Jacques Romain Georges Brel (; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed theatrical songs. He generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, but later throughout the world. He is considered a master of the modern chanson. He came from a family of Flemish descent (who had adopted the French language); part of his family originated in Zandvoorde, near Ypres. His father worked for Conimex, an import–export firm, and later became co-director of a company that manufactured cardboard. Jacques and his elder brother Pierre grew up in an austere household, and attended a Catholic primary school, École Saint-Viateur, run by the order of Saint Viator. Remembered as a courteous and manageable pupil, Brel did well in reading and writing, but struggled through arithmetic and Dutch. In Brussels, the family lived at 138, / in Schaerbeek, Although he did poorly in many subjects, he did well in History and French, and showed a talent for writing. He wrote short stories, poems, and essays. Despite his growing talent for writing, Brel was not a good student, and failed many of his exams. His job at Vanneste and Brel was predictable and uninspiring—a routine that involved fixing prices and meeting customers. Dedicated to philanthropic work, the group organised religious retreats, fundraising events, and food and clothing deliveries to orphanages and old people's homes.

In June 1948, Brel enlisted for military service, did his basic training in Limbourg, and served as a corporal in the Belgian air force stationed at Groenveld barracks in Zellik near Brussels.|group=Note Throughout his military service, Brel was still able to attend FC meetings. The talent scout and artistic director at the record company, Jacques Canetti, invited him to move to Paris. Despite his family's objections and the added pressure of raising a second daughter, France, born on 12 July,

Legacy

In the Francophone world, Brel left an enduring influence on music and culture. Further afield his influence has been somewhat tempered by differences in language, though he has influenced many artists globally. International artists (listed alphabetically below by last name) who have covered his songs include:

  • Karen Akers
  • Marc Almond
  • Isabelle Aubret
  • Joan Baez
  • Barbara
  • Shirley Bassey
  • Franco Battiato
  • Beirut
  • Bellowhead
  • Dave Berry
  • Theodore Bikel
  • Raquel Bitton
  • Frida Boccara
  • David Bowie
  • Mick Ronson
  • James Dean Bradfield
  • Glen Campbell
  • Belinda Carlisle
  • Jose Carreras
  • Ray Charles
  • Petula Clark
  • Alan Clayson
  • Benjamin Clementine
  • Judy Collins
  • Zach Condon
  • Ray Conniff
  • Dalida
  • Arsen Dedić
  • John Denver
  • Neil Diamond
  • Marlene Dietrich
  • Céline Dion
  • Dresden Dolls
  • Sheena Easton
  • Lara Fabian
  • Marianne Faithfull
  • Gavin Friday
  • Giorgio Gaber
  • Diamanda Galás
  • Goldfrapp
  • Bobby Goldsboro
  • Juliette Gréco
  • Johnny Hallyday
  • Neil Hannon
  • Noel Harrison
  • Alex Harvey
  • Klaus Hoffmann
  • Shirley Horn
  • Julio Iglesias
  • Jure Ivanušič
  • Tom Jones
  • Barb Jungr
  • Ibrica Jusić
  • The Kingston Trio
  • Thomas Lang
  • Cyndi Lauper
  • Daliah Lavi
  • Vicky Leandros
  • Nara Leão
  • Brenda Lee
  • Jack Lukeman
  • Barry Manilow
  • Johnny Mathis
  • Rod McKuen
  • Tom McRae
  • Liza Minnelli
  • Brian Molko
  • Momus
  • Matt Monro
  • Liliane Montevecchi
  • Nana Mouskouri
  • Alison Moyet
  • Olivia Newton-John
  • Ange
  • Nirvana
  • Patti Page
  • Edith Piaf
  • Duilio Del Prete
  • Gary Puckett
  • Laurika Rauch
  • Tom Robinson
  • Secret Chiefs 3
  • The Seekers
  • Show of Hands
  • Nina Simone
  • Frank Sinatra
  • Dusty Springfield
  • Sting
  • Peter Straker
  • Hammy Hamster
  • Stromae
  • Jake Thackray
  • Emiliana Torrini
  • Herman van Veen
  • Scott Walker
  • Dionne Warwick
  • Andy Williams
  • Barbra Streisand
  • Nancy Wilson
  • Glenn Yarbrough "Marieke" was translated by Brel himself.

German

Belgian-German singer Dieter Kaiser has translated 30 of Brel's songs and has gathered them in a booklet with over 100 other French chansons in German. Kaiser also issued a CD in German and a CD in French with various chansons of Brel. Klaus Hoffmann is another important German interpreter of Brel's songs, as is the Austrian actor Michael Heltau, who was asked by Brel himself to record his songs, using the translation of Werner Schneyder.

