Michel Berger
Encyclopedia
Michel Berger born Michel Jean Hamburger, was a very successful French singer and songwriter. He was a central figure of France's pop music scene for two decades both as a singer and as a songwriter for well-known French artists like his wife France Gall
, Françoise Hardy
and Johnny Hallyday
. He was also romantically involved with singer songwriter Véronique Sanson
in the early 1970s before he married France Gall
.
He died of a heart attack at the age of 45.
, the son of the famous doctor Jean Hamburger
and concert pianist Annette Haas.
Berger first became known to the French public in the 1960s as singer of hit song Salut les copains, after which he became record producer and songwriter for EMI
and where he wrote amongst others Les Girafes for Bourvil
in 1967. In the early 1970s, he moved to Warner Music where he produced the early albums of Véronique Sanson
, and Allah once again in 1989. In 1973, he was responsible for producing the album Message personnel, the title track of which relaunched Françoise Hardy
's career. He also produced the single Je suis moi for Hardy.
Berger started writing for France Gall
in 1974, produced all her albums from 1975 on, and married her on 22 June 1976.
In 1978, he composed the musical: Starmania, with lyrics by Luc Plamondon
. The musical starred France Gall
, Claude Dubois
, Daniel Balavoine
, Diane Dufresne
, Nanette Workman
, Eric Estève
and Fabienne Thibeault
. It was a big success in France in the 1980s and 1990s. An English version, entitled Tycoon, was released in 1991 with lyrics by Tim Rice
, but it did not achieve the success the original version had in France.
Unfortunately, the two musicals Berger worked on immediately after Starmania did not fare well. In 1980, Berger partnered with producer Jerome Savary
and lyricist Luc Plamondon
to produce the musical La Légende de Jimmy, inspired by the life of James Dean
. However, this bombed. Berger's next musical project, Dreams in Stone, was conceived as an American musical, co-arranged with Michel Bernholc, and recorded in the United States, with lead vocals by singers Rosanne Cash
, Bill Champlin
, Lynn Carey
, Jennifer Warnes
, and Bill Withers
among others. Though the show itself never saw the light of day, the album was nevertheless released in 1982. The album was a complete flop, and is not generally known outside of a few fansites.
In 1985, Berger produced Johnny Hallyday
's album Rock 'n' Roll Attitude, as well as the show for his related tour.
In 1987, Berger produced France Gall
's album Babacar, as well as the show for her related tour. Opening at Le Zénith
, and then continuing throughout Europe, the successful show gave rise to France Gall's live album Le Tour de France '88.
Berger also scored several film projects over the years, which included Mektoub, a 1970 film by Algerian Director Ali Ghalem, Robert Benayoun
's Sérieux comme le plaisir in 1975, Jean-Paul Rappeneau
's Tout feu, tout flamme in 1982 and Rive droite, rive gauche the 1984 film by Philippe Labro
. He is also known for his Orangina
advertisement jingle
.
Berger was one of a handful of French artists who participated readily and actively in humanitarian acts: in 1985, he worked exclusively for Action Écoles alongside France Gall
, Richard Berry
and Daniel Balavoine
, then later for Ethiopia
with Renaud
(Chanteurs Sans Frontières) and for Les Restos du cœur
with comedian Coluche
.
, Michel Berger suffered a fatal heart attack in the middle of a tennis match at Ramatuelle
. His untimely death came as a shock to many people because he had been one of the most popular French singer-songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, unlike many pop stars, he came across as a nice and simple man, more interested in music and family life than in rock & roll excesses. As a matter of fact, his marriage with France Gall
was remarkably stable. He is buried in Paris close in the cemetery of Montmartre
with his daughter, Pauline, who died from cystic fibrosis
in 1997. His son, Raphael, works for Marc Lumbroso and produces music for Remark Records.
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
, 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:...
and 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...
. He was also romantically involved with singer songwriter Véronique Sanson
Véronique Sanson
Véronique Sanson is a two-time Victoires de la Musique Award-winning French singer-songwriter, musician, and producer with an avid following in her native country.She brings a very personal vocal style to the singing of French pop songs: Her voice has a very strong vibrato.Unlike...
in the early 1970s before he married France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
.
He died of a heart attack at the age of 45.
Biography
Berger was born in Neuilly-sur-SeineNeuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, the son of the famous doctor Jean Hamburger
Jean Hamburger
Jean Hamburger was a French physician, surgeon and essayist. He is particularly known for his contribution to nephrology, and for having performed the first renal transplantation in France in 1952.-Biography:...
and concert pianist Annette Haas.
Berger first became known to the French public in the 1960s as singer of hit song Salut les copains, after which he became record producer and songwriter for EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and where he wrote amongst others Les Girafes for Bourvil
Bourvil
André Bourvil, born André Robert Raimbourg was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in La Grande Vadrouille .-Biography:His father was killed in the First World War before Bourvil was born...
in 1967. In the early 1970s, he moved to Warner Music where he produced the early albums of Véronique Sanson
Véronique Sanson
Véronique Sanson is a two-time Victoires de la Musique Award-winning French singer-songwriter, musician, and producer with an avid following in her native country.She brings a very personal vocal style to the singing of French pop songs: Her voice has a very strong vibrato.Unlike...
