Alfred Dreyfus

Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs. He generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, but later throughout the world. He is considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French and occasionally in Dutch, he became an influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers, such as Scott Walker, David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Marc Almond, Neil Hannon, and Rod McKuen. Brel was born in Schaerbeek, a district of Brussels, on 8 April 1929. He was the third of four children of Romain Brel, a cardboard manufacturer, and Elisabeth "Lisette" Nottet. He grew up in a middle-class family and attended a Catholic school. He learned to play the guitar at an early age and started writing songs as a teenager. He was influenced by French singers like Édith Piaf, Charles Trenet and Maurice Chevalier¹. Brel married Thérèse "Miche" Michielsen in 1950 and they had three children: Chantal, France and Isabelle. He worked in his father's factory until 1953, when he decided to pursue a career in music. He moved to Paris with his family and began performing in cabarets and clubs. He signed a contract with Philips Records in 1954 and released his first album, Jacques Brel et ses chansons, in 1955¹. Brel's songs were characterized by their poetic lyrics, expressive vocals and emotional intensity. He often sang about love, death, loneliness, social injustice and human frailty. Some of his most famous songs include "Ne me quitte pas" ("Don't Leave Me"), "Quand on n'a que l'amour" ("When We Have Only Love"), "La valse à mille temps" ("The Waltz with a Thousand Beats"), "Amsterdam", "Le plat pays" ("The Flat Country"), "Le moribond" ("The Dying Man") and "Les vieux" ("The Old Folks"). He also wrote songs for other artists, such as Juliette Gréco, Dalida and Françoise Hardy¹. Brel also had a successful career as an actor and director. He appeared in several films, such as Les risques du métier (1967), Mon oncle Benjamin (1969), Mont-Dragon (1970), L'aventure c'est l'aventure (1972) and L'emmerdeur (1973). He also directed two films: Franz (1971) and Far West (1973). He also starred in the musical Man of La Mancha in 1968, playing the role of Don Quixote¹. Brel retired from performing in 1973 and moved to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. He continued to write songs for himself and others until his death. He died of lung cancer on 9 October 1978 at the age of 49 in Bobigny, France. He was buried in Hiva Oa, next to the painter Paul Gauguin¹. Brel's legacy is immense and enduring. His songs have been covered by hundreds of artists in various languages and genres. His albums have sold millions of copies worldwide. His life and work have inspired books, documentaries, musicals and tribute concerts. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time¹.