Charles Trenet (born Louis Charles Auguste Claude Trénet, May 18, 1913, Narbonne, France – February 19, 2001, Créteil, France) was a French singer and songwriter, most famous for his recordings from the late 1930s through the mid-1950s, though his career continued through the 1990s. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Créteil is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both In an era in which it was exceptional for a singer to write his or her own material, Trenet wrote prolifically and declined to record any but his own songs.
His best known songs include "Boum!", "La Mer", "Y'a d'la joie", "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?", "Ménilmontant" and "Douce France". Boum! (pronounced /bum/ or similar to the English word boom) is a popular song by the French singer/songwriter Charles Trenet which won him the Grand Prix du "La Mer" is a song written by French composer lyricist singer and showman Charles Trenet (1913 &ndash 2001 "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?" (translated "What is left of our loves?" is a French popular song with music by Léo Chauliac & His catalogue of songs is enormous, numbering close to a thousand. While many of his songs mined relatively conventional topics such as love, Paris, and nostalgia for his younger days, what set Trenet's songs apart were their personal, poetic, sometimes quite eccentric qualities, often infused with a warm wit. Some of his songs had unconventional subject matter, with whimsical imagery bordering on the surreal. "Y'a d'la joie" evokes 'joy' through a series of disconnected (though all vaguely phallic) images, including that of a subway car shooting out of its tunnel into the air, the Eiffel Tower crossing the street and a baker making excellent bread. The lovers engaged in a minuet in "Polka du Roi" reveal themselves at length to be 'no longer human': they are made of wax and trapped in the Musée Grévin. A minuet, sometimes spelled menuet, is a Social dance of French origin for two persons usually in 3/4 time. The Musée Grévin is a Waxwork museum in Paris located on the Grands Boulevards in the IXe arrondissement on the right bank of the Seine Many of his hits from the 1930s and 1940s effectively combine the melodic and verbal nuances of French song with American swing rhythms.
His song "La Mer", which according to the legend he had composed with Léo Chauliac on a train in 1943, was recorded in 1946. "La Mer" is a song written by French composer lyricist singer and showman Charles Trenet (1913 &ndash 2001 "La mer" is perhaps his best known work outside the French-speaking world, with over 400 recorded versions. The song was given unrelated English words and called "Beyond the Sea" (sometimes known as "Sailing") which was a hit for Bobby Darin in the early 1960s and later George Benson in the mid-1980s. " Beyond the Sea " is the English language version of the song " La Mer " by Charles Trenet. Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert "Bobby" Cassotto, May 14 1936 &ndash December 20, 1973) was one of the most popular The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 George Benson (b March 22 1943, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American musician whose recording career began at the age of twenty-one Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) "La mer" was also used in the opening credits of the 2007 film, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", which ironically used the song to highlight the paralyzing effects of a stroke that felled his fellow Frenchman, Jean-Dominique Bauby. Other Trenet songs were recorded by such popular French singers as Maurice Chevalier, Jean Sablon and Fréhel. Maurice Auguste Chevalier ( September 12, 1888 &ndash January 1, 1972) was a French Actor, Singer, and Jean Sablon (Nogent-sur-Marne March 25, 1906 &ndash February 24, 1994 at Cannes-La-Bocca) was a popular French singer and actor Fréhel (born Marguerite Boulc'h; July 14, 1891 – February 3, 1951) was a French Singer and actress.
