Marie Gicquel / Photo credit: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP 07:51, April 28, 2023

Jacques Dutronc celebrates his 80th birthday this Friday, April 28. More than half a century that one of the favorite singers of the French treads the stage and continues to cultivate a certain mystery. The journalist Olivier Cachin, author of the book "Dutronc, a life in songs", tells the microphone of Europe 1 an anecdote about one of his songs.

Mysterious, opportunistic, early risers, who loves girls and cacti. Jacques Dutronc blows out his 80 candles this Friday, April 28. After more than half a century on stage, the singer has marked several generations, since his debut in the 60s. To unravel the mystery of Dutronc, well hidden behind his sunglasses, you only have to listen.

>> LISTEN - Jacques Dutronc and Françoise Hardy, the meeting

Understanding Dutronc, "it's like running after the wind"

Paris awakens remains one of his most famous songs. And the story behind its writing and recording is not trivial. Jacques Dutronc composed the piece in the early morning, after a drunken evening. The addition of the flute among the instruments added "extra magic". The journalist Olivier Cachin, author of the book Dutronc, une vie en chansons, tells the surprising use of this instrument at the microphone of Europe 1.

"It's a complete coincidence since the flutist works in the studio next door. And they thought, 'Well, if we add something.'" A simple reflection that became a national success in 1968. Jacques Dutronc is also known for his looks. According to him, he had the look of the accountant that stuck to the lyrics of And I, and Me, and Me. The now 80-year-old artist also expresses himself through his ballads, like Comme vous partez en voyage in duet with François Hardy to announce their breakup.

"Trying to understand Jacques is like chasing the wind," said Françoise Hardy. "There are plenty of contradictions, mysteries. He is both shy and cynical, very playboy, very discreet," adds journalist Olivier Cachin.