He admired Georges Brassens.
Philippe Chatel, died on February 19 at the age of 72.
"My father died last night of a heart attack, at his home in Paris,"
said his daughter, Emilie, to whom the world-famous musical tale
Émilie Jolie
, created in 1979
, was dedicated
. object of several versions in 40 years.
Read also: A drink with Philippe Chatel
In a neo-romantic style that belonged only to him Philippe Chatel wrote and performed a string of songs that stuck to the mint spirit of the post-1968
era
:
J't'aime bien Lili,
Ma Lycéenne
, the acidulous and full of humor
Mr Hyde
and of course the children's story
Émilie Jolie
belong by right to the beautiful history of French song.
Born February 23, 1948, Philippe Chatel is the son of François de Châteleux, a director who designed the first issues of
Apostrophes
, the literary program of Bernard Pivot.
The little story will remember that he started out as a courier for Henri Salvador.
But in 1977, he made a name for himself by releasing his first
hit
,
J't'aime bien Lili
, a fashionable romance.
In the same, he writes and interprets
Ma Lycéenne
,
Tout Depart But
Bring Everything
and the excellent
Mr. Hyde
, which will all seduce the general public.
To read also: The phenomenon
Émilie Jolie
In 1979, with success, he set up the musical
Émilie Jolie,
which quickly became a national and international triumph.
The crème de la crème of French song will lend its voice to the characters of the tale imagined by Philippe Chatel.
Georges Brassens, the first of them, will sing
La Chanson du Hérisson
;
Sylvie Vartan,
La Chanson de l'Autruche
;
Françoise Hardy
La chanson de la Sorcière
, and Julien Clerc
Le Grand Oiseau
.
For this little masterpiece, nothing was missed and the sensitive Louis Chedid, the inseparable Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy, and even the rocker Eddy Mitchell wrote their name on the cover of
Émilie Jolie's album.
Each version (1997, 2002, 2018) incorporated new artists (Alain Bashung, Jacques Dutronc, Zazie, Axelle Red for example in 1997).
A new tour of the show was scheduled, the artist's brother Thibault Chatel told AFP.
"Since its creation, not a week has gone by without my signing authorizations at the SACD (Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers: editor's note) so that others can ride Emilie",
declared Philippe Chatel.
"More than 2,500 amateur and semi-amateur shows (schools, dance lessons, music conservatories, etc.) have thus emerged, and it continues ..."
, he added.
Poet out of time, enemy of fashions Philippe Chatel continued, unfortunately with less success to write and compose after the years of success of the 70s and 80s. But always he will keep his childish soul.
Child of Paris to the tips of his nails and his heart, he confessed to
Le Figaro
that his big dream would be to "
fly in the air
".
Because, he added, “
for me, it's total freedom.
We go above everything.
But I would be surprised if that happens one day!
"
In tribute to the talent of Philippe Chatel
Le Figaro
presents, in the video below,
J't'aime bien Lili
,
Mr Hyde
and
La Chanson du Hérisson
with the voice of Georges Brassens.
I like you Lili
Mr Hyde
Georges Brassens sings
The Song of the Hedgehog
in Émilie Jolie