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Early life
At the age of seven Trenet was sent to boarding school in Béziers, but he returned home just a few months later, suffering from typhoid fever. Béziers ( Besièrs in Occitan, and Besiers in Catalan) is a town in Languedoc, in the southwest of France. It was during his convalescence at home that he developed his artistic talents, taking up music, painting and sculpting. In 1922 the Trenet family moved to Perpignan this time as a day pupil. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Perpignan ( French: Perpignan, pɛʀpiɲɑ̃ Catalan Perpinyà,) is a commune and the Préfecture (administrative A water-colourist friend of the family André Fons-Godail, the "Catalan Renoir", used to take him out painting. His poetry is said to have the painter's eye for detail and colour[1]. Many of his songs had references to his surroundings such as places near Narbonne, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean coast. The Pyrenees (Pirineos French: Pyrénées; Catalan: Pirineus; Occitan: Pirenèus; Aragonese: Perinés
He hated mathematics with a passion but passed his "baccalauréat" with flying colours in 1927. Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and The baccalauréat (bakaloʁeˈa often known in France colloquially as le bac or le bachôt, is an academic qualification which Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. After leaving school he left for Berlin where he studied art, and later he also briefly studied at art schools in France[1]. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. When Trenet first arrived in Paris in the 1930s, he worked in a movie studio as a props handler and assistant, and later joined up with the artists in the Montparnasse neighbourhood. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Montparnasse is an area of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine, centred on the intersection of the Boulevard du Montparnasse His admiration of the surrealist poet and Catholic mystic Max Jacob (1876-1944) and his love of jazz were two factors that influenced Trenet's songs[1]. Max Jacob ( July 12, 1876 &ndash March 5, 1944) was a French Poet, painter, Writer, and critic
Before World War II
From 1933 to 1936, he worked with the Swiss pianist Johnny Hess as a duo known as "Charles and Johnny". The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers They performed at various Parisian venues, such as Le Fiacre, La Villa d'Este, the Européen and the Alhambra. They recorded 18 discs for Pathé, the most successful of which was "Quand les beaux jours seront là/Sur le Yang-Tsé-Kiang". The Charles and Johnny records feature Hess on piano, with the two frequently singing in two-part harmonies with quickly alternating solo spots for the two. Around 1935, the duo appeared regularly on the radio on a broadcast called Quart d'Heure des Enfants terribles.
The duo continued until 1936 when Trenet was called up for national service. National service is a common name for mandatory or voluntary government service programs (most often focusing on military service It was after his national service that Trenet received the nickname that he would retain all his life: "Le fou chantant" (the singing madman). In 1937, Trenet began his solo career, recording for Columbia, his first disc being "Je chante/Fleur bleue". The exuberant "Je chante" gave rise to the notion of Trenet as a "singing vagabond", a theme that appeared in a number of his early songs and films.
World War II
At the start of World War II, Trenet was mobilized. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including He was in barracks at Salon-de-Provence until he was demobilized in June 1940, when he moved back to Paris. Salon-de-Provence is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. There he would perform at the Folies-Bergère or at the Gaieté Parisienne (two famous cabarets) in front of a public often consisting of German officers and soldiers. The Folies Bergère is a Parisian Music hall which was at the height of its fame and popularity from the 1890s through the 1920s Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The collaborationist press tried to compromise his name and published that "Trenet" was the anagram of "Netter" — a Jewish name. He was able to show his family tree to the authorities, proving that he had no Jewish origin. This act of self-defence was held against him long after the end of the war. Like many other artists of the time, he chose to go on entertaining the occupying forces rather than sacrifice his career, showing little interest in the Jewish issue. He agreed, when asked by the Germans, to go and sing for the French prisoners in Germany. It is only fair to note that, as a homosexual, (see the section Return to France below) Trenet was himself in grave danger of deportation to the camps and may have had little choice but to co-operate and keep a low profile.
After the war
After the war he decided to move to United States where he lived for a few years and where he quickly became a success. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the After a few triumphant concerts at the Bagdad in New York, Trenet, who never married, became a big hit and was approached by Hollywood. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous He met the likes of Louis Armstrong and began a long-lasting friendship with Charlie Chaplin.
