How do you sing “son of a bitch” in French?

After the insult that American President Joe Biden allegedly uttered against Vladimir Putin, let’s return to the way in which the song manipulates the French equivalent of these words…

Here is the main occurrence in French song of the American insult “son of a bitch”. This play on words by Serge Gainsbourg in 1984, Harley David Son of a Bitch.

You heard it – but not in the original version – you heard it this week: US President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, a “crazy son of a bitch” – a crazy son of a bitch .

And, in English, it is as insulting as in French, son of a bitch or child of a whore.

In the second episode of These songs that make the news broadcast this weekend, you hear excerpts from:

Serge Gainsbourg, Harley David of a Bitch, 1984

Brigitte Fontaine, Blessed ass, 2006

Berry, You son of a bastard, 2008

Bérurier Noir, Son of, 1985

Jacques Brel, The statue, 1962

Renaud, My garden gnome, 2002

Jacques Brel, The statue, 1962

Jean Ferrat, Poor little c…, 1967

Jacques Brel, The statue, 1962

Georges Brassens, The Lament of the Girls of Joy, 1961

Soldier Louis, Bohemians, 1990

Pierre Perret, Flea Time, 1971

Saez, Humanity, 2018

Volo, Interpretation, 2007

Serge Gainsbourg, Harley David of a Bitch, 1984

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And you can also find the podcast on this link Behind our voices, with the writing and composition secrets of eight major artists of the French scene, Laurent Voulzy, Julien Clerc, Bénabar, Dominique A, Carla Bruni, Emily Loizeau, Juliette and Gaëtan Roussel.