Songs We Thought We Knew
Music we love and know, or ….think we do. Songs often become a significant part of our lives and can define a day, place, era or a generation. We associate them with our losses, loves, yearnings and summings-up. They possess the power to rock us back to a cherished moment, locale, person or can wake long dormant memories while rousing past passions.
Many songs enjoy a cachet spanning generations as younger fans rediscover them and add their own emotional import. We so deeply identify these songs with our individual circumstances or link a unique melody with a particular place that we can't be blamed for not realizing that some of these songs are remakes of others, or hail from surprising foreign places. And here's a few.
First, a English to French tale.
'Down Waterloo Road' to 'Aux Champs-Élysées' Known virtually world-wide (and parts of Alpha Centuri) as one of the quintessential French songs. The composition seems to embody all the magical, je ne sais quo'ish essence of Paris's prestigious, premier avenue. Since its release Aux Champs-Élysées has gone on to iconic status, creating an idealized image and feel of Paris. It is such a powerfully emotional song, with lyrics so seemingly Parisian and ineffably French, that it may be hard to realize it hails from England, from the album 'Waterloo Road' penned by Mike Walsh and Anthony Deighan.
The original song is “Down Waterloo Road” and it was preformed in 1968 by Jason Crest.
Here it is:
The French version is of course Les Champs-Élysées by Joe Dassin. Dassin* who did a french-language cover in 1969.
Listen here:
Bottom line: the French-language classic “Aux Champs-Élysées” hails from the English album 'Waterloo Road' penned by Mike Walsh and Anthony Deighan and sung by Jason Crest in '68.
*Cool Footnote: As if Dassin singing a French version of a song from England and making it a French classic isn't interesting enough, Dassan himself was American-French, born in New York City. He attended Hebrew High School in the Bronx, (who knew?) before earning a B.A. & Masters in Anthropology from U of Michigan. After settling in France, he had supporting roles in a few flicks (see TOPKAPI -1964). Dassin reportedly recorded in, aside from French, ...English, German, Italian, Greek and Spanish. What a guy!
From being a French classic to an American one.
Comme d'habitude ('As Usual') to My Way: While “Aux Champs-Élysées” has pride among place in the pantheon of French songs, the classic “My Way” by iconic crooner Frank Sinatra is the US's version of a melancholic summing-up of life melody that encapsulates buckets of feeling. It speaks of overcoming obstacles, of falling and getting back up, the virtues of indefatigable Yankee tenacity: (“I did it myyyyy way”). For many it is a song that deeply resonates about being at peace with ones place in life. A sentiment embraced by multiple generations both in and beyond the United States.
And yet (add French twist, here) 'My Way's' DNA is from the French classic "Comme d'habitude ('As Usual') made famous by France's Claude François . It is a downbeat song about falling out of love composed in 1967 by Jacques Revaux and lyrics by Francois & Thibaut.
Listen Here:
Paul Anka adapted "Comme d'habitude", penning new lyrics and thus, “My Way” which eventually became the signature song for Sinatra (a.k.a. 'Ol' Blue Eyes' or 'The Chairman of the Board's).
Here, with scarily white teeth, is Frank:
Le Moribond (The Dying Person/Man) to Seasons in the Sun
If you had a pulse or not in the 1970's it would have been hard to miss this 1974 heart-tugger smash by Terry Jacks. Yet, the origins of 'Seasons' also came from across the pond, being the US version of the 1961 song "Le Moribond", a French song by Belgian singer-writer Jacques Brel. It is a mournful tale of an aged man dying of heartache after his wife cheats on him with his best friend. Ooooh-LA!
Here is Brel accompanied by his highly chiseled features:
The Jacks/Seasons version is about someone dying of cancer who recalls a childhood friend, his father (most probably) and, a “little one”. Both are dark'ish, mournful, if full of wisdom, chansons.
Here is Jacks:
Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) (Authors Note: My Fav) A True Parisian chanson ….but....well, not.
This is both an odd one to add because while sung in English it so utterly captures a French or Parisian essence that you wonder why a French version was never produced. (Would that even even be possible?). As a Parisian friend has begrudgingly quipped, 'it's more Paris, than Paris.'
It is also an instant time capsule of my youth. I vividly recall hearing – actually seeing and feeling these words. (I played it so often on my cheesy old record-player, the song on the B-side started coming through!) Okay, I digress. This is a song whose DNA is clearly French, but is from England.
Peter Sarstedt released it in 1969 and it can astonish with its hemorrhaging Parisian references and personalities. I dare you to listen to this heartfelt chanson without brushing croissant crumbs off your clothes while imagining strolling along the Seine on a lonely moon-lit summer night, ruing a lost love... etc. I double-dare you!
Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)
Go ahead, try:
Personal Note: I soooo loved this song as a kid. Talk about images, story-telling and superb lyrics! I was a little urban kid, a million miles from maturity and equally distant from any sense of France, yet it spoke to me in a language separated from age and time. It took up residence in my soul and never left.
(I would have posted this much much sooner but after testing the YouTube URL I started listening to it again....and again...and...and...I digress, again).
Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) - Lyrics (Partial)
Ahhhh I remember the back streets of Naples...two children begging in rags, …both touched with a burning ambition...to shake off their lowly born tags, ...yes they try...
So look in my face Marie-Claire, and remember just who you are, then go and forget me forever, cause I know you still bear the scar, deep inside, yes you do...
I know where you go to my lovely, when you're alone in your bed, oh yes, I know the thoughts that surround you,
…..Cause I can look inside your head.....
Its worth listening to the whole song!
Additional Songs You May Enjoy (Not for the Final Exam):
Like the feelings and vibe of French themed songs? Here are but a few that radiate that quintessential French spirit and are each, unique.
I Love Paris – Written by Cole Porter (1953).
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (Lyrics) - Edith Piaf
This song can move you!
La Mer – Composed by Charles Trenet and first recorded by Roland Gerbeau (1945).
Remake: Beyond the Sea – Bobby Darin -
Hey, if you're still here please accept my sincere and garnormous thanks and a promise that, as this is a work in progress, it will only get better.
A tout! David
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