Bachelet spent part of his childhood in Calais and developed a lifelong appreciation of the North of France, which inspired his hit song "Les corons" (1982).
His other hit songs include "Elle est d'ailleurs" (1980), "Écris-moi" (1982), "Marionnettiste" (1985), "En l'an 2001" (1985) and "Vingt ans" (1987). He also composed music for movies, for example Emmanuelle (1974), Les Bronzés font du ski (1975) and the British-made Sex with the Stars (1980). Robert Fripp won an out-of-court settlement over the use of music in Emmanuelle based on King Crimson's "Larks' Tongues in Aspic". His songs from the film Emmanuelle called Emmanuelle In The Mirror and Theme From Emmanuelle were sampled in the Lily Rose Cooper single Littlest Things.
He would return to score further Emmanuelle films, such as Emmanuelle V and Emmanuelle 7. He also did the score for Story of O, another huge success for him and the French film Un crime au paradis.
His signature tune, "Les corons", released in 1982, is notably used as the supporter's anthem for the Lens football club.
Bachelet bore a physical and vocal resemblance to Jacques Brel, and had a similar onstage demeanor. Bachelet held Brel's work in high respect, and his last release while alive was a cover of Brel songs.
Bachelet died of lung cancer in 2005.
Heureux
Pierre Bachelet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et qui sans jamais rien lui dire
Le guide au chemin triomphant
Heureux qui chante pour l'enfant
Heureux qui sanglote de joie
Pour s'être enfin donné d'amour
Ou pour un baiser que l'on boit
Heureux qui sanglote de joie
Heureux les amants séparés
Et qui ne savent pas encor'
Qu'ils vont demain se retrouver
Heureux les amants séparés
Heureux les amants épargnés
Et dont la force de vingt ans
Ne sert à rien qu'à bien s'aimer
Heureux les amants épargnés
Heureux les amants que nous sommes
Et qui demain loin l'un de l'autre
S'aimeront s'aimeront
Par-dessus les hommes
The lyrics to Pierre Bachelet's song "Heureux" describe different moments and situations in life that bring happiness. The first two stanzas speak about the joy of singing for a child, guiding them towards a triumphant path of life, or shedding tears of joy for giving love to someone or receiving a kiss. The third stanza talks about the happiness of lovers who are separated but have faith in being reunited. The fourth stanza celebrates the endurance of the love between long-term lovers that has grown stronger despite the passing of time. The final stanza expresses happiness for the lovers in the song, who despite being apart, will continue to love each other more than any other couple.
The theme of the song is about love and how it brings joy and happiness to life. The idea of love as a transformative force is highlighted, whether it's the love between a child and a caregiver, the love between separated lovers, or the love between long-term partners. Bachelet's plaintive vocals and the music's slow, melancholy melody create an atmosphere of longing and desire even as the lyrics celebrate the happiness that love brings. It's a song that speaks to the eternal yearning for love and human connection, and the hope that it brings to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Heureux qui chante pour l'enfant
Happy is the one who sings for the child
Et qui sans jamais rien lui dire
And without ever saying anything to him
Le guide au chemin triomphant
Guides him on the triumphant path
Heureux qui sanglote de joie
Happy is the one who sobs with joy
Pour s'être enfin donné d'amour
For finally having given love
Ou pour un baiser que l'on boit
Or for a kiss that is savored
Heureux les amants séparés
Happy are the separated lovers
Et qui ne savent pas encor'
And who don't know yet
Qu'ils vont demain se retrouver
That they will meet again tomorrow
Heureux les amants épargnés
Happy are the spared lovers
Et dont la force de vingt ans
And whose strength of twenty years
Ne sert à rien qu'à bien s'aimer
Serves nothing but to love each other well
Heureux les amants que nous sommes
Happy are the lovers that we are
Et qui demain loin l'un de l'autre
And who tomorrow will be far from each other
S'aimeront s'aimeront
Will love each other, will love each other
Par-dessus les hommes
Above all other beings
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.