Salvatore, Knight Adamo, simply known as Adamo (born 1 November 1943, in Co… Read Full Bio ↴Salvatore, Knight Adamo, simply known as Adamo (born 1 November 1943, in Comiso, Sicily, Italy) is a Belgian – Italian composer and singer of ballads, mainly in French, but also in other languages such as German, Italian and Spanish. He had commercial success during the 1960s and 1970s, mostly in Europe and Latin America, but also in Japan and the United States. Now he lives in Belgium. He is of Sicilian/Italian ancestry.

Adamo is one of the most commercially successful singers in Europe. Adamo has sold over 80 million copies of his albums worldwide. He is currently living in Belgium though he has lived in France with his family. His hits include "Tombe la Neige", "Vous permettez, Monsieur?" and "Inch'Allah", all from the sixties.

Adamo's early influences were the poetry of Victor Hugo, the music of French crooners such as Jacques Prévert or Georges Brassens, and the Italian canzonette. He started singing and composing his own songs from an early age. His debut was in a Radio Luxembourg competition, where he participated as singer and composer of the song "Si j'osais" ("If I dared") winning the competition's final held in Paris, in 14 February 1960.

Adamo's first hit was "Sans toi, ma mie", in 1963, from his debut album 63/64. He followed this with a series of hits, "Tombe la neige" ("The snow falls"), "Vous permettez, Monsieur?" ("May I, Sir"), "La Nuit" ("The Night") (1964), "Dolce Paola" ("Sweet Paola"), "Les Filles du bord de mer" ("The girls at the beach"), "Mes mains sur tes hanches" ("My hands on your hips") (1965), "Ton Nom" ("Your Name"), "Une meche de cheveux" ("Lock of golden hair") (1966), "Une larme aux nuages" ("A tear to the clouds"), "Inch'Allah" (1967), "L'amour te ressemble" ("Love resembles you"), "F... comme femme" ("F... like woman") (1968), "A demain sur la lune" ("See you tomorrow on the moon"), "Petit bonheur" ("Small happiness") (1969), "Va mon bateau" ("My boat goes"), "Les belles dames" ("Beautiful ladies") (1970), "J'avais oublié que les roses sont roses" ("I had forgotten that the roses are pink") (1971), "C'est ma vie" ("It's my life") (1975). Other notable songs included "Manuel", "Si Tu Etais", "Les Collines De Rabiah", "J'Te Lache Plus", "Mourir Dans Tes Bras", and "Ce George(s)".

The self-penned "Petit bonheur" sold over one million copies by April 1970, and was awarded a gold disc.

Amália Rodrigues recorded "Inch'Allah" in French. Adamo briefly attempted movie acting when he was cast in the film Les Arnaud (1967), which starred Bourvil.

He has recorded in many languages and, besides France and Belgium, had hits in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and also in Japan, where he toured repeatedly. Adamo has had hits and toured also in Latin America. In Chile, the audience awarded him an appreciation prize known as the "Antorcha" (Gold and Silver Torch) at the "Festival de Viña del Mar" held yearly in the "Quinta Vergara", at the seaside resort of Viña del Mar, where he once had to sing in three different, sold-out venues in the same night.

In the 1980s, Adamo's career faltered, as the style of his music was no longer fashionable. Since the 1990s, however, and on the crest of a nostalgia wave, Adamo has successfully resumed composing, issuing records and touring, starting with a full season at the Casino de Paris venue in April 1990. Adamo has sold over 100 million copies of recordings worldwide.

Albums

* 1992 Rêveur de fond
* 1994 C’est ma vie (compilation Live)
* 1995 La vie comme elle passe
* 1998 Regards
* 2001 Par les temps qui courent
* 2002 Les mots de l’âme (compilation)
* 2003 Zanzibar
* 2004 Un soir au Zanzibar (CD/DVD compilation Live)
* 2007 La part de l'ange

Eddy Cochran Buddy Holly and Brassens
Salvatore Adamo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

J'aurais pu m'appeler Tommy Bridge
Mais je suis Antoine Dupont
J'aurais pu me brancher à l'english
Et planquer mon accordéon
Tout en gardant mes bretelles
Cachées sous mon poncho
Pour le cas où le naturel
Soudain

