Ces gens-là (song): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|1962 song by Jacques Brel}} |
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'''"Ces gens-là"''' is a [[French language]] song by the late Belgian singer [[Jacques Brel]], produced by Barclay and published in 1966 by Editions Pouchenel of Brussels , whose theme is the despair of an impossible love. It's a very dark song, with a slow repetitive theme and a provocative text. |
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{{Infobox song |
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| name = Ces gens-là |
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| cover = Jacques Brel-Ces Gens-Là (1965 single cover).jpg |
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| alt = |
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| caption = 7" vinyl single cover |
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| type = song |
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| artist = [[Jacques Brel]] |
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| released = 1965 |
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| recorded = November 6, 1965 |
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| studio = |
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| venue = |
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| genre = [[Chanson]] |
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| length = 4:38 |
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| label = [[Barclay (record label)|Barclay]] |
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| writer = [[Jacques Brel]] |
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| producer = |
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}} |
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'''"Ces gens-là"''' is a [[French language]] song by the late Belgian singer [[Jacques Brel]], published in 1966 by the Éditions Pouchenel of [[Brussels]], about the despair of a hopeless love. The title, meaning "those people", or, "those folks", has also been translated as "''that lot there''".<ref name='Des de Moor'>{{cite web|url=http://www.commex.org/jenny/brel.htm |title=Ne me quitte pas |accessdate=2007-09-11 |last=de Moor |first=Des }} [[Attila the Stockbroker]] supposedly sang it.</ref> |
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In it the narrator is talking to a third party (a certain "Monsieur" (Sir, or Mister)), where he describes the different members of a given family in a very harsh manner, as in gossip; a family whose existence is particularly mediocre and desperate. He criticizes in particular their immobility. |
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⚫ | The list ends with the daughter, the beautiful Frida whom he loves passionately, and whose love is reciprocal, but whose family does not allow the marriage, believing that the suitor is not worthy, which perhaps explains why he hates them so much. In addition: "''But let me tell you, Mister, that in that family, you don't leave, Mister, you don't leave.''" |
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⚫ | The subjectivity of the narrator, which could taint his |
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⚫ | The subjectivity of the narrator, which could taint his judgement, has also been confirmed by Brel, who called it "faux témoin" (false witness) in an interview with Dominique Arban, without rejecting the truth of his criticism of the ''[[petite bourgeoisie]]''. On the other hand, although he denounces this environment throughout the song, the narrator concludes, taking leave of the caller and telling him that he must get on his way home, which can be interpreted as an admission of the fact he himself belongs to the middle class, or at least is close to.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2023 |title=Het Verhaal Achter: Ces Gens-Là |url=https://chansonoffensief.tessmerlot.com/het-verhaal-achter-ces-gens-la/ |website=chansonoffensief.tessmerlot.com |language=nl}}</ref> |
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⚫ | The first part of the song is a slow 3/4 [[time signature]] of a repetitive theme, of a somber mood, where, from the perspective of voice, tension grows moderately but steadily, and eventually explodes when the narrator evokes Frida, reflecting his passion for her; the music then returns to its first depressed theme for the end of the song. |
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⚫ | The song has since been [[Cover version|covered]] by French popular music bands such as ''[[Ange]]'', ''[[Oxmo Puccino]]'' and ''[[Noir Désir]]'', although Ange may have missed the point of the song by excluding the part about Frida; on the ''Cimetière des |
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⚫ | The song has since been [[Cover version|covered]] by French popular music bands such as ''[[Ange (band)|Ange]]'', ''[[Oxmo Puccino]]'' and ''[[Noir Désir]]'', although Ange may have missed the point of the song by excluding the part about Frida; on the ''[[Le Cimetière des arlequins]]'' [[album cover]], is mentioned: "To Jacques Brel, we didn't dare take Frida from you".<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 September 2023 |title=ORIGINAL Ces gens-là by Jacques Brel |url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/910 |website=secondhandsongs.com |language=}}</ref> |
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== Notes == |
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== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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*[[Alfred de Grazia]]: {{ |
*[[Alfred de Grazia]]: {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114020125/http://www.grazian-archive.com/quiddity/brel/ces_gens_la.htm |date=January 14, 2008 |title=''Those People'': a translation into English by Anne-Marie de Grazia }} |
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*[http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/910.html List of multi-lingual covers of the song at Second Hand Songs] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051124104428/http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/910.html List of multi-lingual covers of the song at Second Hand Songs] |
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31TwlH5FEao Video of live performance, with (very good) English subtitles] |
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{{authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ces Gens-La (song)}} |
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[[Category:Songs written by Jacques Brel]] |
[[Category:Songs written by Jacques Brel]] |
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[[Category:1966 songs]] |
[[Category:1966 songs]] |
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[[Category:French-language songs]] |
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[[it:Ces gens-là]] |
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[[uk:Ces gens-là]] |
Latest revision as of 01:00, 5 February 2024
"Ces gens-là" | |
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Song by Jacques Brel | |
from the album Ces gens-là | |
Released | 1965 |
Recorded | November 6, 1965 |
Genre | Chanson |
Length | 4:38 |
Label | Barclay |
Songwriter(s) | Jacques Brel |
"Ces gens-là" is a French language song by the late Belgian singer Jacques Brel, published in 1966 by the Éditions Pouchenel of Brussels, about the despair of a hopeless love. The title, meaning "those people", or, "those folks", has also been translated as "that lot there".[1]
In it the narrator is talking to a third party (a certain "Monsieur" (Sir, or Mister)), where he describes the different members of a given family in a very harsh manner, as in gossip; a family whose existence is particularly mediocre and desperate. He criticizes in particular their immobility.
The list ends with the daughter, the beautiful Frida whom he loves passionately, and whose love is reciprocal, but whose family does not allow the marriage, believing that the suitor is not worthy, which perhaps explains why he hates them so much. In addition: "But let me tell you, Mister, that in that family, you don't leave, Mister, you don't leave."
The subjectivity of the narrator, which could taint his judgement, has also been confirmed by Brel, who called it "faux témoin" (false witness) in an interview with Dominique Arban, without rejecting the truth of his criticism of the petite bourgeoisie. On the other hand, although he denounces this environment throughout the song, the narrator concludes, taking leave of the caller and telling him that he must get on his way home, which can be interpreted as an admission of the fact he himself belongs to the middle class, or at least is close to.[2]
The first part of the song is a slow 3/4 time signature of a repetitive theme, of a somber mood, where, from the perspective of voice, tension grows moderately but steadily, and eventually explodes when the narrator evokes Frida, reflecting his passion for her; the music then returns to its first depressed theme for the end of the song.
The song has since been covered by French popular music bands such as Ange, Oxmo Puccino and Noir Désir, although Ange may have missed the point of the song by excluding the part about Frida; on the Le Cimetière des arlequins album cover, is mentioned: "To Jacques Brel, we didn't dare take Frida from you".[3]
References
[edit]- ^ de Moor, Des. "Ne me quitte pas". Retrieved 2007-09-11. Attila the Stockbroker supposedly sang it.
- ^ "Het Verhaal Achter: Ces Gens-Là". chansonoffensief.tessmerlot.com (in Dutch). 27 September 2023.
- ^ "ORIGINAL Ces gens-là by Jacques Brel". secondhandsongs.com. 27 September 2023.
External links
[edit]- Alfred de Grazia: Those People: a translation into English by Anne-Marie de Grazia at the Wayback Machine (archived January 14, 2008)
- List of multi-lingual covers of the song at Second Hand Songs