Jacques Dutronc
Encyclopedia
Jacques Dutronc is a French
singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and actor. He has been married to singer Françoise Hardy
since 30 March 1981 and the two have a son (jazz guitarist Thomas Dutronc
, born 1973). He also has been a longtime songwriting collaborator with Jacques Lanzmann
. Some of Dutronc best known hits include "Il Est Cinq Heures, Paris S'éveille" (a chanson
tune akin to "Waterloo Sunset
" by The Kinks
that All Music Guide
has called "his finest hour"), "Le Responsable", and "Les Cactus".
Dutronc played guitar in the rock
group El Toro et les Cyclones. He wrote successful songs for Françoise Hardy
in the 1960s before moving on to pursue a successful solo career
. His music incorporated traditional French pop and French rock
as well as styles such as psychedelic rock
and garage rock
. He later branched out into film acting
, starting in 1973
. He earned a Cesar
for Best Actor
for the leading role in Van Gogh, which was directed by Maurice Pialat
. According to the All Music Guide
, Dutronc is "one of the most popular performers in the French-speaking world", although he "remains little known in English speaking territories" aside from a cult following
in the U.K.
. After performing his obligatory military service, he landed a job as assistant at Vogue Records
to Artistic Director Jacques Wolfsohn. In this capacity, he arranged songs for several lesser known artists such as Zou Zou and Cleo. At Vogue Records, he teamed with writer Jacques Lanzmann
, then director at Lui
magazine, to create songs for up-and-coming artists. One of their first commissions was for the pop singer Benjamin, however, after his first EP failed to perform, Vogue Records unceremoniously booted him from their roster. After hearing one of the demos that Dutronc had produced, Wolfsohn declared that Jacques should perform the record for release. This single, was released in 1966, and its popularity turned Dutronc into a star.
With Lanzmann writing lyrics and Dutronc producing the music, the two created several significant songs. Songs such as , and , are still frequently played. Other songs include , and .
Dutronc's songs combine American and British musical influences with French lyrical themes. Many of his early songs feature a British garage sound comparable to that of Ray Davies of The Kinks
. Dutronc's and David Bowie
's "Jean Genie" share a riff likely derived from the Yardbirds' accelerated version of Bo Diddley
's "I'm a Man
" (the Belgian singer Arno Hintjens
recorded a medley of the Dutronc and Bowie songs ("Jean Baltazaarr") with the American singer Beverly Jo Scott that highlight these similarities). However, Dutronc is distinctive for his mocking attitude toward late 1960s French youth culture. Dutronc's biggest hit was , with the classical flute player Roger Bourdin performing an essential part. In this song, Dutronc paints an evocative portrait of the French capital in the early morning hours.
In 1973, was adapted with English lyrics. "Alright Alright Alright" and became a UK No. 3 hit for the group Mungo Jerry
.
Also in 1973, Dutronc began a second career as an actor in the film , directed by Jean-Marie Périer
. In the following years, Dutronc devoted most of his energies toward his acting career. He has appeared in films directed by Andrzej Zulawski
, Jean-Luc Godard
, Claude Lelouch and Maurice Pialat
.
In retrospect to Dutronc's early career, critic Mark Deming of the All Music Guide
has remarked:
backing (provided by session musicians), his songs were played in the hip retro clubs of the UK and US in the late 1990s, a practice which continues to this day. He is celebrated in the 1997 Cornershop
song "Brimful of Asha
" with the line: "Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan
Boogie/The Heavy Hitters and the Chichi music."
Dutronc earned a Cesar
for Best Actor
for the leading role in Van Gogh, which was directed
by Maurice Pialat
. Critic Christopher Null of the AMC Network praised Dutronc's performance, commenting that:
Dutronc currently lives in the town of Monticello
on the Mediterranean island of Corsica
.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and actor. He has been married to singer Françoise Hardy
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
since 30 March 1981 and the two have a son (jazz guitarist Thomas Dutronc
Thomas Dutronc
Thomas Dutronc is a jazz French guitarist. His mother is the singer Françoise Hardy. His father is the singer, songwriter, guitarist, and film actor Jacques Dutronc....
, born 1973). He also has been a longtime songwriting collaborator with Jacques Lanzmann
Jacques Lanzmann
Jacques Lanzmann was a French writer, scriptwriter and lyric writer.-Biography:...