, and Allah once again in 1989. In 1973, he was responsible for producing the album Message personnel, the title track of which relaunched 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:...
's career. He also produced the single Je suis moi for Hardy.
Berger started writing for France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
in 1974, produced all her albums from 1975 on, and married her on 22 June 1976.
In 1978, he composed the musical: Starmania, with lyrics by Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian lyricist.-Career:Plamondon has written for many artists, notably the Québécois singers Bruno Pelletier, Diane Dufresne, Robert Charlebois, Céline Dion, Ginette Reno, Fabienne Thibeault, Martine St. Clair, and Garou, as well as the French singers Julien...
. The musical starred France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
, Claude Dubois
Claude Dubois
Claude André Dubois is a Canadian singer-songwriter.Dubois was an early star of the francophone musical Starmania...
, Daniel Balavoine
Daniel Balavoine
Daniel Balavoine was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and inspired many singers in the 1980s, such as Jean-Jacques Goldman, and Michel Berger, his closest friend...
, Diane Dufresne
Diane Dufresne
Diane Dufresne, CQ is a singer and painter, and has sung a number of classics of Quebec repertoire of popular songs....
, Nanette Workman
Nanette Workman
Nanette Joan Workman is today a singer-songwriter, actress and author who has been based in Quebec, Canada during much of her career. She was raised by musician parents in Jackson, Mississippi where she began her first performances. She mainly performs in French although raised as a native...
, Eric Estève
Eric Esteve
Éric Estève is a French author, composer and singer.Originally discovered by Véronique Sanson at the age of 17, Estève recorded on Epic...
and Fabienne Thibeault
Fabienne Thibeault
Fabienne Thibeault is a Canadian singer. She is particularly known for her role in Starmania. Thibeault has released numerous albums over her career. She has been the recipient of two Félix Awards.-History:...
. It was a big success in France in the 1980s and 1990s. An English version, entitled Tycoon, was released in 1991 with lyrics by Tim Rice
Tim Rice
Sir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
, but it did not achieve the success the original version had in France.
Unfortunately, the two musicals Berger worked on immediately after Starmania did not fare well. In 1980, Berger partnered with producer Jerome Savary
Jérôme Savary
Jérôme Savary is a French theater director and actor. His work has democratized and widened the appeal of musical theater in France, drawing together and blending such genres as opera, operetta, and musical comedy.- Biography :...
and lyricist Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon
Luc Plamondon, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian lyricist.-Career:Plamondon has written for many artists, notably the Québécois singers Bruno Pelletier, Diane Dufresne, Robert Charlebois, Céline Dion, Ginette Reno, Fabienne Thibeault, Martine St. Clair, and Garou, as well as the French singers Julien...
to produce the musical La Légende de Jimmy, inspired by the life of James Dean
James Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
. However, this bombed. Berger's next musical project, Dreams in Stone, was conceived as an American musical, co-arranged with Michel Bernholc, and recorded in the United States, with lead vocals by singers Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of the late country music singer Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin....
, Bill Champlin
Bill Champlin
William Bradford "Bill" Champlin is an American singer, guitarist, keyboard player, arranger, producer, and songwriter. His performance work is principally associated with the bands Chicago and the Sons of Champlin...
, Lynn Carey
Lynn Carey
Lynn Carey is an American singer, songwriter, model, and actress best known as the lead vocalist in the band Mama Lion. She is also the daughter of actor Macdonald Carey.-Biography:...
, Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She is known for her interpretations of compositions written by herself and many others, as well as an extensive playlist as a vocalist on movie soundtracks.Between 1979 and 1987 Warnes surpassed Frank Sinatra as...
, and Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
among others. Though the show itself never saw the light of day, the album was nevertheless released in 1982. The album was a complete flop, and is not generally known outside of a few fansites.
In 1985, Berger produced 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...
's album Rock 'n' Roll Attitude, as well as the show for his related tour.
In 1987, Berger produced France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
's album Babacar, as well as the show for her related tour. Opening at Le Zénith
The Zenith
Le Zénith is the name given to a series of indoor arenas in France. The first arena, "Le Zénith de Paris" is a rejuvenation of the Pavillon de Paris. Since its opening in 1983, "Le Zénith" became a registered trademark in France. In French culture, the word "zénith" has become synonymous with...
, and then continuing throughout Europe, the successful show gave rise to France Gall's live album Le Tour de France '88.
Berger also scored several film projects over the years, which included Mektoub, a 1970 film by Algerian Director Ali Ghalem, Robert Benayoun
Robert Benayoun
Robert Benayoun was a French film critic and author, and one-time member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival of 1980. He wrote books on Tex Avery, Woody Allen, Buster Keaton, the Marx Brothers, and Alain Resnais.He wrote screenplays for and directed three films...
's Sérieux comme le plaisir in 1975, Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Jean-Paul Rappeneau is a French film director, screenwriter, and actor.He started out in film as an assistant and screenwriter collaborating with Louis Malle on Zazie dans le metro in 1960 and Vie privee in 1961...
