At age 16, Distel became a professional jazz guitarist. Over his career he worked alongside Dizzy Gillespie and Tony Bennett and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1950s after establishing himself as a French crooner.
Sacha Distel had a much publicized relationship with actress Brigitte Bardot but in 1963 he married skier Francine Bréaud. He reputedly broke off the relationship with Bardot after discovering her with another man.
In the 1960s, he composed 'La Belle Vie', a tune that made its way across the Atlantic as 'The Good Life', and most famously performed by Tony Bennett. French lyrics were added in the 1970s and it became Distel's signature tune. During the 1960s, he had his own variety show on French television.
During the 1970s, he became popular outside France, and once hosted the Miss World contest in London. In this decade, he spent more time in the UK than in France. Considered a Gallic heart throb in Britain he was a regular on British TV
Distel remained reasonably popular in France in the 1980s and 1990s, including a new show named after his song 'La Belle Vie'.
In 2001, Distel had a part as lawyer Billy Flynn in the London production of the musical Chicago. He did have an ambition to make a musical about the life of Maurice Chevalier, but this remained unfulfilled at the time of his death.
Sacha Distel died on 22 July 2004 near St Tropez,after a long battle with cancer.
His name was used in Peter Sarstedt's song "Where Do You Go To My Lovely".
La Belle vie
Sacha Distel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sans amour
Sans soucis, sans problèmes
Oui, la belle vie
On est seul
On est libre
Et on traîne
On s'amuse
À passer
Sans peur du lendemain
Des nuits blanches
Qui se penchent
Sur les petits matins
Mais la belle vie
Sans amour, sans soucis
Sans problèmes
Oui la belle vie
On s'enlace
On est triste
Et on traîne
Alors pense
Que je t'aime
Et quand tu auras compris
Réveille-toi
Je serai là
Pour toi
La Belle Vie by Sacha Distel is a song that talks about living the good life, free from love, worries or problems. The lyrics paint a picture of a life without attachments or responsibilities, where one can just stroll around and have fun without worrying about the future. The song starts with a repetition of the phrase 'Ô la belle vie', which translates to 'Oh, the good life' in English, emphasizing the theme of the song.
The first verse talks about the freedom that comes with being alone and unattached, where one can have fun without worrying about tomorrow. The phrase 'On s'amuse à passer' translates to 'We have fun just passing by,' giving a sense of carefree joy. The second verse takes an unexpected turn, where it points out that even though life is amazing when it is without attachments, it can be lonely and sad. The line 'On est triste, et on traîne' translates to 'We are sad, and we drag,' highlighting the sense of sadness that comes with loneliness.
The chorus brings a sense of uncertainty and confusion, where the song becomes a plea to a loved one to understand the feelings of the singer. The lyrics urge the loved one to realize that the good life is not complete without them, and to wake up and come back to the singer's arms. The song ends on a hopeful note, where the singer promises to be there for their loved one.
Overall, La Belle Vie by Sacha Distel is a song that celebrates the joys of living without attachments or worries, but also acknowledges the fact that life can be empty and lonely without love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ô la belle vie
Oh, the beautiful life
Sans amour
Without love
Sans soucis, sans problèmes
Without worries, without problems
Oui, la belle vie
Yes, the beautiful life
On est seul
We are alone
On est libre
We are free
Et on traîne
And we laze around
On s'amuse
We have fun
À passer
Just passing time
Sans peur du lendemain
Without fear of tomorrow
Des nuits blanches
Sleepless nights
Qui se penchent
That lean over
Sur les petits matins
Towards the early mornings
Mais la belle vie
But the beautiful life
Sans amour, sans soucis
Without love, without worries
Sans problèmes
Without problems
Oui la belle vie
Yes, the beautiful life
On s'enlace
We embrace
On est triste
We are sad
Et on traîne
And we laze around
Alors pense
So think
Que je t'aime
That I love you
Et quand tu auras compris
And when you understand
Réveille-toi
Wake up
Je serai là
I will be there
Pour toi
For you
Lyrics © PROSADIS
Written by: Jack Reardon, Jean Broussolle, Sacha Distel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@redwoodzzz
Oh la belle vie
Sans amours
Sans soucis
Sans problèmes
Hm la belle vie
On est seul
On est libre
Et l'on traîne
On s'amuse à passer avec tous ses copains
Des nuits blanches
Qui se penchent
Sur les petits matins
Mais la belle vie
Sans amours
Sans soucis
Sans problèmes
Oui la belle vie
On s'enlace
On est triste
Et l'on traîne
Alors pense que je t'aime
Et quand tu auras compris
Réveille-toi
Je serai là
Pour toi ❤
@user-de2tl8zv9u
Depuis la première écoute demi sourire
@gilgil4944
Sacha avait importé en France le glamour américain avec élégance et tout en simplicité et l'époque se prêtait aussi à ce genre de rêverie.
@cassianeclaudio3361
😊😊😊
@ChristinaTeoLiCheng
Totally agree with you. Somehow it sounds more romantically soothing in the French Language
@richardnemeth5911
Well said
@bizardugrenier
Dinah Washington the good life
@Blackridge.
Back when music was rich, elegant and glamorous
@kev1507
omg stop being dramatic, such music still exist, there are many ways to do music and it's always been that way
@Blackridge.
@@kev1507 I'm not being dramatic... Because that was the mainstream music. Now the mainstream music is pop/rap, and that affects how people think/dress etc..
@kev1507
@@Blackridge. You are. What you said first meant that you couldn't find "rich, elegant and glamorous" music today. Which is wrong. You sound like old people saying the old days were better and that young people these days don't know how to enjoy life. And it's both boring and annoying.