Il vous met le maximum
He charges you the maximum
C'est une espèce de vieil avare
He's a kind of old miser
Qui habite au rez d'chaussée
Living on the ground floor
C'est sûrement pas c'qu'y'a d'mieux à voir
It surely isn't the best to see
Y'a-t-il une fille pour l'épouser ?
Is there a girl to marry him?
Une fille que c'gars-là pourrait intéresser
A girl that this guy might interest
Y a des mômes qui font d'la musique
There are kids making music
Qui s'défoulent le samedi soir
Letting off steam on Saturday night
Il hurle dans l'escalier d'service
He yells in the service stairwell
Il est tard, il est tard
It's late, it's late
Lui c'qu'il préfère c'est les fanfares
What he prefers is the military bands
Militaires et disciplinées
Military and disciplined
Je l'ai vu près d'la cage des singes
I saw him near the monkeys' cage
L'autr'jour en m'baladant au zoo
The other day while walking in the zoo
Il ricanait sous ses lunettes
He was chuckling behind his glasses
En lisant les journaux
While reading the newspapers
Lui c'qui l'fait rire c'est les histoires
What makes him laugh are the stories
Des gens qui s'font condamner
Of people being sentenced
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RIVAT JEAN MICHEL FRANCK
Written by: MICHEL DELPECH, LAURENT FOULON, JEAN-MICHEL FRANCK RIVAT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind