Charles Trenet

Je n’irai pas à Notre-Dame (posthumous album)

Paris 

20/02/2006 - 

Charles Trenet, one of the legendary figures of 20th-century ‘chanson’, died five years ago on 19 February 2001. But his voice lives on beyond the grave on Je n’irai pas à Notre-Dame, an album of songs the French icon recorded between 1994 and 1999.

There have been scores of ‘best of’ albums and greatest hit compilations. But it appeared that Charles Trenet’s repertoire of new songs had been exhausted following the release of his two final albums, Fais ta vie (in 1995) and Les poètes descendent dans la rue (1999). However, a stash of new Trenet recordings has now come to light – and the ten never-been-heard-before songs, not included on the singer’s last two albums, has now been made available to fans.

Unlike his famous ‘chanson’ peer Charles Aznavour (who claims he always destroys vocal recordings on songs not used on his albums), Trenet liked to store things away for a rainy day. And his secret hoard makes fascinating listening! One of the treasures recently unearthed from Trenet’s bottom drawer is a spoken version of Fais ta vie, on which he plays up the sententious nature of the song’s lyrics. Other songs give a much lighter, more carefree impression of the sprightly 80-something who was, it seems, quite capable of making fun of his own work. The torrent of puns in the song Les Indiens includes a moment where Trenet mockingly refers to “l’âne des poètes” (the poets’ donkey) as opposed to the hallowed “l’âme des poètes” (poets’ soul).

Other highlights of the new album include Juste pour rire (named after the record company and festival run by Trenet’s Quebecois producer Gilbert Rozon). But it is the opening track on the album, Je n’irai pas à Notre-Dame, which strikes the most resonant chord. The song (whose title translates as I Won’t Be Going to Notre-Dame) refers to the ecclesiastical authorities’ refusal to allow Trenet to perform a concert in the legendary Paris cathedral. Without appearing overly bitter, the singer turns round and cheekily remins the church’s hgh command that he’ll be free to sing to his heart’s content in heaven. And, as a posthumous release, the song acquires even greater irony.

The final song on the album is a new version of Le Visage de l’amour (a song Trenet originally gave to Dalida) which he performed as the opening number at his last ever concert at La Salle Pleyel, in Paris, in 1999. Curiously enough, the song was not included on the live album of the concert. The Face of Love is an appropriate ending to this posthumous album. A touchingly simple song, it expresses the singer’s loyalty and heartfelt gratitude to his public.

Charles Trenet Je n’irai pas à Notre-Dame (Warner ) 2006

Bertrand  Dicale

Translation : Julie  Street