Charles Trenet

Charles Trenet

Born: May 18, 1913
Died: February 19, 2001
in Narbonne, Aude, France
Louis Charles Augustin Georges Trenet (18 May 1913 – 19 February 2001) was a renowned French singer-songwriter who composed both the music and the lyrics to nearly a thousand songs over a career that lasted more than 60 years. These include "Boum!" (1938), "La Mer" (1946) and "Nationale 7" (1955). Trenet is also noted for his work with musicians Michel Emer and Léo Chauliac, with whom he recorded "Y'a d'la joie" (1938) for the first and "La Romance de Paris" (1941) and "Douce France" (1947) for the latter. He was awarded an Honorary Molière Award in 2000.

Trenet's best-known songs include "Boum!", "La Mer", "Y'a d'la joie", "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?", "Ménilmontant" and "Douce France". His catalogue of songs is enormous, numbering close to a thousand.

Some of his songs had unconventional subject matter, with whimsical imagery bordering on the surreal. "Y'a d'la joie" evokes joy through a series of disconnected images, including that of a subway car shooting out of its tunnel into the air, the Eiffel Tower crossing the street, and a baker making excellent bread. The lovers engaged in a minuet in "Polka du Roi" reveal themselves at length to be "no longer human": they are made of wax and trapped in the Musée Grévin. Many of his hits from the 1930s and 1940s effectively combine the melodic and verbal nuances of French song with American swing rhythms.

His song "La Mer", which according to legend he composed with Léo Chauliac on a train in 1943, was recorded in 1946. Trenet explained in an interview that he was told that "La Mer" was not swing enough to be a hit, and for this reason it sat in a drawer for three years before being recorded.

"La Mer" is Trenet's best-known work outside the French-speaking world, with more than 400 recorded versions. The tune, given unrelated English words and the title "Beyond the Sea" (or sometimes "Sailing"), was a hit for Bobby Darin in the early 1960s, and George Benson in the mid-1980s. "Beyond the Sea" was used in the ending credits of Finding Nemo.

Besides "La Mer", the other Trenet song to receive numerous recordings in English is "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?", which lyricist Albert Beach adapted as "I Wish You Love". "I Wish You Love" was first recorded by Keely Smith in 1957, and since then by artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Sam Cooke to Dusty Springfield.

Another of Trenet's songs, "Formidable", was written as impressions of a trip to the U.S. Other Trenet songs were recorded by French singers such as Maurice Chevalier, Jean Sablon and Fréhel.

Trenet was born in Avenue Charles Trenet, Narbonne, Occitanie, France, the son of Françoise Louise Constance (Caussat) and Lucien Etienne Paul Trenet. When he was seven years old, his parents divorced and he was sent to boarding school in Béziers, but he returned home just a few months later, suffering from typhoid fever. It was during his convalescence at home that he developed his artistic talents, taking up music, painting and sculpting. ...

Source: Article "Charles Trenet" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Charles Trenet...

