Dave

Dave

Born: May 4, 1944
in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Wouter Otto Levenbach (born 4 May 1944), known as Dave, is a Dutch Francophone singer who had a string of number one hits in France in the 1970s. A native of Amsterdam, he resides in Paris.

Dave was born in Amsterdam. His father was Jewish and an English teacher by trade; his mother was a classical dancer. He has two brothers, Marteen and Lucas, and a sister, Elsbeth. He learned to play the guitar at age 14. He became a very spiritual person who prayed frequently and even planned to study theology; however, he eventually chose to study law.

Among other things, he was inspired by Jack Kerouac's On the Road , a revolutionary novel which encouraged young people to leave home and learn life "on the road", and to communicate with others. Passionate about the sea and rivers (a love which he owes to his grandfather), he left the Netherlands by boat with 1,000 guilders in his pocket (about two months' living expenses).

He met Eddie Barclay, the executive for Barclay Records, in Saint-Tropez in 1968; Barclay was responsible for launching Dave's career in show business.

On 26 February 1969, he participated in the Nationaal Songfestival, the Dutch pre-selection contest for that year's Eurovision Song Contest with a song called "Niets gaat zo snel", but did not win. In Summer 1969 he reached the Dutch Top 40 charts for the first time with "Nathalie", peaking at No. 28.

From 1971 to 1974, he was one of the actors in the musical Godspell, making friends with actor Daniel Auteuil, who would become his best friend.

In 1974, he released his first hit "Trop Beau", a French adaptation of The Rubettes' hit "Sugar Baby Love"; later, he released "Vanina", his first number one single in France, an adaptation of Del Shannon's "Runaway", adapted into French by Patrick Loiseau. These were followed in 1975 by the three hits "Mon cœur est malade", "Dansez maintenant" and "Du côté de chez Swann".

His self-titled first album was released at the end of 1975. By that time, he did not only have great success in France and Belgium, but also in his country of origin the Netherlands, where "Dansez maintenant" was a number 1 hit in the top 40 and "Du côté de chez Swann" made the top 10 too.

His later hits included "Lettre à Hélène" (1978), "Comment ne pas être amoureux de vous" (1978) and "Allo Elisa" (1979).

In the 1980s, his popularity waned following the advent of FM radio in France. He still had an audience due to live performances and his classic hits. However, he himself likened the ebb to a "crossing of a very pretty desert". In 1993, he released a new album, then in 1994, he made a comeback following the release of a greatest hits album, which sold more than 200,000 copies. He later recorded a new album entitled Toujours le même bleu, which included a title single from which enables him to hit the charts once again. It is also around this time that he came out as homosexual. ...

Source: Article "Dave (singer)" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Dave...

