It was 45 years ago. On October 9, 1978, Jacques Brel, monument of French-speaking song, disappeared following a massive pulmonary embolism, while he had been battling cancer for several years. Aged only 49, he left behind three daughters, born from his marriage to Thérèse Miche: Chantal, the eldest, died in 1999 in circumstances that have never been revealed to the general public; Franceborn in 1953, and Isabelle, the youngest, born in 1958. If Jacques Brel remained married until his death to Thérèse Miche, she authorized him to have a series of adulterous adventures, with numerous mistresses: Suzanne Gabriello, Danièle Évenou, Sylvie Rivet, Annie Girardot. Until his death, he maintained a special friendship with the singer Barbara, who died in 1997 at the age of 67 as a result of of a toxic-infectious shock of lightning evolutioncaused by the numerous stimulants, anxiolytics and corticosteroids that she took to calm her anxiety and panic attacks.
This Wednesday, December 27, 2023, France Brel, Jacques Brel’s youngest daughter, is in the spotlight of the bonus dedicated to her father on France 3, and baptized A day with Jacques Brel. Many artists will come to pay tribute to the singer, by covering his most beautiful songs: Mentissa will deliver on Jojo, Kad Merad will create a surprise with a very successful interpretation of Do not leave me, Nicoletta and Santa will have the heavy task of resuming When we only have love, Gaëtan Roussel and Thomas Dutronc will respond to each other on VesoulAnd Camille Lellouche will sing Song of Old Lovers. Other artists are expected, such as Dave, Enrico Macias, Salvatore Adamo and Imany.
“Dad is not the right word”
In an interview she gave to Tele-Leisure, France Brel spoke like never before about the bonds she formed with her father, until his death, when she was only 20 years old. For the first time, the sixty-year-old reveals that she was never able to call her father “dad”not because she couldn’t do it, but because the singer refused to hear it : “It was he who asked me. One day, he said to me: France, you have to stop calling me dad. I find that ridiculous. You should call me Jacques. And so that’s why I call him Jacques.”. Even today, France Brel has kept this custom, from which she does not want to deviate, in homage to her father’s wish: “I think dad is not the right word”.