![]() Behold… “ Ruby Tuesday“ is translated to “wild girl” and becomes “ Fille Sauvage“: The Rolling Stones, hailing from just across the English Channel, were not immune either. It wasn’t only American artists getting this treatment. ![]() She learned French in school and had a number of hits taking American songs and adapting them into French. You of course know Nancy Sinatra’s “ These Boots Are Made for Walking.” But have you heard “ Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher”? The singer, Eileen, is American. My husband perks up - “I know this song” - and shows me this ridiculous French human Eddy Mitchell singing “ Sur la route de Memphis.” As bad as the singing is, the hair is somehow worse. Hall country song “ That’s How I Got to Memphis“ (most famously covered by Johnny Cash). ![]() One evening at my apartment I was playing the classic Tom T. I guess imitation is the highest form of flattery…but why French people didn’t just listen to the real deal is confusing to me. Hugues Aufray has the affectation, the harmonica and didn’t even try to hide that he was mimicking Dylan. How about a bad French Bob Dylan impersonator? Oh, he exists and was quite popular. In 1975, Barbara Ann moved to France (presumably a beach town) and changed her name to Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma Marylène. If you’ve ever wondered what a French knockoff of The Beach Boys would sound like - well wonder no more. One year earlier, the song “Waterloo Road” with the exact same tune, and a similar lyrical theme was released: Good chance if I ask you to name a famous French song, the 1969 classic “ Les Champs – Élysées “ would be one of the first to spring to mind. In rare cases, the French versions became more famous than the English ones. I’m sure the original songwriters were aware and compensated, but the French public was none the wiser. After moving to France, I constantly heard classic 1960s and 1970s English-language songs that had been co-opted by French singers. Hallyday may be the king of these kinds of covers, but he’s far from the only big star of yore to do this. Later in the set came French versions of Jimmy Hendrix’s “ Hey Joe“ and The Animals’ “ House of the Rising Sun.” These songs were all huge hits for Hallyday, across the ocean from where they originated. The lyrics are similar, but with the direct war references removed to be more about the character not being born into privilege. To the French in the room, it was Hallyday’s “ Fils de Personne.” I explained to him this song is one of the most famous protest songs in American history - but my husband had no idea. When Hallyday’s band started playing what sounded exactly like CCR’s “Fortunate Son,” I turned to my husband and asked, “is he singing about the Vietnam War?” He looked at me confused. This was first time I had ever heard of the massive French star but, unbeknownst to me, I was already very familiar with many of his biggest hits. tour when I saw him perform at the House of Blues in New Orleans with my husband. I discovered Hallyday during his 2014 U.S. He also loved to take American hits and pass them off as his own. Until his death earlier this year, the “French Elvis” was selling out giant stadiums in Europe. While unknown to most Americans, Johnny Hallyday is one of France’s most beloved singers of all time.
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