Jean-Jacques Goldman
Encyclopedia
Jean-Jacques Goldman is a Grammy Awards-winning French singer-songwriter. He is hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and since 2003 was the second-highest-grossing French living pop singer, after Johnny Hallyday
.
and a German Jewish mother, Ruth Ambrunn, Goldman was the third of four children. As a child, he began his music studies on the violin, then the piano. In 1968, he abandoned his classical music studies for "American Rock & Roll" as well as folk music, emphasizing the guitar. He also earned a business degree from the École Des Hautes Études Commerciales
, commonly known as EDHEC, in Lille
. In 1972, he met Catherine, his first wife, with whom he had three children. He first entered the French music scene as member of a progressive rock
group named Taï Phong
("great wind, typhoon" in Vietnamese), which released its first album in 1975. Their first song to be a moderate hit was "Sister Jane." After singing four years and three albums in English with Taï Phong, Goldman was determined to do it alone and write and sing in French.
In 1981, Marc Lumbroso heard his recording "Il suffira d'un signe" on the album Démodé
and signed him to a five-album contract with Epic Records
. In 1982, his first hit album Minoritaire
, which included the hit song "Quand la musique est bonne", was released; subsequent albums have all been successful. In 1987, he recorded the hit single "Là-bas
" with Sirima
, which remained a popular song throughout the years. From 1990 to 1995, he recorded 2 studio albums, one live album and released several singles (such as "Nuit
", "À nos actes manqués
", "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt
" and "Tu manques
") with Carole Fredericks
and Michael Jones
, which were successful. Several of these songs were recorded with English versions, but did not find much success in England or the United States. In 2007, he recorded the hit "4 Mots sur un piano
" with Patrick Fiori
and Christine Ricol.
Jones was a Welsh singer who had settled in his mother's native France. He and Goldman scored a hit in the early 1980s with "Je te donne
" ("I give you"), a bilingual song with Jones singing the English lyrics and Goldman the French.
Jean-Jacques Goldman wrote the theme for "Resto du Coeur" the eponymous song performed by les Enfoirés
as the theme of the charity created by Coluche
, Les restos du coeur
. Throughout his career, he has frequently written for other singers, notably Céline Dion
, with whom he collaborated on D'eux
(released in the US as The French Album) that is the best selling French album in history with 9.000.000 copies worldwide, S'il suffisait d'aimer
and 1 fille & 4 types
, he has also collaborated with Johnny Hallyday
, Patricia Kaas
, Garou
, Marc Lavoine
, Gérald De Palmas
, Patrick Fiori
, Khaled
("Aïcha
"), Chet Baker
, Lorie
and Florent Pagny
as well as Englishman Joe Cocker
, and American songwriter Diane Warren
.
His half-brother Pierre Goldman
, a left-wing intellectual and convicted robber, was murdered in mysterious circumstances in 1979 in Paris. His younger brother Robert Goldman
is also a songwriter (often known as J Kapler).
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
.
Biography
Born in Paris to an immigrant Polish Jewish father, Alter Mojze GoldmanAlter Mojze Goldman
Alter Mojze Goldman was a Polish Jew who was active in the French Résistance during World War II.He was born in Lublin after the death of his father. He fled to France at the age of fifteen because of anti-Semitism. However, he was disappointed with reality in France and tried Germany...
and a German Jewish mother, Ruth Ambrunn, Goldman was the third of four children. As a child, he began his music studies on the violin, then the piano. In 1968, he abandoned his classical music studies for "American Rock & Roll" as well as folk music, emphasizing the guitar. He also earned a business degree from the École Des Hautes Études Commerciales
EDHEC Business School
EDHEC for Ecole De Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord is one of the main business schools and grandes écoles of France and Europe. It is a highly selective and top-ranking business school, among only 50 institutions worldwide EDHEC for Ecole De Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord is one of the...
, commonly known as EDHEC, in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. In 1972, he met Catherine, his first wife, with whom he had three children. He first entered the French music scene as member of a progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group named Taï Phong
Taï Phong
Taï Phong is a French progressive rock band formed by Khanh Mai and Tai Sinh , two Vietnamese brothers, in 1975...
("great wind, typhoon" in Vietnamese), which released its first album in 1975. Their first song to be a moderate hit was "Sister Jane." After singing four years and three albums in English with Taï Phong, Goldman was determined to do it alone and write and sing in French.