Tout le monde chante : les stars relèvent le défi
Title: Tout le monde chante : les stars relèvent le défi
Character: Self
Released: January 4, 2024
Type: Movie
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Renaud, souvenirs, souvenirs
Title: Renaud, souvenirs, souvenirs
Character: Self
Released: August 3, 2023
Type: Movie
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La tournée triomphale des idoles
Title: La tournée triomphale des idoles
Character: Self
Released: December 28, 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: Chansons!
Character: Self
Released: September 17, 2021
Type: TV
In this musical four-part series, Matthijs van Nieuwkerk and Rob Kemps take you along in their love of the French song.
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Title: Matthijs keeps on going
Character: Self
Released: December 31, 2020
Type: TV
Matthijs looks back in surprise. With humor, music and other surprises.
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I Love You Coiffure
Title: I Love You Coiffure
Character: Passerby (segment "La Maison de retraite")
Released: December 21, 2020
Type: Movie
Liliane and Maud are twin sisters. The first is a modest provincial hairdresser while the second leads the great life in Paris. They both fight over their mother's custody.
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La Grande Histoire de l'Eurovision
Title: La Grande Histoire de l'Eurovision
Character: Self
Released: May 16, 2020
Type: Movie
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Title: The Masked Singer France
Character: Hibou
Released: November 8, 2019
Type: TV
Twelve celebrities are masked under spectacular costumes, with their identity hidden. They compete by singing their own versions of songs, and the judges and audience must guess who is behind each mask!
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La Génération Salut les copains
Title: La Génération Salut les copains
Character: Self
Released: October 25, 2019
Type: Movie
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Title: The secret song
Character: Self
Released: December 29, 2018
Type: TV
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Title: Amanda
Character: Self
Released: September 5, 2016
Type: TV
The program combines comedy, celebrity, musical guests, and human-interest stories.
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Je m'présente, je m'appelle Daniel
Title: Je m'présente, je m'appelle Daniel
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: December 23, 2015
Type: Movie
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Title: Folie passagère
Character: Self
Released: November 4, 2015
Type: TV
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Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui
Title: Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui
Released: December 13, 2014
Type: Movie
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A Song For Mama
Title: A Song For Mama
Character: Dave
Released: March 27, 2013
Type: Movie
With their beloved mother only a few days to live, her children decide to give her a surprising parting gift: bring Dave, a lifelong fan, to her bedside in the Ardennes. But even though everyone adores her, brothers, sister and brother-in-law are not on the best of terms and cooperation is not their strong point. For her sake, however, they will overcome their resentments, drawing from their love the energy and the madness necessary to carry out their project. Finding Dave and luring him to the Ardennes will be no easy task.
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Title: La Parenthèse inattendue
Character: Self
Released: October 31, 2012
Type: TV
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Nighting Eighties – Les années 80 en 16 tubes
Title: Nighting Eighties – Les années 80 en 16 tubes
Character: Himself
Released: July 30, 2009
Type: Movie
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Title: N'oubliez pas les paroles - Primes événementiels
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2008
Type: TV
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Title: Salut les Terriens !
Character: Self (guest)
Released: November 4, 2006
Type: TV
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Poltergay
Title: Poltergay
Character: Lui-même
Released: October 25, 2006
Type: Movie
Marc and Emma move into a new house but have no idea that their basement was a gay nightclub. To make matters worse, the club was destroyed by fire, and now the house is haunted by the ghosts of five gay clubbers.
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The Car Keys
Title: The Car Keys
Character: Un comédien qui refuse de tourner avec Laurent
Released: December 10, 2003
Type: Movie
Who would think losing car keys could lead us that far ? Be careful, adventure is on every street corner...
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Title: Star Academy
Character: Self
Released: October 20, 2001
Type: TV
Star Academy is a French reality television show produced by the Dutch company Endemol. It consists of a contest of young singers. It spawned an equally successful show in Quebec called Star Académie. It is broadcast on TF1. At the end of each season, selected contestants would go on tour around France, Morocco, Switzerland, Belgium, Tunisia, and other French-speaking countries.
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Title: La Cape et l'épée
Character: Ménestrel
Released: November 4, 2000
Type: TV
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Superlove
Title: Superlove
Character: Self
Released: June 9, 1999
Type: Movie
The Virgin Mary appears to Mario, a provincial barber who dreams of becoming a successful singer. He introduces her to his parents who decide to adopt her and give her a room in their house. The presence of the Holy Mother will soon break the monotony of the household. Teresa, Mario’s mother, starts to talk to a chandelier. Carolina, his sister, thinks she has become invulnerable and begins to hit her teacher. As for Mario, he thinks he has been invested with a special mission, to tell the truth at all times to everyone he meets. It soon turns out the Virgin is not what she pretends to be…
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Title: Blague à part
Character: Self
Released: October 24, 1998
Type: TV
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Charité biz'ness
Title: Charité biz'ness
Character: Self
Released: August 26, 1998
Type: Movie
Two friends organize a fake solidarity concert in order to seize the recipe. But their amateurism leads to many misunderstandings.
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Les Enfoirés 1997 - Le Zénith des Enfoirés
Title: Les Enfoirés 1997 - Le Zénith des Enfoirés
Released: February 8, 1997
Type: Movie
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Fear City: A Family-Style Comedy
Title: Fear City: A Family-Style Comedy
Character: Dave
Released: March 9, 1994
Type: Movie
A second-class horror movie has to be shown at Cannes Film Festival, but, before each screening, the projectionist is killed by a mysterious fellow, with hammer and sickle, just as it happens in the film to be shown.
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Title: Fort Boyard
Character: Self
Released: July 7, 1990
Type: TV
A game show set and filmed on the real Fort Boyard in France. The contestants have to complete in physical and endurance challenges to win prize money.
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Title: Lahaye d'honneur
Character: Self
Released: September 25, 1987
Type: TV
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Title: La Chance aux chansons
Character: Self
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: Dickie-roi
Character: Dickie-Roi
Released: September 15, 1981
Type: TV
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L'Esprit de famille
Title: L'Esprit de famille
Character: Dave
Released: February 28, 1979
Type: Movie
Charles Moreau, general practitioner, and Hélène, his wife, have four girls aged 11 to 20 years. The eldest, Claire, plays the piano when she does not let her mind indulge in solitary reverie. Bernadette has a real passion for horses, while Cecile, the youngest, plays from a young age to realize all her whims. As for Pauline, at the age of 17, she decided that she would become a novelist. So she writes a book telling the story of family life. One day, when she comes out of high school, she meets Pierre, a penniless painter, from whom she immediately falls.
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Title: Fan School
Character: Self
Released: January 30, 1977
Type: TV
Host Jacques Martin invites different talented children from various backgrounds to showcase their beautiful voices. The participants entertain and wow the audience with their lovely performances.
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Title: Numéro un
Character: Self - Host
Released: April 5, 1975
Type: TV
A French variety show.
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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: 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