Biography of Georges Brassens

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October 22, 1921
October 29, 1981
Writer, poet, but especially "chansonnier" authentic and original, irreverent and ironic, Georges Brassens was born in Sète (France) on October 22, 1921. His passion for music accompanies him as a child. Listen to songs reproduced by Gramophone that her parents have received as a gift for the wedding, but also those transmitted over the radio, ranging from Charles Trenet (which treats it as his one, true master) to Ray Ventura, from Tino Rossi to Johnny Hess to others. His own family members love music: Father Jean Louis, who is by profession a Mason but you define "free thinker", and mother Elvira Dragostess skin (originally by Marsico Nuovo, in Basilicata, in the province of Potenza), devout Catholic, who croons melodies of his native land, and quickly learns what happen to hear. The future chansonnier soon proves intolerant of the school system: it is precisely in the classroom, though, which is a crucial meeting for his life as an artist.
Alphonse Bonnafè, a French teacher, transmits his passion for poetry and encouraged him to write. After being sentenced to 15 days in prison on parole for several burglaries occurred in College Paul Valery in séte, Georges Brassens decides to stop his school career and moved to Paris, where he was hosted by an Italian aunt, Antoinette. Here, eighteen, starts doing odd jobs of various kinds (including the chimney sweep) until he hired as a laborer at Renault. He devoted himself with ever greater commitment to his true passions: poetry and music, attending the "cantine" parisis, where breathes the atmosphere of the era, and Existentialist plays his first pieces. Learn to play the piano. In 1942 he published two collections of poetry: "Des coups dépées dans l'eau" (holes in the water) and "A la la venvole" (lightly). Topics of the books the same facing in songs: justice, religion, morality, interpreted so irreverent and provocative.
In 1943 is forced by Compulsory work service (S.T.O., established in Nazi-occupied France in lieu of military service) to go to Germany. Here, for a year, works in Basdorf near Berlin, in a labor camp. During this experience he knows Andre Larue, his future biographer, and Pierre Onteniente, which will become its Secretary. Writes songs and began his first novel, but especially dreams of freedom: so when is able to obtain a permit, returns to France and is not covered. Wanted by the authorities, is hosted by Jeanne Le Bonniec,, a woman of great generosity, to whom Brassens will dedicate "Jeanne", and "Chanson pour l'auvergnat" (song for the Auvergne). In 1945 purchases his first guitar; the following year joined the anarchist Federation and begins to cooperate, under various pseudonyms, the newspaper "Le Libertaire". In 1947 knows Joha Heyman (nicknamed "Püppchen"), who will be his partner for life, and to whom Brassens will dedicate the famous "La non-demande en mariage" (non-wedding request). Writes a novel grotesque ("La tour des miracles", the Tower of miracles) and especially dedicated to the songs, encouraged by Jacques Grello. On March 6, 1952 Patachou, famous singer, assists, in a Parisian Brasserie, an exhibition of Brassens. Decide to put some of his songs in his repertoire and convince hesitant chansonnier to open his shows. Thanks to the efforts of Jacques Canetti, one of the leading businessmen of the time, on 9 March Brassens takes the stage of "Trois Baudets".
The public remains speechless in the face of this artist who does nothing to reveal a divo and seems almost embarrassed, awkward and clumsy, so distant and different from anything that the song of the period. Scandalized his own texts, narrating stories of petty thieves, little rascals and prostitutes, without ever being rhetorical or repetitive (as is much of the so-called "realist", namely that of social character, which takes place also in the alleys less respectable in the French capital, fashionable at that time). Some of them are translations from great poets like Villon. Many spectators stood up and out; other, surprised before this innovation, remain to hear him. The legend of Brassens, success that does not abandon him more since then. Thanks to him, the theatre "Bobino" (which from 1953 becomes one of her favorite stages) turns into a true temple of the song. In 1954 the Academy Charles Cros "assigns to Brassens" disk "Grand Prix for his first LP: his songs are collected over time in 12 discs. Three years later the artist makes his first and only film appearance: plays himself in the film by René Clair "Porte de Lilas".
In 1976-1977 he performs for five months without interruption. This is his last series of concerts: suffering from colorectal cancer, turns off the October 29, 1981 in Saint Gély du Fesc, leaving a huge void in the culture, well played by Yves Montand's words: "Georges Brassens made a joke. He left on a trip. Some say it is dead. Dead? But what does it mean to die? As if Brassens, Prevert, Brel could die!". Great the legacy left by the artist of Sète. Among the songwriters that most were fascinated by the music of Brassens remember Fabrizio De André (who has always considered his master par excellence, and has translated and sang some of his most beautiful songs: "Wedding March", "the gorilla", "the testament", "nell'acqua della chiara fontana", "The passersby", "Die for ideas" and "crime") and Nanni Svampa, who with Mario Mafia oversaw the literal translation in Italian of his songs , and suggest to it often during his shows and in some discs in milanese dialect.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.