In 1981, Marc Lumbroso heard his recording "Il suffira d'un signe" on the album Démodé
Démodé
Démodé is a 1981 album by Jean-Jacques Goldman, his first solo album sung in French. It was recorded at the Studios Pathé in Paris and the Studio Vénus in Longueville...
and signed him to a five-album contract with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. In 1982, his first hit album Minoritaire
Minoritaire
Minoritaire was a 1982 album by Jean-Jacques Goldman, his second solo album sung in French. It received a platinum award in 1983 and has sold over 900,000 copies.It was recorded at the Studio Gang by Olivier do Espirito Santo and Jean-Pierre Janiaud...
, which included the hit song "Quand la musique est bonne", was released; subsequent albums have all been successful. In 1987, he recorded the hit single "Là-bas
Là-bas (song)
"Là-bas" is a 1987 song recorded as a duet by the French singer Jean-Jacques Goldman and the British-born artist Sirima. It was the second single from Goldman's 1987 album Entre gris clair et gris foncé...
" with Sirima
Sirima
Sirima was a British singer with Sri Lankan origins. She was primarily known for her duet "Là-bas", recorded in 1987 with Jean-Jacques Goldman, which was a number two hit in France.She was murdered by her companion Kahatra Sasorith, who stabbed her three weeks after the release of her single "A...
, which remained a popular song throughout the years. From 1990 to 1995, he recorded 2 studio albums, one live album and released several singles (such as "Nuit
Nuit (song)
"Nuit" is the name of a 1990 song recorded by the French trio Jean-Jacques Goldman, Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones. It was the first single from their debut album, Fredericks Goldman Jones, on which the song features as the fifth track...
", "À nos actes manqués
À nos actes manqués
"À nos actes manqués" is a 1991 song recorded by the French trio Jean-Jacques Goldman, Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones . Released as the second single from their eponymous album, the song was one of the summer hits in France and was the trio's most successful single in terms of ranks on the...
", "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt
Né en 17 à Leidenstadt
"Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" is a 1990 song written by Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was the third single from their debut album, Fredericks Goldman Jones, and was released in July 1991. It has been performed twice by Goldman alone, and also by Goldman with Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones, each with a...
" and "Tu manques
Tu manques
"Tu manques" is a 1990 song recorded by Carole Fredericks, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones. It was the sixth and last single from the album Fredericks Goldman Jones on which it appears as the last track and was released in May 1992. Although the three singers are credited on the single...
") with Carole Fredericks
Carole Fredericks
Carole Denise Fredericks was an American singer most famous for her recordings in France. Carole emerged from the shadow of her brother, the legendary blues musicologist Taj Mahal, to achieve fame and popularity in Europe and the French-speaking world...
and Michael Jones
Michael Jones (Welsh musician)
Michael Jones is a Welsh singer, guitarist, and song writer who lives in France. He has made several hit albums and toured as trio Fredericks Goldman Jones and collaborated on a number of songs with Goldman.-Biography:Jones was born in Welshpool...
, which were successful. Several of these songs were recorded with English versions, but did not find much success in England or the United States. In 2007, he recorded the hit "4 Mots sur un piano
4 Mots sur un piano
"4 Mots sur un piano" is a 2007 song recorded by French singers Patrick Fiori, Jean-Jacques Goldman, who also had written the lyrics, and Christine Ricol. It was released as the second single - after "Toutes les peines" - from Fiori's album Si on chantait plus fort on July 20, 2007...
" with Patrick Fiori
Patrick Fiori
Patrick Fiori is a French singer.-Biography:Fiori was born to an Armenian father and a Corsican mother in Marseille, France. When he was only 12 years old, he was offered his first role in the musical La légende des santonniers...
and Christine Ricol.
Jones was a Welsh singer who had settled in his mother's native France. He and Goldman scored a hit in the early 1980s with "Je te donne
Je te donne
"Je te donne" is a bilingual pop song, recorded in English and French. It was successfully performed by Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones and was released as a single in late 1985. It reached number-one for eight weeks on the French Singles Chart, becoming one of the best-selling singles of...
" ("I give you"), a bilingual song with Jones singing the English lyrics and Goldman the French.
Jean-Jacques Goldman wrote the theme for "Resto du Coeur" the eponymous song performed by les Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés , is the name given to the singers and performers in the yearly charity concert for the Restaurants du Cœur .-History:...
as the theme of the charity created by Coluche
Coluche
Michel Colucci , better known as Coluche, was a French comedian and actor, famous for his irreverent sense of humour....