Guet-apens, des crimes invisibles
Title: Guet-apens, des crimes invisibles
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: April 19, 2023
Type: Movie
The result of an investigation that lasted several months, this documentary film reveals the extent of a phenomenon that we thought had disappeared: the traps, sometimes deadly, that target homosexuals on dating applications or sites. Ten years after the law opening marriage to same-sex couples, and in the run-up to the World Day against LGBTphobia on May 17, it demonstrates the persistence of homophobia in France. It also questions the way the police and the justice system respond to these attacks. The voice of the film is provided by Eddy de Pretto, a singer committed against homophobia.
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Title: Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: December 21, 2022
Type: TV
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Charles Trenet l'enchanteur
Title: Charles Trenet l'enchanteur
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 1, 2022
Type: Movie
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La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président
Title: La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 7, 2022
Type: Movie
In May 1974, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing became President of the Republic and wanted to bring about a new era of modernity. One of his first decisions was to break up the ORTF with the creation of three new television channels: TF1, Antenne 2 and FR3. Three new public channels but autonomous and competing. It is a race for the audience which is engaged then, and from now on the channels will make the war! This competition will give birth to a real golden age for television programs, with variety shows in the forefront. The stars of the song are going to invade the living rooms of the French for their biggest pleasure. This unedited documentary tells the story of the metamorphosis of this television of the early 1970s, between freedom of tone, scandals, political intrigues and programs that have become mythical.
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Title: Victoires de la musique
Character: Self
Released: November 23, 1985
Type: TV
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Title: La Chance aux chansons
Character: Self
Released: March 26, 1984
Type: TV
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Title: La Chance aux chansons
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 26, 1984
Type: TV
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Title: Champs-Elysées
Character: Self
Released: January 16, 1982
Type: TV
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Title: Numéro un
Character: Self
Released: April 5, 1975
Type: TV
A French variety show.
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Title: Système 2
Character: Self
Released: January 19, 1975
Type: TV
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Title: Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1975
Type: TV
A talk show presented by Michel Drucker
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Title: Apostrophes
Character: Self
Released: January 10, 1975
Type: TV
Apostrophes was a live, weekly, literary, prime-time, talk show on French television created and hosted by Bernard Pivot. It ran for fifteen years (724 episodes) from January 10, 1975, to June 22, 1990, and was one of the most watched shows on French television (around 6 million regular viewers). It was broadcast on Friday nights on the channel France 2 (which was called "Antenne 2" from 1975 to 1992). The hourlong show was devoted to books, authors and literature. The format varied between one-on-one interviews with a single author and open discussions between four or five authors.
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Title: Midi Première
Character: Self
Released: January 6, 1975
Type: TV
Midi Première is a French variety show presented by Danièle Gilbert, directed by Jacques Pierre and broadcast from January 6, 1975 until January 1, 1982 on TF1. The program was generally broadcast between 12:15 p.m. and 12:55 p.m., then giving way to the 1:00 p.m. TV news. However, the broadcast schedule could change, depending on the guests, and the setting where the recording of the program was shot. Certain performances by artists who have become cult like the one where Ringo jostles with a demonstrator in interpretation (1977), that of Dalida with the title There is always a song with the soundtrack that does not start, twice, at the right speed (1978), Claude François and his Clodettes, who, in the provinces, are unable to join "the set" in order to interpret his song, the latter being taken by the crowd of delirious fans (summer 1977) . The group Supertramp performed there with the title "Dreamer" on March 8, 1975.
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Title: Midi trente
Character: Self
Released: March 6, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Le Grand Échiquier
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Le Grand Échiquier
Character: Self - Main Guest
Released: January 12, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Cadet Rousselle
Character: Self
Released: November 4, 1971
Type: TV
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La Lucarne magique
Title: La Lucarne magique
Character: L'homme mystérieux
Released: October 4, 1971
Type: Movie
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Title: Samedi soir
Character: Self
Released: January 9, 1971
Type: TV
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L'or du duc
Title: L'or du duc
Released: September 23, 1965
Type: Movie
A young duke marries a girl, also penniless, and moves into a bus left him by an uncle, with their ten children. At last he finds the bus is made of solid gold.
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Title: Dim Dam Dom
Character: Self
Released: March 7, 1965