  • In 1982, the Jacques Brel station on line 5 of the Brussels metro was inaugurated.
  • The Jacques Brel Parc (fr) is located in Forest, Brussels. You can see a bust of him there.
  • In 1988, a statue Marieke was revealed in Bruges, Belgium to honor the song of the same name in which the city is mentioned.
  • A EuroCity train for the Paris – Dortmund connection, Jacques Brel, was opened in 1993.
  • A bronze statue of Brel by Chantal de La Chauvinière-Riant, from 1995, is installed in the city centre of Saint-Amand-Montrond, subprefecture of Cher.
  • The city of Verviers (Belgium) honours the poet by naming a quay of the Vesdre river after him.
  • In 2008, on the occasion of the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of his death, the Hiva Oa airfield in the Marquesas was officially renamed Hiva Oa – Jacques-Brel airfield. A monument to Brel has been erected on a lookout point on the airport road.
  • A bronze bust created by French sculptor Jean-Paul Lesbre was inaugurated at the Marquesas in 2008.

thumb|Bronze bust of Brel by Lesbre

  • In France, in 2015, 71 schools bear his name.
  • As a gesture of recognition for the song "Vesoul" composed by Brel, on 8 September 2016, a bronze Brel statue made by the sculptor Frédéric Lanoir was placed in the hall of the Edwige-Feuillère theater of Vesoul, France.

alt=Jacques Brel Statue, Vesoul|thumb|Jacques Brel statue in [[Vesoul]]

  • Since 2017, Brel has his own bronze statue in Brussels named L'Envol. It was designed by Tom Frantzen.
  • A bust of Brel by Arlette Somazzi is installed in the Cap-Martin Park in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
  • Espace Jacques Brel in Hiva Oa is a historical museum, dedicated to the singer.
  • Different alleys in Belgium and France are named "Allée Jacques Brel". The "Jacques-Brel alleys" in Paris were inaugurated in 2019.
  • A quarter, named "Quartier Jacques Brel" in Brussels.
  • Avenues named "Avenue Jacques Brel" in Belgium and France (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Zinnik, Eigenbrakel, Braine-l'Alleud, Chevilly-Larue, Vauréal and others).
  • Streets named "Rue Jacques Brel" in Belgium and France (Frameries, Binche, Chaudfontaine, Lys-lez-Lannoy, Saint-Michel-Sur-Orge, Villebon-Sur-Yvette, Feytiat, Durtol, Labège, Charleville-Mézières and others).
  • Streets named "Impasse Jacques Brel" in France (Sains-en Gohelle, Oignies, Aubencheul-au-Bac, Trégueux, Gonfreville-l'Orcher, Bondy, Saint-Priest and others).
  • Multimedia libraries "Médiathèque Jacques Brel" in Neuville-sur-Saône & Méru.
  • Different culture and sport centres in France are named "Maison Jacques Brel", "Centre Jacques Brel", "Espace Jacques Brel" or "Salle Jacques Brel".
  • Different residences in France are named "Résidence Jacques Brel".
  • Different neighbourhood centers in France are named "Maison de quartier Jacques-Brel".

Other

  • Brel won the Dutch Edison award in 1962 for the album Jacques Brel.
  • The film Le Far-West was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.
  • In 1977, Jacques Brel won the Premio Tenco for his entire career.
  • The asteroid (3918) Brel is named in his honour, when discovered in 1988.
  • Anonymous Society – Jacques Brel won the Total Theatre Award for Best Overall Production in 1999.
  • In 2004, the album L'Integrale won an Edison award (Historical edition).
  • The class of 2015 of Sciences Po Lille is named after Jacques Brel.
  • A limited Belgian 10 Euro silver coin was issued in memory of Brel's 40th anniversary of his death in 2018.
  • On 15 November 2020, Google celebrated Jacques Brel with a Google Doodle.

Books

In English

  • Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris: Based on Brel's Lyrics and Commentry by Jacques Brel in 1968, Chappell Music, 40p. (English, French)
  • Jacques Brel is Alive and Well & Living in Paris by Eric Blau and Jacques Brel in 1971, E. P. Dutton, 191p. (English, French)
  • Jacques Brel: The Biography by Alan Clayson in 1996, Castle Communications, 207 p. (English)
  • Brel and Chanson: A Critical Appreciation by Sara Poole in 2004, University Press of America, 136p. (English)
  • Georges Brassens and Jacques Brel: Personal and Social Narratives in Post-War Chanson by Chris Tinker in 2006, Liverpool University Press, 224p. (English)
  • Jacques Brel: La Vie Bohème by Alan Clayson in 2010, Chrome Dreams, 224 p. (English)