, Les restos du coeur
Restaurants du Cœur
The Restaurants du Cœur is a French charitable organisation, the main activity of which is to distribute food packages and hot meals to the needy....
. Throughout his career, he has frequently written for other singers, notably Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, with whom he collaborated on D'eux
D'eux
D'eux is an album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on March 27, 1995. It was re-named The French Album in the United States. It is Dion's 17th French-language album and 20th in total...
(released in the US as The French Album) that is the best selling French album in history with 9.000.000 copies worldwide, S'il suffisait d'aimer
S'il suffisait d'aimer
S'il suffisait d'aimer is an album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, released on September 7, 1998. It's her 19th French album and 24th in total...
and 1 fille & 4 types
1 Fille & 4 Types
-Charts:-Certifications:-Release history:...
, he has also collaborated with Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
, Patricia Kaas
Patricia Kaas
Patricia Kaas is a French singer and actress.Kaas is a very successful French-speaking singer, with an International following...
, Garou
Garou (singer)
Garou , from the French expression "loup-garou", which means "werewolf" and is a transformation of "Garand", his last name; is a Canadian singer from Sherbrooke, Quebec. He is known for his work in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris and the #1 hits "Belle", "Seul", "Sous le vent", and "La Rivière de...
, Marc Lavoine
Marc Lavoine
Marc Lucien Lavoine is a French singer and actor. In 1985, his hit single "Elle a les yeux revolver" allowed him to reach the top of the French chart and marked the beginning of his successful singing career....
, Gérald De Palmas
Gérald De Palmas
Gérald De Palmas is a French singer.-Early life:His father was a land surveyor from Britanny, France and his mother was a French teacher from Réunion. At the age of 10, De Palmas' family left Réunion, to live in Aix-en-Provence, France...
, Patrick Fiori
Patrick Fiori
Patrick Fiori is a French singer.-Biography:Fiori was born to an Armenian father and a Corsican mother in Marseille, France. When he was only 12 years old, he was offered his first role in the musical La légende des santonniers...
, Khaled
Khaled (musician)
Khaled Hadj Ibrahim , better known as Khaled, is a raï singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Sidi El Houari in Oran Province of Algeria...
("Aïcha
Aïcha
In 2003, the Danish hip hop band, Outlandish, recorded and released an English version of the song "Aicha" which was included in their album Bread & Barrels of Water and was produced & and musically performed by Mintman aka Carsten Mortensen . The song peaked at #2 in the Mega Single Top 100 for 2...
"), Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
, Lorie
Lorie
Laure Pester, professionally known as Lorie, is a French singer. Her fame can be attributed to producer, songwriter and composer Johnny Williams and her father–manager Dominique Pester...
and Florent Pagny
Florent Pagny
Florent Pagny is a French musician. He has also acted in many French films. He records work in French, Italian, Spanish and English, and his greatest hits include "N'importe quoi", "Savoir aimer", "Ma Liberté de penser" and "Caruso" .As of 2008, he has sold 4,268,980 copies of singles,...
as well as Englishman Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
, and American songwriter Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
.
His half-brother Pierre Goldman
Pierre Goldman
Pierre Goldman, was a French left-wing intellectual who was convicted of several robberies and mysteriously assassinated. It has been suspected that the Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberación death squad was involved in his murder...
, a left-wing intellectual and convicted robber, was murdered in mysterious circumstances in 1979 in Paris. His younger brother Robert Goldman
Robert Goldman (French songwriter)
Robert Goldman is a French songwriter. He was born in Paris, France, the son of Alter Mojze Goldman and Ruth Ambrunn who were Jewish French resistance fighters during the Second World War. He is the younger brother of Jean-Jacques Goldman and half-brother of Pierre Goldman.He has written more than...
is also a songwriter (often known as J Kapler).
Studio albums
- Jean-Jacques Goldman (a/k/a DémodéDémodéDémodé is a 1981 album by Jean-Jacques Goldman, his first solo album sung in French. It was recorded at the Studios Pathé in Paris and the Studio Vénus in Longueville...
) (1981, Epic) - Jean-Jacques Goldman (a/k/a MinoritaireMinoritaireMinoritaire was a 1982 album by Jean-Jacques Goldman, his second solo album sung in French. It received a platinum award in 1983 and has sold over 900,000 copies.It was recorded at the Studio Gang by Olivier do Espirito Santo and Jean-Pierre Janiaud...
) (1982, Epic) - PositifPositifPositif was a 1984 album by Jean-Jacques Goldman, his third solo album sung in French. It was recorded at Studio Gang by Olivier do Espirito Santo and Jean-Pierre Janiaud...