Reviendrait au galop
(Shoop, shoop)
(Shoop, shoop)

Eddy Cochran, Buddy Holly
Ont connu la Baby Sue
Moi j'ai connu Bernadette
Et Ginette et Marilou
Qui n'aimaient pas les "I love you"
Ah non, pas du tout !
Et leurs «Je t'aime» étaient si doux
Si doux !
Que voulez-vous ?
(Shoop, shoop)
(Shoop, shoop)

J'aurais pu doter ma guitare sèche
D'une centrale électrique
Et cacher mon mal derrière les mèches
De mes cheveux psychédéliques
Et chanter le rock and roll
En français, à genoux
C'eût été beaucoup plus drôle
Oh oui !
Mais que voulez-vous ?
(Shoop, shoop)
(Shoop, shoop)

Eddy Cochran, Buddy Holly
And Gene Vincent and so on
Sont mes frères, mes lumières
Et, que Brassens me pardonne

J'ai voulu chanter l'Auvergnat
En français, à genoux
Mais l'Auvergnat n'comprenait pas
Il a
Avalé son biniou
(Shoop, shoop)
(Shoop, shoop)

Elle est à toi cette chanson
À toi Brassens qui, sans façon,
M'avais appris ces quatre accords
Au bon temps des Copains d'abord

Ce n'était qu'une valse à trois temps
Mais elle a bercé mes quinze ans
Et dans mon âme elle chante encore
À la manière d'un rock and roll

Eddy Cochran, Buddy Holly
Ont connu la Baby Sue
Moi j'ai connu Bernadette
Et Ginette et Marilou
Qui n'aimaient pas les "I love you"
Ah non, pas du tout !
Et leurs «Je t'aime» étaient si doux

Si doux !
Que voulez-vous ?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Salvatore Adamo's song "Eddy Cochran Buddy Holly and Brassens" express the singer's reflection on his own identity and musical influences. The opening lines suggest that the singer, Antoine Dupont, could have adopted a different persona or stage name, such as Tommy Bridge, but he chose to remain true to himself. He could have embraced English music and hidden his accordion, keeping his French heritage under wraps, but ultimately he decides to be authentic and show his natural self. The repetition of "Shoop, shoop" throughout the song adds a rhythmic and playful element.

The next verse references iconic figures in rock and roll history, Eddy Cochran and Buddy Holly, and contrasts their experiences with the singer's own encounters with women named Bernadette, Ginette, and Marilou. The women the singer knew didn't appreciate the sentiments of "I love you" in the way that the rock and roll stars' fans did. Their "Je t'aime" (French for "I love you") was sweeter and different. This highlights the contrast between the singer's personal experiences and the larger-than-life image of rock and roll love.

The following verse speaks of the singer's desire to have a powerful electric guitar and a distinctive image with psychedelic hair, but ultimately decides that singing rock and roll in French on his knees would be more amusing. The repetition of "Shoop, shoop" continues to add a catchy and energetic tone to the song.

The chorus repeats the names of influential rock and roll artists like Eddy Cochran, Buddy Holly, and Gene Vincent, acknowledging their impact on the singer's life. It concludes with a phrase asking for forgiveness from French singer-songwriter Georges Brassens for attempting to sing one of his songs in French, but realizing that the Auvergnat (a person from the Auvergne region in France) didn't understand and instead decided to swallow his bagpipe. This showcases the singer's realization that authenticity and staying true to oneself is more important than trying to imitate others.

The final stanza is a tribute to Brassens, acknowledging his influence on the singer's musical journey. The song itself becomes a homage to Brassens, referring to the time when they were all "Copains d'abord" (buddies first) and the simpler times when they were learning music together. The song mentions that it was just a waltz in three beats, but it holds a special place in the singer's heart and still echoes within his soul, much like a rock and roll song.

Overall, the song reflects on the singer's identity and influences, expressing the importance of being true to oneself while acknowledging the impact of rock and roll and the people who shaped its history.

Eddy Cochran Buddy Holly and BrassensSalvatore Adamo Lyrics

Eddy Cochran Buddy Holly and Brassens
Salvatore Adamo Lyrics