I don't care about Johnny, I like Julien !

[chani]

Johnny Hallyday can become Belgian if he wants to, as long as we keep Julien Clerc in France.

I can't believe that Julien Clerc is almost 59 years old...I've always had a soft spot for Julien, as many French women. He composed fine melodies, and when Roda-Gil the poet put his words on them it gave us beautiful cryptic songs. And they aren't easy to sing. I guess you've got to have Julien's special voice. Yes he's a good composer, he knows his music...but Julien wouldn't probably have had the same career without his good looks and his charisma. Some men aged like fine wine, and Julien is one of them. He was gorgeous in the late 60's and he's still beautiful now (could be his West Indian blood!) and just did The Olympia again, 36 years later.

BTW I found something interesting on the Internet about his last album. There are three clips of makings of (including one about a song written by Carla Bruni who isn't the best author IMO), among them this one about "Double Enfance" and  this one. When Julien smiles, the world is a tad better...

There are two songs by Etienne Roda-Gil on that last album, he wrote them just before he died. Julien had "used" many authors during his long career, but the couple he made with Roda Gil was magic. There were many break-ups between them, but the fact Julien dedicated his 2006 Olympia concert to Roda Gil speaks violume.  I'm listening to one of the old songs they made together.

La petite sorcière malade
Traverse le marécage
Avec son balai brisé
A la main
Les petits oiseaux sauvages
Lui servent de petits pages
Et la conduisent là-bas
Vers le ruisseau
Comme toi dans sa main
Elle conserve son chagrin
Qui fleurit comme un chardon
De blé noir... noir

Un braconnier me rapporte
De petites bêtes mortes
Qui ressemblent à mon amour
Mon amour
Elles ont du plomb dans les ailes
Dans les flancs et la cervelle
Leur sang frais tâche la nuit
Toute la nuit
Comme toi loin de moi
Elles ont désormais trop froid
Elles ont désormais trop froid
Pour sourire, pour sourire

La petite sorcière malade est morte
On a cloué sur sa porte
Quatre grands papillons bleus
Et muets
Le même deuil sur ta porte
Comme le courant m'emporte
Vers de grands sables mouvants
Trop mouvants
Et pour toi dans ma vie
Jaillissent des feux follets
Jaillissent des feux follets
Dans mes nuits
Dans mes nuits
Dans ma vie

Comments

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

I only know one song by Julien Clerc and I hate it with a vengeance: Hélène. Such a horrible song. Even thought it when I was only 8 and it was a summer hit.

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

The 80's isn't his best time and the songs then were very different from his usual style. It was after he "broke-up" with Roda-Gil. He tried new authors and a certain...lightness that didn't suit him.

I didnt' even rememember that song !

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Well there's a reason I remember the song: a person very dear to me goes by the Dutch version of that name... I can assure you she didn't like people singing Hélène, je ne suis pas Verlaine around her all the time!

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

I remember the video clip now! There's was Helena, Lio's sister, starring in a bath tub!

*giggle*

That song was really silly. But Julien Clerc mostly sang beautiful songs with pretty melody over his 39 years career.