Jacques Brel - who's with me?

[CatWranglersAnonymous]

Most random AIBU in the world, but am I being U to be a little bit in love with Jacques Brel?? Well I don't think I am , so I guess it's a question of who's with me?

I read this morning that they're putting up a statue of him in Brussels this year, which made me remember my year abroad all over again and falling in love with (old) French music!

For anyone who doesn't know, he's a long-dead Belgian singer with huge teeth who gave amazing live performances (like this, live or this.

Then, when he'd had enough of performing, he dabbled in acting then bought a boat and plane and sailed to French Polynesia 😍

Interested to hear whether I'm going to be told IABU (or, just perhaps, IANBU).

SAHB - oh my. God I loved Alex Harvey. Long after he was dead of course, a friend introduced me to his work in the early 80s. Superb.

Bumping

Sorry I'm late. I caught the beginning of this thread before I went on holiday and thought I'd treat myself to a bit of Brel when I got back. My French teacher used to play Brel songs to us in school, and they were so dramatic and fun.

So yesterday I listened to a few. I suddenly realised during one that he was singing about dying and was saying goodbye to people. Fecking hell, it's Seasons in the Sun! I thought, and thought I'd be clever here by pointing it out, but see that it's already come up!

The original version is fantastic: like following a character in a film it's a dramatic, almost entertaining death to share; the sickly remake is horrific and exploitative. It made me cry as a child. It also left out the Brel bit about wanting people to laugh and dance while he's being buried, which would have softened it a bit.

I love the Youtube vid of Brel doing Dans le Port D'Amsterdam, all dramatic, sweaty, emotional, singing about some boozy, lewd stuff. Then the camera turns to the reserved well dressed audience who give a restrained clap at the end. So funny.

And yes, he was hot! All dark, sweaty, dramatic, clever and probably stinking of Gitanes!

Thank you for this AIBU - you are not BU at all! I spent a year in France as part of my degree and listened to Brel, Cloclo, Michel Sardou, Yves Duteil etc. I remember listening to Sardou singing "Comme D'Habitude" over and over again and thinking how much better is it than the hackneyed English translation "My Way".

Sardou.

Another late to the thread - but yes!

He was amazing.

La Valse à Mille Temps has to be the sexiest song of all time. (The speed at the end of the live version is just ...)

(In terms of having a similar impact I always feel the Belgian singer/musician Stromae is Brel's spiritual son.)

If I need a good cry, I put on Ne me Quitte pas, for that ultimate heartbreak feeling.

The old lovers song I love too

some of his more upbeat ones I don't care for....

Ooh yes Gruauch agree with you about Stromae :) he's brilliant!

Flipping Mumsnet is brilliant for this sort of thing- came to start a thread and here you all are- making my way through the links, thank you!

Any Francois Hardy fans here? I love her stuff (and her look!)

@serenada, listening now. Very 60's and 'typique'- great look though!

But 💞

Any other recommends? I love chanteur/ torch song/ Marc Almond/ singing poets.

Never heard of him till Jack L's tribute album.

Am a huge fan of Irish singer Jack L(ukeman) - have a look at some you tube videos, he does some fab versions of Brel.

@powershowerforanhour and @Wishimaywishimight- Brilliant, stopped Alexaing the fantastic Marc Almond's 'Jackie' to research Jack L and listening now...

Has Brel in Ashton Lane been mentioned yet? Happy Glasgow days.

@etinox

Marc Almond in his chanteuse phase - fantastic. And his duet with gene pitney - wow.

Did go through an Edith Piaf phase when I wanted to be a writer living in Paris -short lived mercifully for my housemates.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=3ll_dWwmdho

Fantastic vocals

@Etinox

If you love folk/poets then Luke Kelly’s your man.

This song was written by Phil Coulter for his son who had Down syndrome. You’ll be in tears by the end

m.youtube.com/watch?v=YTBC7ckTWpo

Oh I’m with you OP.
@Etinox... oh .. Jackie!!! And The Days of Pearly Spencer!!!
As to Marc Almond’s diet with Gene Pitney... it’s in my favourites list on YouTube!
Great thread!

This woman was extraordinary but perhaps a particular taste
m.youtube.com/watch?v=yxzSVtZekXM

She influenced a modern singer called Lisa O Neil

There is nothing quite like Irish songs for telling a story (usually a weepy!)

@annasfarmgirl

Ahaha and that's the French version. Let me Concentrate on cooking Dinner first

There was definitely some Flemish in there 'mijn plaatse land'. I moved back from Flanders last year, and I could pick out both languages there.

@Brawsome thanks for the recommend! I’m often in Glasgow so will investigate.

You are not being unreasonable in my view. 2 framed posters of Brel adorn my living room wall - ha!

Another Brel aficionado here! Like many people I guess, I first discovered him through Scott Walker.

There's such passion and drama in those original songs. As people have said, it's a shame Rod McKuen ruined Le Moribund with his sappy adaption, but Mort Shuman's version of Funeral Tango has plenty of dark humour (to the point that the BBC forbid Scott W from singing it on TV in the 1960s).

I think my favourite adaption, though, has to be Barb Jungr's version of Marieke, with lyrics by Des De Moor. I also rather like Yuppie Scum, Tom Robinson's early 90s reworking of Les Bourgoise.

force - Tom Robinson's Yuppie Scum is brilliant, "yuppie scum, smug and dumb" - and as for Mathilde "tonight I'm going to drink my tears" so fabulous