"Without him, we would all be accountants."
The famous sentence is signed Jacques Brel.
It tells better than any other the massive influence that Charles Trenet had on French song.
A beautiful, freshly published book,
La Révolution Trenet
(Éditions E / P / A), drives home the point.
It would appear that posterity has benefited the memory of this brilliant inventor.
When he died in 2001, Trenet still carried the weight of some controversy.
A cultural weekly had used, in its obituary, this formula
“untouchable artistic assessment, questionable personal assessment”
.
This "singing madman", who was still on stage a little over a year before his disappearance, had not yet won unanimity.
Those who were present at the Salle Pleyel for one of his last three recitals in November 1999, however, have fond memories of it.
“After a choppy arrival on stage following a fall, this 86-year-old man had regained his swing after a few songs, for
This article is for subscribers only.
You still have 86% to discover.
Subscribe: 1 € the first month
Can be canceled at any time
I ENJOY IT
Already subscribed?
Log in