Type: TV
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It Happened on the 36 Candles
Title: It Happened on the 36 Candles
Character: Self (uncredited)
Released: October 16, 1957
Type: Movie
Rejecting the union of her daughter Brigitte with a modest worker, Madame Magnin invents an adultery for the lover, then introduces Brigitte to a good-looking man working on the famous RTF entertainment show 36 Chandelles. The show ultimately seals the reunion of the two estranged young lovers. The story features a parade of music-hall stars from the era: Charles Trenet, Charles Aznavour, Georges Guétary, Juliette Gréco, Roger Pierre and Jean-Marc Thibault, Fernand Raynaud, Georges Ulmer and many more.
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Springtime in Paris
Title: Springtime in Paris
Character: Charles Trenet
Released: March 8, 1957
Type: Movie
On her way to Paris, Gisèle meets a young motorist who offers to be her guide. Gisèle, suspicious, refuses and disappears. But Pierre finds her and takes her to dinner at Saint-Germain-des-Prés. On the other hand, Gisèle, out of jealousy, goes off on her own to visit "Paris by Night", showing us some of the attractions of the "Moulin Rouge", "Naturistes", "Rock and Roll", etc., etc., etc. Pierre pursues her and eventually discovers her hotel. The next day, he takes her for a walk around Paris. They dine at an inn where a supposed car breakdown forces them to spend the night. There was only one room, but the virtuous Gisèle locked Pierre in the bathroom. All ends in the most honest engagement in the world.
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Title: Melodie der Welt
Character: Self
Released: January 11, 1956
Type: TV
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Boom on Paris
Title: Boom on Paris
Character: Self
Released: February 19, 1954
Type: Movie
In the early 1950s, the popular radio show "La Kermesse aux Étoiles", hosted by the famous Jean Nohain, mixing lottery games and performances of various artists, will be disrupted by the adventures of a man and his fiancée seeking to recover a dangerous bottle of perfume (explosive) which was unfortunately mixed with the prizes to be won ...
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Giovinezza
Title: Giovinezza
Character: Se stesso
Released: January 1, 1952
Type: Movie
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Bouquet de joie
Title: Bouquet de joie
Character: Charles Trenet
Released: October 25, 1951
Type: Movie
Back from America, famous singer Charles Trénet, nicknamed "Le Fou Chantant", makes the conquest of a bombshell called Anita. He tries to persuade his young friend Georges to follow them to the French Riviera but the pessimistic gloomy finicky fellow won't do it. Instead, he decides to go on holiday with his newly married wife but the trip , due to his grim mood, is no bed of roses. In Juan-lès-Pins they finally meet Charles, who is so infatuated with Anita that he has forgotten to meet his old friend Henri Poupon, the Meridional actor. Thanks to cheerful Charles and to the sunny climate, Georges relaxes and things improve in his relationships with his wife. The couple can applaud Charles who is giving one of his concerts there before he flies back to the USA, on Anita's arm this time.
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Love Around the Clock
Title: Love Around the Clock
Character: Charles
Released: November 10, 1943
Type: Movie
Symbolizing the destiny of man, Hora imposes her destiny on everyone. She appears to a petty bourgeois trying to escape from his mediocre life, to a frivolous mother, to a reveler in nightclubs, to a man stranded without money in a restaurant, to a young sportsman, to a singer tired of the selfishness of his listeners and to a condemned man. To each, she brings the imperative message of Time...
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Adieu Léonard
Title: Adieu Léonard
Character: Ludovic
Released: September 1, 1943
Type: Movie
A bungling thief is threatened by one target with blackmail, unless the thief will kill his own cousin, a wealthy eccentric who is considered the village idiot.
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Frédérica
Title: Frédérica
Character: Gilbert Legrant
Released: November 18, 1942
Type: Movie
Gilbert, poet and singer, is about to marry Lilette but deep inside himself he is not quite sure that she is the woman he needs. That is the reason why he has made up an imaginary woman, Frédérica" to whom he writes love letters, actual ones this time. When Lilette finds one of these, she sees red. Théodule, one of Gilbert's many friends, sets out the problem with the help of Claudine, his own girlfriend, posing as Frédérica. After Gilbert and "Frédérica" have played a phony breakup scene in front of Lilette, things seem to come right when... another Frédérica appears...
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Paris Romance
Title: Paris Romance
Character: Georges Gauthier
Released: October 3, 1941
Type: Movie
Georges Gauthier is an electrician who lives with his mother and his sister Madeleine. He is the son of a womanizing singer who made his mother miserable. For all that, Georges is attracted to show business all the more as he falls in love with Jeanne, the daughter of singer Lormel. Georges is spotted by Cartier, the manager of the Folies Concert and makes his debut as a singer under the assumed name of Jean Papillon.
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I Sing
Title: I Sing
Character: Charles
Released: November 30, 1938
Type: Movie
Charles's uncle is the headmaster of a chic girls school .He is short of the readies and he has lots and lots of debts.
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The Enchanted Road
Title: The Enchanted Road
Character: Jacques Minervois
Released: November 25, 1938
Type: Movie
The son of two teachers hits the road and becomes a singing success after being taken in as a protege by a kooky countess.