's Tout feu, tout flamme in 1982 and Rive droite, rive gauche the 1984 film by Philippe Labro
Philippe Labro
Philippe Labro, is a French author, journalist and film director, born in Montauban on 27 August 1936. He has worked for RTL, Paris Match, TF1 and Antenne 2...
. He is also known for his Orangina
Orangina
Orangina is a carbonated citrus beverage made from orange, lemon, mandarin, and grapefruit juice. The concept of Orangina originated at a trade fair in France and was first marketed in Algeria by the French Algerian Léon Beton...
advertisement jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
.
Berger was one of a handful of French artists who participated readily and actively in humanitarian acts: in 1985, he worked exclusively for Action Écoles alongside France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
, Richard Berry
Richard Berry (actor)
Richard Berry is a French actor, film director and screenwriter. He has appeared in nearly 100 films since 1972. He starred in The Violin Player, which was entered into the 1994 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
and Daniel Balavoine
Daniel Balavoine
Daniel Balavoine was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and inspired many singers in the 1980s, such as Jean-Jacques Goldman, and Michel Berger, his closest friend...
, then later for Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
with Renaud
Renaud
Renaud, born Renaud Séchan, is a French singer, songwriter and actor.Renaud may also refer to:* Renaud , a male French given name* Renaud , a 1783 opera by Antonio Sacchini* Renaud, Quebec, part of Laval, Quebec...
(Chanteurs Sans Frontières) and for Les Restos du cœur
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....
with comedian Coluche
Coluche
Michel Colucci , better known as Coluche, was a French comedian and actor, famous for his irreverent sense of humour....
.
Death
On 2 August 1992, a few weeks after the release of his first album of duets with France GallFrance Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
, Michel Berger suffered a fatal heart attack in the middle of a tennis match at Ramatuelle
Ramatuelle
Ramatuelle is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It lies near St-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime and Gassin. It was built on a hill to defend itself against enemies...
. His untimely death came as a shock to many people because he had been one of the most popular French singer-songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, unlike many pop stars, he came across as a nice and simple man, more interested in music and family life than in rock & roll excesses. As a matter of fact, his marriage with France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
was remarkably stable. He is buried in Paris close in the cemetery of Montmartre
Montmartre
Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district...
with his daughter, Pauline, who died from cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
in 1997. His son, Raphael, works for Marc Lumbroso and produces music for Remark Records.
Studio albums
- Michel Berger (Le coeur brisé) (1973)
- Chansons pour une fan (1974)
- Que l'amour est bizarre (1975)
- Mon piano danse (1976)
- Beauséjour (1980)
- Beaurivage (1981)
- Dreams in Stone (1982)
- Voyou (1983)
- DifférencesDifferences"Differences" is the title of a number-one R&B single by singer Ginuwine. The hit song spent four weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart.This is Ginuwine's best selling and top charting single yet in his career, also peaking at number four on the main US pop chart.-Single track listing: CD...
(1985) - Ca ne tient pas debout (1990)
- Double jeu (with France GallFrance GallFrance Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
) (1992)
Live albums
- Michel Berger au Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (1980)
- Michel Berger en public au Palais des Sports (1983)
- Michel Berger au Zénith (1986)
Booklets
- Plamondon & Berger : Full Text of the Rock Opera, La Légende de Jimmy, Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, 1990, ISBN 2-86274-189-2
- Plamondon & Berger : Full Text of the Rock Opera, Starmania, 1995 Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, ISBN 2-86274-357-7
Trivia
- Berger, alongside fellow musicians Michel FugainMichel FugainMichel Fugain is a French singer and composer. Originally he released music along with his singers and dancers entitled "Le Big Bazar" but went for a more solo approach 1977. In 1969 he published his first album: Je n'aurai pas le temps...
and Michel SardouMichel SardouMichel Sardou is a French singer.He was born in Paris, the son of Fernand Sardou and Jackie Rollin . Contrary to claims common towards the beginning of his career, he is not the grandson of the dramatist Victorien Sardou...
, appeared as extras (uncredited roles) in the 1966 René Clément film Paris brûle-t-il?, Berger as « Chef des explosifs »; Fugain and Sardou as student protestors.
Biographies
- Hugues Royer & Philippe Seguy : France Gall – Michel Berger, Deux destins pour une légende, Éditions du Rocher, 1994, ISBN 2-268-01873-3
- Jean-François Brieu & Éric Didi : Michel Berger – Quelques mots d'amour, Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 1997, ISBN 2-7096-1798-6
- Jacques Pessis : Michel Berger, Collection Les Lumières du Music-Hall – Éditions Vade Retro, 2001, ISBN 2-909828-80-8
Essays
- France Gall & Jean Brousse : Michel Berger – Si Le Bonheur Existe, 2002 Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, ISBN 2-7491-0012-7
External links
- Biography of Michel Berger, 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...
Fansites
- Si le bonheur existe, by Sébastien Kerroux
- Le paradis blanc by Oliver King
- Double Je Fansite
- Celui qui chante Fansite