Return to France
On September 14, 1951, Trenet returned to Paris and made a comeback at the "Théâtre de l'Etoile". Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January He incorporated ten new songs into his act, including "De la fenêtre d'en haut" and "La folle complainte". In 1954 he performed at the "Olympia" music-hall in Paris for the first time. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Paris Olympia is a Music hall at 28 Blvd des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement Paris, France. The following year he wrote the famous "Route nationale 7" (a tribute to the introduction of paid holidays).
In 1958, Trenet was the headlining act at the "Bobino" and the "Alhambra". In 1960 he returned to the "Théâtre de l'Etoile", appearing on stage for the very first time without the famous trilby hat which had for so long been part of his act. A trilby hat (or simply trilby, originally Trilby hat is a soft Felt men's Hat with a narrow brim a deeply indented crown and a pinch at the front
In 1963, Trenet spent 28 days in prison in Aix-en-Provence. Aix (ɛks or Aix-en-Provence ( Provençal Occitan: Ais de Provença in classical norm or Ais de Prouvènço in Mistralian norm to distinguish He was charged with corrupting the morals of four young men under the age of 21 (they were 19). His chauffeur claimed that Trenet was using him as a pimp. The charges were eventually dropped, but the affair brought to public light the fact that Trenet was homosexual. He was never particularly public about it and spoke of it rarely.
1970s
In 1970, Trenet flew to Japan to represent France at the Universal Exhibition in Osaka. The following year he left Columbia, his long-time record label, and recorded Fidèle and Il y avait des arbres. He also made a memorable appearance at the "Olympia".
In 1973, Trenet, who had just celebrated his 60th birthday, recorded a new album, Chansons en liberté. The twelve songs on this album were an interesting mix of old and new compositions. His 60th birthday was celebrated in grand style by the French media.
Trenet made a surprise announcement in 1975, declaring that he was retiring from the music world. At the end of his final concert at the "Olympia" he bid his audience an emotional farewell, and then, following the death of his mother in 1979, he shut himself away from the world for the next two years.
Later career
Nevertheless, in 1981 Trenet made a comeback with a new album, devoted to sentimental memories of his childhood. Trenet then returned to his peaceful semi-retirement in the South of France, occasionally rousing himself to give a special gala performance in France or abroad.
After giving farewell concerts in France, Trenet was persuaded out of retirement by a French Canadian lawyer, Gilbert Rozon, in 1983 for a farewell concert in Quebec. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Rozon became Trenet's manager thereafter and as a result Trenet performed many more concerts including a series every night for three weeks at the Palais des Congrés in Paris in 1986.
On May 21, 1999, he returned to the forefront of the music scene with a brand new album entitled Les poètes descendent dans la rue (Poets Take to the Streets). Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Nearly sixty years after writing his legendary classic "La mer", Trenet proved that he was capable of coming up with fourteen inspired new tracks. Following the success of the album, Trenet returned to the live circuit. His concerts proved a huge success, fans in the audience breaking into rapturous applause.
In April 2000 old age began to catch up with Trenet, however, and he was rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke. A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain The singer was forced to spend several weeks in hospital recovering, but by the autumn of that year he was well enough to attend the dress rehearsal of Charles Aznavour's show at the Palais des Congrès (on October 25). Charles Aznavour OC ( Armenian: Շառլ Ազնավուր born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian (Շահնուր Վաղինակ Ազնավուրյան However, this was his final public appearance.
In November 2000 the Narbonne house in which Trenet was born — which had become 13 Avenue Charles Trenet — was turned into a tiny museum. Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the Visitors were able to view souvenirs from Trenet's childhood and family life (especially those belonging to his mother, who had spent most of her life in the house), as well as original drafts of the songs which had made his career.
His single, 'La Mer' was included on the Mr Bean's Holiday soundtrack and movie.
External links
- Charles Trenet at the Internet Movie Database
- Le portail des amis de Charles Trenet In French. Provides a complete biography and discography.
- Radio France Internationale In English. Biography and discography.
- Google Music: Charles Trenet
- Charles Trenet - on All Music Guide
References
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