. Some of Dutronc best known hits include "Il Est Cinq Heures, Paris S'éveille" (a chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
tune akin to "Waterloo Sunset
Waterloo Sunset
Waterloo Sunset is a song by British rock band The Kinks. It was released as a single in 1967, and featured on their album Something Else by The Kinks...
" by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
that All Music Guide
All Music Guide
Allmusic is a service of music guide, owned by All Media Guide. Allmusic was founded in 1991 by popular-culture archivist Michael Erlewine as a guide for consumers. Its first reference book was published the following year...
has called "his finest hour"), "Le Responsable", and "Les Cactus".
Dutronc played guitar in the rock
French rock
French rock is a form of rock music produced in France, primarily in the French language.In the 1970s, France saw the arrival of Alan Stivell's Breton folk-rock as well as a wave of progressive rock bands like Ange, Shylock, Magma, Eskaton, Atoll and Pulsar. French punk rock also appeared,...
group El Toro et les Cyclones. He wrote successful songs for Françoise Hardy
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
in the 1960s before moving on to pursue a successful solo career
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
. His music incorporated traditional French pop and French rock
French rock
French rock is a form of rock music produced in France, primarily in the French language.In the 1970s, France saw the arrival of Alan Stivell's Breton folk-rock as well as a wave of progressive rock bands like Ange, Shylock, Magma, Eskaton, Atoll and Pulsar. French punk rock also appeared,...
as well as styles such as psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
and garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
. He later branched out into film acting
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, starting in 1973
1973 in film
The year 1973 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. Blakely would later marry actor/singer Frank Sinatra....
. He earned a Cesar
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
for Best Actor
César Award for Best Actor
This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor .-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
for the leading role in Van Gogh, which was directed by Maurice Pialat
Maurice Pialat
Maurice Pialat was a French film director, screenwriter and actor noted for the rigorous and unsentimental style of his films...
. According to the All Music Guide
All Music Guide
Allmusic is a service of music guide, owned by All Media Guide. Allmusic was founded in 1991 by popular-culture archivist Michael Erlewine as a guide for consumers. Its first reference book was published the following year...
, Dutronc is "one of the most popular performers in the French-speaking world", although he "remains little known in English speaking territories" aside from a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
in the U.K.
Early history
Between 1963 and 1964, Dutronc played guitar for the group with Hadi Kalafate. During this time he also appeared at Le Golf Drouot in Paris as backing guitarist for stars including Eddy MitchellEddy Mitchell
Eddy Mitchell is a French singer and actor. He began his career in the late 1950s, with the group Les Chaussettes Noires , taking his name from the American expatriate tough-guy actor Eddie Constantine...
. After performing his obligatory military service, he landed a job as assistant at Vogue Records
Vogue Records
Vogue Records was a short-lived United States based record label of the 1940s, noted for the artwork embedded in the records themselves. Founded in 1946 as part of Sav-Way Industries of Detroit, Michigan, the discs were initially a hit, because of the novelty of the colorful artwork, and the...
to Artistic Director Jacques Wolfsohn. In this capacity, he arranged songs for several lesser known artists such as Zou Zou and Cleo. At Vogue Records, he teamed with writer Jacques Lanzmann
Jacques Lanzmann
Jacques Lanzmann was a French writer, scriptwriter and lyric writer.-Biography:...
, then director at Lui
Lui
Lui is a French adult entertainment magazine created in November 1963 by Daniel Filipacchi, a fashion photographer turned publisher, Jacques Lanzmann, a jack of all trades turned novelist, and Frank Ténot, a press agent, pataphysician and jazz critic..The objective was to bring some charm "à la...
magazine, to create songs for up-and-coming artists. One of their first commissions was for the pop singer Benjamin, however, after his first EP failed to perform, Vogue Records unceremoniously booted him from their roster. After hearing one of the demos that Dutronc had produced, Wolfsohn declared that Jacques should perform the record for release. This single, was released in 1966, and its popularity turned Dutronc into a star.
With Lanzmann writing lyrics and Dutronc producing the music, the two created several significant songs. Songs such as , and , are still frequently played. Other songs include , and .
