Alain Barrière facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alain Barrière
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alain Bellec |
| Born | 18 November 1935 La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France |
| Died | 18 December 2019 (aged 84) Carnac, Morbihan, France |
| Genres | Pop, Chanson |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Labels | RCA, Barclay |
| Associated acts | Noëlle Cordier |
Alain Barrière (born Alain Bellec; 18 November 1935 – 18 December 2019) was a famous French singer. He sang from the 1950s until he passed away. He is well-known for taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest 1963.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Alain Barrière grew up in a small town in Brittany, France. In 1955, he went to engineering school. While studying, he bought a guitar and began writing his own songs.
After finishing his studies in 1960, he moved to Paris. He worked during the day and sang in small clubs at night. In 1961, he won a singing contest with his own song, "Cathy." His music was a traditional French style called chanson. He didn't follow the popular yé-yé music trend of the time. Soon, he got a record deal and started releasing songs. This allowed him to become a full-time musician.
Eurovision Song Contest
In 1963, Alain Barrière's song "Elle était si jolie" ("She Was So Pretty") was chosen. It would represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest. This big music competition took place in London. "Elle était si jolie" finished fifth out of 16 songs.
Becoming a Star
"Elle était si jolie" became his biggest hit song at that time. In 1964, he released his first album, Ma vie. The song "Ma vie" from the album also became very popular.
In 1965, he acted in a movie called Pas de panique. This was his only acting role. His singing career became even more successful in the late 1960s. He had many hit songs and became one of France's biggest stars. People loved to see him perform live. His most famous song is "Mon Vieux."
Music in the 1970s
Alain Barrière was known for being very independent. In the early 1970s, he started his own record company. His fans continued to buy his music and attend his concerts. This helped him earn a good living, even if some French radio stations didn't play his songs much.
In 1975, he sang a duet called "Tu t'en vas" with Noëlle Cordier. She was also a singer who had been in Eurovision. This song became number one in France. It was also one of the best-selling songs of the year in Switzerland.
Alain Barrière got married in 1975. He and his wife opened a nightclub and restaurant in a castle in Brittany. It became a popular place. However, Alain soon faced some financial difficulties. In 1977, he moved with his family to the United States. They lived there for four years.
Later Life
After returning to France, Alain Barrière tried to restart his music career several times. He also spent some time living in Quebec, Canada.
His career got a big boost in 1997. A CD was released with new versions of his old hit songs. It sold very well. Soon after, Alain released an album with new songs, which also became popular.
In 2006, he wrote a book about his life. He continued to release both old and new music albums.
Alain Barrière passed away on 18 December 2019. He was 84 years old.
Discography
Singles
- 1963: "Elle était si jolie"
- 1964: "Ma vie"
- 1975: "Tu t'en vas" (with Noëlle Cordier)
- 1975: "Mon improbable amour"
See Also
In Spanish: Alain Barrière para niños
