Georges Brassens birthday: the French singer-songwriter would have been 100 years old

He would have been 100 years old today.

Born October 22, 1921, French singer-songwriter Georges Brassens passed away on October 29, 1981, but his legacy lives on in France. 

The mustache guitarist, monument of French song, has written, sung or produced more than 200 songs and released 14 albums.

Throughout his career, Georges Brassens never ceased to criticize the bourgeoisie, religion and narrow minds.

,

,

and

are among his most popular titles.

Director:

• Georges Brassens was born on October 22, 1921 at his parents' home, at 54 rue de l'Hospice, in Sète (Hérault), which in 1982 became 20 rue Georges-Brassens.

• In 1940, he moved in with an aunt in Paris, at the request of his family to avoid his bad company as a college student.

  In 1943, he was forced to go to Germany to do the STO (Compulsory Labor Service) during the German occupation during World War II.

  He takes advantage of a leave not to go back there and lives in hiding with another aunt, Jeanne, still in Paris.

• In 1947, he meets Joha Heiman (1911-1999) who will be his lover and his muse.

  She will inspire him several songs like

  I have a date with you

  ,

  I made myself very small (in front of a doll)

  ,

  Saturn

  ,

  Nothing to throw

  or

  The Non-Proposal in marriage.

• Anarchist, libertarian and committed poet, Georges Brassens took to the stage in 1951 despite a strong shyness.

• Spotted by Jacques Canetti, owner of a record company and director of the Trois Baudets theater in Paris, Georges Brassens released his first records in 1952:

  Le Gorille

  or

  La Mauvais Reputation.

  The Gorilla

  will be censored by the radio in its beginnings because the text was considered contrary to good morals.

• From the mid-1950s, he met with success and filled concert halls.

• His career will be notably marked by two legendary venues in Paris: Bobino and the Olympia. 

• In 1965, the film

  Les Copains

  d'Yves Robert was released in cinemas.

  For the credits, Georges Brassens composes the title

  Les Copains Première,

  which remains one of his most famous songs.

• In 1967 he received the Grand Prix for poetry from the Académie française.

  In parallel with the success of his career, his health is deteriorating.

  The songwriter suffers from attacks of renal colic (kidney stones).

• In 1972, he released the song

  Dying for Ideas

  .

  These last two records will be released in 1976 and 1977.

• Throughout his career, Georges Brassens will never stop criticizing the bourgeoisie, religion and narrow minds.

  In 1980, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

• He died on October 29, 1981, at the age of 60.

  He is buried in Sète, his birthplace.

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