Dutronc's songs combine American and British musical influences with French lyrical themes. Many of his early songs feature a British garage sound comparable to that of Ray Davies of The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
. Dutronc's and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's "Jean Genie" share a riff likely derived from the Yardbirds' accelerated version of Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
's "I'm a Man
I'm A Man (Bo Diddley song)
"I'm a Man" is a song written and recorded by Bo Diddley in 1955. A moderately slow blues with a stop-time figure, it was inspired by an earlier blues song and became a #1 R&B chart hit. "I'm a Man" has been acknowledged by Rolling Stone magazine and has been recorded by a variety of artists,...
" (the Belgian singer Arno Hintjens
Arno Hintjens
Arno Hintjens , usually referred to as Arno, is a Belgian artist born in Ostend. He was the frontman of the group TC Matic. After the band split in 1986 he went solo....
recorded a medley of the Dutronc and Bowie songs ("Jean Baltazaarr") with the American singer Beverly Jo Scott that highlight these similarities). However, Dutronc is distinctive for his mocking attitude toward late 1960s French youth culture. Dutronc's biggest hit was , with the classical flute player Roger Bourdin performing an essential part. In this song, Dutronc paints an evocative portrait of the French capital in the early morning hours.
In 1973, was adapted with English lyrics. "Alright Alright Alright" and became a UK No. 3 hit for the group Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry is an English rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most...
.
Also in 1973, Dutronc began a second career as an actor in the film , directed by Jean-Marie Périer
Jean-Marie Périer
Jean-Marie Périer is a French photographer and film director.On 22 June 1963, the magazine Salut les copains organised a concert on Place de la Nation in Paris, with singers such as Johnny Hallyday, Richard Anthony, Eddy Mitchell and Frank Alamo...
. In the following years, Dutronc devoted most of his energies toward his acting career. He has appeared in films directed by Andrzej Zulawski
Andrzej Zulawski
Andrzej Żuławski is a Polish film director. He was born in Lwów, Poland . Żuławski has often gone against mainstream commercialism in his films,and has enjoyed success mostly with European art-house audiences....
, Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
, Claude Lelouch and Maurice Pialat
Maurice Pialat
Maurice Pialat was a French film director, screenwriter and actor noted for the rigorous and unsentimental style of his films...
.
In retrospect to Dutronc's early career, critic Mark Deming of the All Music Guide
All Music Guide
Allmusic is a service of music guide, owned by All Media Guide. Allmusic was founded in 1991 by popular-culture archivist Michael Erlewine as a guide for consumers. Its first reference book was published the following year...
has remarked:
Later history and current activities
Dutronc returned to music in recent years, and also has enjoyed a resurgence of popular interest in his music. Since the early Dutronc songs had a classic late-sixties freakbeatFreakbeat
Freakbeat is the name used for rare, collectable, and obscure British Invasion records, particularly from 1966 and 1967. Elements of the freakbeat sound include strong direct drum beats, loud and frenzied guitar riffs, and extreme effects such as: fuzztone, flanging, distortion and compression or...
backing (provided by session musicians), his songs were played in the hip retro clubs of the UK and US in the late 1990s, a practice which continues to this day. He is celebrated in the 1997 Cornershop
Cornershop
Cornershop are a British indie rock band formed in 1991 by Wolverhampton-born Tjinder Singh , his brother Avtar Singh , David Chambers and Ben Ayres , the first three having previously been members of Preston-based band General Havoc, who released one single in 1991...
song "Brimful of Asha
Brimful of Asha
"Brimful of Asha" is a 1997 single by the British alternative rock band Cornershop, which originally reached number 60 in the UK Singles Chart in 1997...
" with the line: "Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
Boogie/The Heavy Hitters and the Chichi music."
Dutronc earned a Cesar
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
for Best Actor
César Award for Best Actor
This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor .-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
for the leading role in Van Gogh, which was directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Maurice Pialat
Maurice Pialat
Maurice Pialat was a French film director, screenwriter and actor noted for the rigorous and unsentimental style of his films...
. Critic Christopher Null of the AMC Network praised Dutronc's performance, commenting that:
Dutronc currently lives in the town of Monticello
Monticello, Haute-Corse
Monticello is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.-Population:-References:*...
on the Mediterranean island of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
.
Selected discography
Selected filmography
External links
- The official website of Jacques Dutronc
- French Wikipedia article
- The original dandy: Jacques Dutronc
- rfimusique.com entry