(1984, Epic) - Non homologuéNon homologuéNon homologué was a 1985 album recorded by French artist Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was his fourth studio album and was released in September 1985. Goldman composed all the songs except "Je te donne", written in collaboration with Michael Jones. The album was recorded at Studio Gang by Jean-Pierre...
(1985, Epic) - Entre gris clair et gris foncéEntre gris clair et gris foncéEntre gris clair et gris foncé is a 1987 double album recorded by French artist Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was his fifth studio album and was released in November 1987. It provided four successful singles : "Elle a fait un bébé toute seule" , "Là-bas" , "C'est ta chance" and "Puisque tu pars"...
(1987, Epic) - Fredericks Goldman JonesFredericks Goldman JonesFredericks Goldman Jones is a 1990 album recorded by the trio Carole Fredericks, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones. It was the trio's first studio album and was recorded at the studios ICP and Guillaume Tell, in Paris...
(1990, CBS) with Carole FredericksCarole FredericksCarole Denise Fredericks was an American singer most famous for her recordings in France. Carole emerged from the shadow of her brother, the legendary blues musicologist Taj Mahal, to achieve fame and popularity in Europe and the French-speaking world...
and Michael JonesMichael Jones (Welsh musician)Michael Jones is a Welsh singer, guitarist, and song writer who lives in France. He has made several hit albums and toured as trio Fredericks Goldman Jones and collaborated on a number of songs with Goldman.-Biography:Jones was born in Welshpool... - RougeRouge (album)Rouge is a 1993 album recorded by the trio Carole Fredericks, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones. It was its second studio album and was recorded at the studios Guillaume Tell, ICP and la Blaque, located in France and Belgium...
(1993, Columbia) with Red Army ChoirRed Army ChoirThe A.V. Alexandrov Russian army twice red-bannered academic song and dance ensemble , in short, the Alexandrov ensemble is a performing ensemble that serves as the official army choir of the Russian armed forces...
, Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones - En passantEn passant (album)En passant is a 1997 album recorded by French singer-songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman. The CD was produced between April and August 1997 in collaboration with Erick Benzi at the Kevin Mobile, Mega and Gimmick studios, and was released on the Columbia/Sony BMG record label on 26 August 1997.-Album...
(1997, Columbia) - Chansons pour les piedsChansons pour les piedsChansons pour les pieds was a 2001 album by Jean-Jacques Goldman sung in French. The album was recorded at the Théâtre du Cratère d'Alès by Eric Van de Hel and Gildas Lointier, assisted by Renaud Van Welden. All songs were written by the singer himself...
(2001, Columbia)
Live albums
- En public (1986, Epic)
- TracesTraces (album)Traces is a 1989 album recorded by French singer-songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was his second live album and his seventh album overall. It was recorded during the singer's tour 1988, between March and December, in various countries...
(1989, Epic) - Sur scèneSur scèneSur scène is a 1992 album recorded by the trio Carole Fredericks, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones. It was its first live album and its second album overall. It was recorded between August and November 1991 in Vienne, Aix-les-Bains and Lyon and was released on 26 November 1992...
(1992, Columbia) with Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones - Du New Morning au ZénithDu New Morning au ZénithDu New Morning au Zénith is a 1994 double album recorded live by Carole Fredericks, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones. Composed of 31 tracks, it contains many successful songs from Goldman's previous albums and from the trio's two studio albums Fredericks Goldman Jones and Rouge...
(1995, Columbia) with Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones - En passant - Tournée 1998En passant tournée 1998En Passant - Tournée 1998 is a live album by French singer Jean-Jacques Goldman, recorded in 1998.-Track listing:Disc 1#On ira#Bonne idée#La vie par procuration#Ne lui dis pas#Tout était dit#Elle attend#Le rapt#Pas toi...
(1999, Columbia) - Un tour ensembleUn tour ensembleUn tour ensemble is a live album of music written and sung by Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was released by Columbia Records in 2003. It was also released on DVD.-Track listing:CD1#Je marche seul#Répétitions#Nos mains#Petite fille...
(2003, Columbia)
Compilations
- Singulier 81/89 (1996, Columbia)
- Pluriel 90/96 (1996, Columbia) with Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones
External links
Jean-Jacques Goldman clip/vidéo/live Là-bas- Biography of Jean-Jacques Goldman, from Radio France InternationaleRadio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
JJG famille Parler d'sa vie Autre Part : L'univers des frères Goldman