Parisians want to be great and in pain.
Jacques Brel was great, and he was in pain.
Jacques Brel is every Parisian’s idol.
Parisians reluctantly admit to see value in other human beings. Only a few can make it to the pantheon of Parisians’ acceptance. Even fewer artists (living artists being slackers in Paris). Jacques Brel was one of them.
Jacques Brel was Belgian. Usually, Parisians would hold that against him. But Brel’s talent made him universal. And therefore ultimately Parisian.
Every Parisian believes deep inside that he has the talent to be a fantastic artist. Life turned out differently but the potential was there. The Parisian is lazy or caught up in life. But he is immensely talented. Brel was a fantastic artist: by excelling in song writing, in singing and in interpretation, he kindly put a mirror in front of every Parisian’s face. Every Parisian could be Jacques Brel. Every Parisian is Jacques Brel. At least the greatness of Jacques Brel.
Because Brel was also a man in pain. Scandalized by the brutalities of life. Brel was singing his pain away. Parisians are addicted to pain. They admire pain.
A man in pain got it.
His sulphurous combination of pain and talent, presented with the lustrous of elegance and truthfulness, is a turn on for every Parisian. In Paris, constant pain is a form of intellectual distinction. Brel turned pain into beauty. Parisians are forever thankful for that. Brel did not destroy the pain. He magnified it.
While engaging in a conversation about Brel with a Parisian, it is imperative to also mention Brassens. Brassens and Brel in Paris come as a package.
NB: If thanks to this post, some of you get to discover or rediscover Jacques Brel, I will have made the world a better place today.
Useful tip: A great present for a Parisian is the poster of Jacques Brel, George Brassens and Léo Ferré (see image above). Definitely belongs in his toilettes.
Sound like a Parisian: « Brel, c’était le plus grand… ».
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Tags: fame · icons · leaders · Pain18 Comments
18 responses so far ↓
Brel and Brassens are still loved in Poland… maybe that state of loving to be in pain we have in common…
Love-love-love your blog. Sorry it took me so long to fin you. I am adding you to my blog roll!
I meant “find you” and not “fin you.” Le sigh!
True but very “ouest parisien”…
Hey, how about Edith Piaf? She’s as Parisian as you get, and she had loads of pain too! News of her death stopped traffic in Paris.
So that’s my problem…not unhappy enough, lol!
Ewa… the Polish have taste!
Belette… thank you, thank you, thank you. You’re far too kind! I’m happy to reciprocate! A bientôt j’espère!
Aideen… See, now you’re wealthy arrondissement bashing…
D2… Brel was probably more of a writer than Piaf. Parisians just love writers!! But hey, Piaf is legend too…
It is interesting to see how people living in capitals are similar. Here in Lisbon, our Jacques Brel is Amália Rodrigues, the incarnation of the “saudade” (a feeling between pain, nostalgia and happiness… uh… not easy to understand if you are not a native) and of the city of Lisbon, too.
Great post, as usual. And so true.
PS: ce site est très autodidacte et pédagogique; on sait tous que l’auteur parle et lit le français comme vous et moi, mais on se sent obligé de commenter en anglais. En même temps, c’est pas mal de dérouiller sa LV1…!
I would be delighted to be on a blog roll of such a smart, witty and altogether Parisian blog. Merci!
Olivier, as a resident of the 7th arrondissement, and a constant reader of this blog, I wouldn’t dare doing wealthy arrondissement bashing!…
However, J. Brel does go with sailing and Brittany, in a way, doesn’t he?
Heather…Don’t be so American!
Elvira… I had the same vibe of melancholy and sadness when I walked through Lisboa! Interesting under such sunny latitudes. In all cases, thank you for your kind words.
Belette… I’m blushing. You’re now in there!
Aideen… Jacques Brel goes well with most things. He’s definitely a man of far away lands. So if Brittany he were, he’d be Bretagne Nord.
Well, actually I guess it’s more a French than only a Parisian thing- according to my experience. When I admitted to my French friends (they are all de la province) that I did not know Brel at all, they all were bouche bée “QUOI? tu ne connais pas Brel? Mais, mais,mais…Et Brassens non plus? mais comment tu fais?!?!!”
Hello,
There was a programme on Brel on BBC Radio 4 (uk) a couple of weeks ago that was pretty interesting and got people talking about him over here a bit- just thought you might be interested, I think it’s still available on the Radio 4 website (www.bbc.co.uk/radio4).
Mlle Différentielle… true!! Hope you caught up on your Brel.
Catherijn… thank you for this lovely attention. As you probably sensed it, as a good Parisian, I love Jacques Brel, so I’ll for sure look it up!
Very clever, Olivier. And I have seen those posters in toilets!
Olivier, as a resident of the 7th arrondissement, and a constant reader of this blog, I wouldn’t dare doing wealthy arrondissement bashing.
I found your blog very perceptive. I really have gotten into Brel recently and find him to be not only a primere lyrical poet, but a songwriter of astounding diversity, wit and grace. In addition, Brel’s not inconsiderable acting skills elevate his performances into minature ‘operas’. I doubt we’ll see his like ever agin. He is probably the greatest Belgian to ever become prominent in world popular culture. I dig him the most and your blog too!
Paris Parfait… Merci! Yup - three Parisian idols…
Eugene Correno… He was great. He is missed for sure but somewhat so fully present. Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoy this little blog!