Le Plat Pays
Encyclopedia
Le plat pays or in Dutch
Mijn vlakke land is a song by the Belgian singer Jacques Brel
, who performed the song in both languages.
The success encountered in Paris by his Swiss mentor friend Jean Villard Gilles
' Venoge
, about an unknown little river, inspired and encouraged him to write the song.
The flat country referred to in the song is West Flanders, the region in Belgium
from which his family originated. It is a region with many open fields and few trees. Because this landscape is rather typical not only of the West Flanders, but of large swathes of the Low Countries
, the Dutch version of the song is popular in the Netherlands.
The French lyrics are by Jacques Brel, the Dutch lyrics by Ernst van Altena.
Valencian
singer Ovidi Montllor
wrote a largely modified version, "El Meu Poble Alcoi" ("My Hometown Alcoi"), which he dedicated to the city where he was born and grown up.
The song was also referenced in the original French language version of Asterix in Belgium
, where the Belgian leader tells Asterix
, Obelix
and Vitalstatistix that "in his flat country oppidum
s are the only mountains."
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
Mijn vlakke land is a song by the Belgian singer Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
, who performed the song in both languages.
The success encountered in Paris by his Swiss mentor friend Jean Villard Gilles
Jean Villard Gilles
Jean Villard a.k.a. Gilles, was born on June 2, 1895 in Montreux , and died on March 26, 1982 in Vevey, next to his vineyard village of residence Saint-Saphorin that is reputed for its quality Swiss white wine.- Biography :...
' Venoge
La Venoge (poem)
"La Venoge" is a poem written by Jean Villard Gilles who also wrote the popular song Les trois cloches. It refers to the River Venoge that flows in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland to Lake Léman...
, about an unknown little river, inspired and encouraged him to write the song.
The flat country referred to in the song is West Flanders, the region in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
from which his family originated. It is a region with many open fields and few trees. Because this landscape is rather typical not only of the West Flanders, but of large swathes of the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
, the Dutch version of the song is popular in the Netherlands.
The French lyrics are by Jacques Brel, the Dutch lyrics by Ernst van Altena.
Valencian
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
singer Ovidi Montllor
Ovidi Montllor
-Career:At the age of 24, Montllor moved to Barcelona, where he was a member of various independent theater groups, including the CICF, and later with Núria Espert and Adrià Gual...
wrote a largely modified version, "El Meu Poble Alcoi" ("My Hometown Alcoi"), which he dedicated to the city where he was born and grown up.
The song was also referenced in the original French language version of Asterix in Belgium
Asterix in Belgium
Asterix in Belgium is the twenty-fourth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo .It is noted as the last Asterix story Goscinny worked on...
, where the Belgian leader tells Asterix
Asterix
Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
, Obelix
Obelix
Obelix is a fictional character from the French comic book series Asterix. He works as a menhir sculptor and deliveryman, and is Asterix's best friend. Obelix is noted for his fatness, the menhirs he carries around on his back and his superhuman strength...
and Vitalstatistix that "in his flat country oppidum
Oppidum
Oppidum is a Latin word meaning the main settlement in any administrative area of ancient Rome. The word is derived from the earlier Latin ob-pedum, "enclosed space," possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *pedóm-, "occupied space" or "footprint."Julius Caesar described the larger Celtic Iron Age...
s are the only mountains."