The song’s lesson in humility for new ministers

As Michel Barnier’s government takes hold, let’s look back at how the song evokes the ministerial function…

Songs can be a great source of meditation. Some of our fellow citizens are taking on ministerial responsibility for the first time. Let them remember François-Xavier Ortoli, a servant of the State and of Europe, often a member of the government, and whose name thus resonates in a topical song by Léo Ferré recorded in front of an audience of rebels in 1969.

And our popular song is instructive, reminding us that the excitement of each constitution of government deserves to be immediately put into perspective. Let us meditate on this title published by Béranger in 1839, in a recording by Véronique Vella in 2009.

In the first episode of These songs that make the news This weekend you will hear excerpts from:

Leo Ferré, The Revolution, 1969

Veronique Vella, To my friends who have become ministers, 1839 (recorded 2009)

Marc Ogeret, We need more government, 1889 (recorded 1968)

Gilles Servat, Complaint from the island of Yeu, 1977

Gerard Lenorman, If I were president, 1980

Say, Inspector Disiz, 2005

Dorothy, The Minister of Unhappy Loves, 1996

Cauet, Zidane is going to score, 2006

Germaine Montero, To my friends who have become ministers, 1839 (recorded 1955)

Veronique Vella, To my friends who have become ministers, 1839 (recorded 2009)

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