Fãnch or Kaymronne, singular first names come back in the news from time to time. But the song is much more liberal than the courts or the packs of social media harassers.
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Oh well no, no one’s name is like in this song by Mathieu Boogaerts. Well, in principle. And the public authorities are supposed to ensure this.
And if, in 1987, a court prohibited calling a little girl Jade, as you know, a certain Jade Smet, born in 2004, became one of the most famous “daughters of” in France. But we continue to fight for the right to call our children what we want – we have seen this recently, with a dispute before the courts over the first name Fanch, or with a controversy on social networks around the spelling of the first name Kaymronne.
But the song has always been very free when it comes to first names. Here is Edmée Favart in a legendary operetta, a century ago, Jane Birkin garlanding Mickey 3D in 2004, and obviously Julien Clerc in 1975.
In the first episode of These songs that make the news this weekend you hear excerpts from:
Mathieu Boogaerts, What’s your name?, 2008
Thierry Bourgeon, Inter news from 8 a.m., May 12, 1987,
Edmée Favart, My name is Ciboulette, 1923
Jane Birkin & Mickey 3D, My name is Jane, 2004
Julien Clerc, She wanted to be called Venice, 1975
Edmée Favart, My name is Ciboulette, 1923
Jane Birkin & Mickey 3D, My name is Jane, 2004
Julien Clerc, She wanted to be called Venice, 1975
Amy, What’s your name?, 2017
Etienne Daho, When you call me Eden, 1996
Francesca Solleville. Call me Firefly, 2006
Camille, Janine II, 2005
Never, First names, 2012
Guy Béart, Pretty names, 1994
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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.