GEORGES BRASSENS
C'LA VA DE SOIT !
One of French chanson's most poetic songwriters, Georges Brassens, was also a highly acclaimed and much-beloved performer. Not only a brilliant manipulator of language and a feted poet in his own right, Brassens was also renowned for his subversive streak, satirizing religion, class, social conformity, and moral hypocrisy with a wicked glee. Yet beneath that surface was a compassionate concern for his fellow man, particularly the disadvantaged and desperate. His personal politics were forged during the Nazi occupation, and while his views on freedom bordered on anarchism, his songs expressed those convictions more subtly than those of his contemporary, Léo Ferré. Though he was a skilled songwriter, Brassens had little formal musical training, and he generally kept things uncomplicated — simple melodies and spare accompaniment from a bass and second guitar. Along with Jacques Brel, he became one of the most unique voices on the French cabaret circuit, and exerted a tremendous influence on many other singers and songwriters of the postwar era. His poetry and lyrics are still studied as part of France's standard educational curriculum.
He passed away on October 29, 1981, in the village of Saint-Gely-du-Fesc, at his doctor's home, and was buried nearby in his hometown of Sète.
Gastibelza (l'homme à la carabine)
Dans l'eau de la claire fontaine
Le vieux Léon
Mourrir pour des idées
3 comments:
I'm DL this now. He sounds great and although Greek, George Moustaki is what he reminds me of for some reason.
Thanks & Cheers! CM
Bonjour!
Merci mille fois pour tous ces baistophes!
Je suis arrivé par les Yardbirds, et en fouillant j'ai trouvé tout plein de perles. Certaines que je connaissais (Brel, Brassens, Montand, Manset, etc.), mais que ça fait très plaisir de réécouter dans des configurations différentes, et d'autres que vais tâcher de découvrir (certains autres chanteurs que je connais de nom, mais que je n'ai jamais écouté, et surtout les compils zeuhl et rockabilly heaven, qui ont l'air très alléchantes!).
Donc, merci encore pour tout ce travail, et ton bon goût éclectique!
C'est toujours sympa de trouver un mélomane pas sectaire!! :)
Merci, merci, merci!
Marc (Canada)
PS: je crois que j'étais tombé sur les Gainsbarres l'année dernière, mais comme les liens étaient périmés, je ne m'étais pas aventuré plus loin...
I just discovered George Moustaki very recently. He's also great. I discovered Brassens at a wonderful French restaurant on the riverfront of Hoi An in Vietnam, of all places. His records were playing and I had to find out who that singer was. Thanks for this.
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