In other languages

  • Jacques Brel – Collection Poètes D'aujourd'hui N° 119 by Jean Clouzet in 1964, Seghers, 192 p. (French)
  • Cent pages avec Jacques Brel by Dominique Arban in 1967, Seghers, 96p. (French)
  • Bonjour Brel. (collected paintings) by Paul Ide in 1975, Éditions de la Palme, 70p. (French)
  • Chansons, Jacques Brel by Paul Lidsky and Bruno Hongre in 1976, Hatier, 79p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel un homme au large de l'espoir by Christian Petit, Dominique Arban and Pierre Barlatier in 1982, Imprimerie Paillart, 224 p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, Œuvre intégrale (all songs and songtexts) in 1982, Robert Laffont, 412p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel va bien. Il dort aux Marquises by Pierre Berruer in 1983, Presses de la Cité 207 p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel by Lorcey Jacques and Monserrat Joëlle in 1984, Pac, 144p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, chant contre silence by Stéphane Hirschi in 1995, Librairie A.-G. Nizet, 518 p. (French)
  • Dictionnaire de la chanson en Wallonie et à Bruxelles by Robert Wangermée in 1995, Editions Mardaga, 363 p. (French)
  • L'Univers poétique de Jacques Brel by Bruno Hongre in 1998, L'Harmattan, 250p. (French)
  • Tout Brel by Jean-Claude Zylberstein in 1998, Robert Laffont, 411p. (French)
  • Grand Jacques, le roman de Jacques Brel by Marc Robine in 1998, Anne Carrière, 671p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel : chansons, poèmes, textes illustrés by Gabriel Lefebvre in 2001, La Renaissance du livre, 160p. (French)
  • Brel, l'imagination de l'impossible by Patrick Baton in 2003, La Renaissance du livre, 224p. (French)
  • Brassens, Brel, Ferré – Trois voix pour chanter l'amour by Michel J. Cuny and Françoise Petitdemange in 2003, Paroles Vives, 280p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel by Jean Clouzet and Angela Clouzet in 2003, Complexe, 288p. (French)
  • Le Roman de Jacques Brel by Marc Robine in 2003, Complexe, 701p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, À s'offrir en partage by Gabriel Lefebvre in 2005, Complexe, 133p. (French)
  • Penser avec Brel by Laurent Bibard in 2006, L'Harmattan, 220p. (French)
  • Ne me quitte pas, chansons de Jacques Brel (collected gravures) by Dominique Van Der Veken in 2008, Les Bibliophiles de France
  • Jacques Brel : l'impossible rêve by Serge Vincendet in 2008, Éditions Alphée, 359p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, vivre debout by Jacques Vassal in 2009, Hors Collection, 352p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, vivre à mille temps by Luc Baba in 2012, A Dos D'ane, 40p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, T'as voulu voir Vesoul... ! by Bernard Belin in 2013, F.-C. Culture & Patrimoine, 256p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, l'aventure commence à l'aurore by Fred Hidalgo in 2014, Archipoche, 480p. (French)
  • Voir un ami voler – Les dernières années de Jacques Brel by Jean Liardon and Arnaud Bédat in 2018, Plon, 288p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel chanteur by France Brel in 2018, Fondation Brel, 342p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel en 40 chansons by Baptiste Vignol and Stéphane Loisy in 2018, Hugo Image, 157p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel couleurs Maroc by Hervé Meillon in 2018, M La Suite Éditions, 262p. (French)
  • Jacques Brel, une vie by Olivier Todd in 1984, Robert Laffont, 452p. (French, Dutch, German)
  • Jacques Brel by Mohamed El-Fers in 1990, Brave New Books, 185p. (Dutch)
  • De passie en de pijn by Johan Anthierens in 1998, Veen, 285p. (Dutch)
  • Jacques Brel: Leven en Liefde by René Seghers in 2003, Tirion Algemeen, 256 p. (Dutch)
  • Jacques Brel / Ne me quitte pas / Laat me niet alleen (80 songs with Duych lyrics by different translators) in 2004, Nijgh & Van Ditmar, 368 p. (Dutch)
  • Jacques Brel: De Definitieve Biografie by René Seghers in 2012, Tirion/Houtekiet, 512p. (Dutch)
  • Brel, de Belg. Een verhaal van liefde en onbegrip by Thijs Delrue in 2018, Borgerhoff & Lamberigts, 232 p. (Dutch)
  • Jacques Brel. Una canción desesperada by Luis García Gil in 2009, Milenio Publicaciones, 246 p. (Spanish)
  • Brel – Der Mann, der eine Insel war by Jens Rosteck in 2016, Mare, 240 p. (German)

Documentaries

  • "The World of Jacques Brel" by Annett Wolf released in 1971
  • "Brel parle" by Marc Lobet in 1971.
  • "Jacques Brel" by Frédéric Rossif in 1982.
  • "The unknown Jacques Brel" by Robbe De Hert and Klaartje Puttemans released in 2003.
  • "Jacques Brel op de Marquisen" by Herwig Deweerdt and Walter Ertvelt in 2005.
  • "Jacques Brel" as a part of the Flemish Belpop series in 2012.
  • "Jacques Brel, une vie à mille temps" as a part of the series Un jour, un destin in 2016.
  • "Jacques Brel, fou de vivre" by Philippe Kohly released in 2017.

See also

  • List of cover versions of Jacques Brel songs

References

Notes

Citations

  • Official website
  • Brelitude (Brel covers database)
  • BBC Four documentary (2007)