October 9, 1978 – Jacques Brel was born on April 8th 1929 near Brussels Belgium. He composed and recorded his songs almost exclusively in French, although he recorded a number of songs in Dutch, which was his original mother’s tongue. His father Romain Brel as well as his mother Mouky Lambertine Vanneste, both have Flemish roots, anchored in the west Flemish town of Zandvoorde, where his great grandfather was even mayor. His dual identity has majorly ruled his artistic life and trying to find some kind of balance between his Flemish birth environment versus his French raising, comes throughin many of his beautiful , but complex chansons.
Brel’s songs (poems actually) are not especially well known in the English-speaking world except in translation and through the interpretations of other singers, maybe most famously Scott Walker and Judy Collins. The range of superstars who however have covered his work, is other worldly. Much as a reminder how Leonard Cohen‘s epic Hallelujah is covered by dozens of other stars.
Others who have sung his work in English include Karen Akers, Marc Almond, Momus/Nick Currie, Beirut, Bellowhead, David Bowie, Ray Charles, John Denver, The Dresden Dolls, Gavin Friday, Alex Harvey, Terry Jacks, Alan Clayson, Barb Jungr, The Kingston Trio, Jack Lukeman, Amanda McBroom, Rod McKuen, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Spencer Moody, Camille O’Sullivan, Dax Riggs, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, Laurika Rauch and Dave Van Ronk. Continue reading Jacques Brel 10/1978
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