Né en 17 à Leidenstadt
Encyclopedia
"Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" (English: "Born in '17 in 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 specific verse to sing. An English version exists in which Fredericks and Jones sing in their native language.
(stating that the composer, Jean-Jacques Goldman, had Polish
and Jewish origins and that his mother is German
), or in that of Northern Irish
who were into civil war, or if they would show more solidarity with blacks if they were born as being white and rich in Johannesburg
, South Africa.
Therefore the song deals with the question on the topic of the choice and the position. It ends with the wish to never have to choose a camp.
'Leidenstadt' is an imaginary city whose name is composed of the German words die Leiden (the suffering) and die Stadt (the city). However, there does exists a town named 'Lydenburg
' (same meaning in Afrikaans
) in South Africa.
According to Goldman, the song was very difficult to compose and record. The introduction, played on the piano, was inspired by the Californian artist Bruce Hornsby
.
The song features as the third track on the 1990 album Fredericks Goldman Jones, and as the third track too on the 2000 best of Pluriel 90-96. In the English-speaking countries, the song was released in a bilingual version (French / English) entitled "Born in 1917 in Leidenstadt".
" and "1,2,3".
The song was covered in 2000 by Michel Leclerc (instrumental version), and by Le Collège de l'Esterel in 2002.
Jean-Jacques Goldman
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.- Biography :...
. It was the third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from their debut album, Fredericks Goldman Jones
Fredericks Goldman Jones
Fredericks 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...
, and was released in July 1991. It has been performed twice by Goldman alone, and also by Goldman 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, each with a specific verse to sing. An English version exists in which Fredericks and Jones sing in their native language.
Lyrics and music
In this song, the three singers are wondering if they would have acted differently if they had been in the situation of Germans after the 1918 defeat and during the rise of the NazismNazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
(stating that the composer, Jean-Jacques Goldman, had Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Jewish origins and that his mother is German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), or in that of Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
who were into civil war, or if they would show more solidarity with blacks if they were born as being white and rich in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa.
Therefore the song deals with the question on the topic of the choice and the position. It ends with the wish to never have to choose a camp.
'Leidenstadt' is an imaginary city whose name is composed of the German words die Leiden (the suffering) and die Stadt (the city). However, there does exists a town named 'Lydenburg
Lydenburg
Lydenburg is a town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The town is slated to be renamed Mashishing, according to an announcement made on June 30, 2006 by the South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan. Lydenburg is situated on the Sterkspruit/Dorps River tributary of the Olifants River at...
' (same meaning in Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
) in South Africa.
According to Goldman, the song was very difficult to compose and record. The introduction, played on the piano, was inspired by the Californian artist Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
.
The song features as the third track on the 1990 album Fredericks Goldman Jones, and as the third track too on the 2000 best of Pluriel 90-96. In the English-speaking countries, the song was released in a bilingual version (French / English) entitled "Born in 1917 in Leidenstadt".
Chart performances and cover versions
In France, the song charted for 16 weeks on the official single chart (top 50), from 6 July to 10 October 1991. It started at number 33 and reached a peak at number 11 in the eighth week. It them almost did not stop to drop on the chart and totaled nine weeks in the top 20. "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" is the fourth most successful single of the trio, behind "Nuit", "À nos actes manquésÀ 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...
" and "1,2,3".
The song was covered in 2000 by Michel Leclerc (instrumental version), and by Le Collège de l'Esterel in 2002.
Track listings
- CD single
- "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" — 3:51
- "Tu manquesTu 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...
" — 6:03
- 7" single
- "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" — 3:51
- "Tu manques" — 6:03
- Cassette
- "Né en 17 à Leidenstadt" — 3:51
- "Tu manques" — 6:03
Charts
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 11 |