Biography of Jacques Brel

Singer of tenderness

April 8, 1929
October 9, 1978
The great chansonnier Jacques Brel was born in Brussels on April 8, 1929 from francophone and Flemish father but mother of franco-Spanish origin. Not yet 18, because of poor results in studies, he began working in a cardboard factory run by father (from this experience his claim of being "encartonner"). At the same time he attended a Christian-inspired social movement, the Franche Cordée, founded in 1940 by Hector Bruyndonckx.
In his first artistic production is possible to find the ideal lived within this group, namely ideas of religion, Christianity, Evangelical humanitarianism, which will result in more mature, in a humanistic Existentialism Brel to Camus (which the artist considers Christian spirit), in a libertarian socialism and anarchist and a heated antimilitarism. Right inside the Franche Cordée Brel knows Thèrese Michelsen, who would become his wife and three daughters. Participates in Brussels to several plays and has songs of his own composition in some cabaret, during parties organized by students or dancing. In 1953 he recorded his first album with "La foire" and "Il y a". These songs are heard by one of the greatest adventurers of talents of the period, Jacques Canetti (brother of Elias). Summoned by him in Paris, Brel decides to leave his hometown and move to Paris, where she performed at the Trois Baudets, the same theater where recently debuted Georges Brassens. From that moment begins to Brel sings in a period of great work: many of the "caves" and bistros, it says even seven per night, without getting an instant success.
The French public and critics, in fact, they don't appreciate his music, perhaps because of her Belgian origin: remained famous phrase of a journalist in an article reminds Brel that "there are excellent connections to Brussels". Jacques Canetti, however, believes in him: since 1955 gives him the ability to affect the first 33 laps. One of the greatest singers of the era, the "Goddess of Saint-Germain-des-Pres," Juliette Gréco, record a song, "Le diable", and presents him with Gérard Jouannest, pianist, and François Rauber, arranger, that have become his principal collaborators. In 1957, with "Quand on n'a que l'amour, Brel won the Grand Prix du Disque of the Académie Charles Gros and sells, in just two months, forty thousand copies. Sings to the Alhambra and at Bobino. In 1961, suddenly, Marlene Dietrich gives forfeit at Olympia; Bruno Coquatrix, theatre manager, called Brel: is a triumph. The shows by the Belgian artist (up to 350 a year) meet now everywhere an extraordinary success, which took him even in the Soviet Union (Siberia and Caucasus), Africa and America. A curious fact, to witness his fame, takes place in 1965 on the occasion of his first concert at Carnegie Hall: 3800 spectators entering the theater to watch the show, but ben 8000 remain outside the gates. In 1966, at the height of success and in the General astonishment, Brel declares that, starting from the following year and after a series of farewell concerts by her dismayed admirers, not sing more in public.
The recital at Olympia, which began in November, lasting three weeks. Eager to try new paths and emotions, he devoted himself particularly to the theatre and cinema. Rewrites the libretto of a musical about Don Quixote, American character to him very dear, who decides to interpret breaking (one time) to the rule that you don't date theatrical scenes was most limestone. The representation gets big hits in Brussels but not in Paris. In 1967 he writes a play, "Voyage sur la lune," which will debut ever. The same year he began acting in some films as an actor, then move on to directing and screenplay for two movies: the first, "Franz", 1972, tells of the love between two forty; next to him a very popular singer in France: Barbara. The second, "Far West", seeks to revive in the lowlands of Belgium the vicissitudes of prospectors and pioneers, they had done dreaming Brel child. In this movie the artist inserts one of his most famous songs: "j'arrive". Even the movie experience, though, a little at a time runs out. Brel then leaves everything behind and starts to spin the world on his sailing ship called Askoy. Arrived in Polynesia stops, with a new partner, the dancer Maddly Womens Stud, to Atuona, a village of Hiva Oa, Marquesas archipelago where he lived Paul Gaugin. Here begins a new life, immersed in a society that is quite different from the Western one, with slower rhythms, surrounded by beautiful nature. He shows and films for local people and brings with her twin, mail to the Islands further afield.
In the meantime, however, falls ill with cancer: European travel secrets begin to undergo treatment in the hope of healing. With the help of a small circle of friends, the same who accompanied him throughout his career as an artist (Gréco, Jouannest and Rauber) records in real time the latest album, born in the Marquesas Islands. Released in 1977 obtained a great success. Brel died in Paris, in the hospital in Bobigny, on October 9, 1978. It is buried in the cemetery of Hiva Oa, just a few metres from Gauguin. With him goes missing one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century, capable of making of the song not only a song to listen to, but a real theatrical performance. Each show the cows come home, as written by Enrico De Angelis in the preface to the book collecting his songs translated by Duilio Del Prete: "his recitals are a masterpiece of indecency and math together. Reek of actually feeling, tumult, anger, sorrow and irony from every drop of sweat, every "Pearl of rain" which glistens in the face. But everything is actually calculated – as in any great artist – to the thousandth. [...] In 60 minutes of time everything had to be said, at the risk of vomiting before and after. Never a piece already performed was repeated only once". Performers in Italy have interpreted his songs in particular Duilio Del Prete, Gipo Farassino, Giorgio Gaber, Dori Ghezzi, Bruno Lauzi, Gino Paoli, Patty Pravo, Ornella Vanoni and Franco Battiato.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.