Jacques Dutronc facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jacques Dutronc
Dutronc performing in Lorient, France in January 2010
Background information
Born	(1943-04-28) 28 April 1943 (age 82) Paris, France
Genres	French pop French rock chanson yé-yé garage rock psychedelic rock
Occupation(s)	singer-songwriter actor
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1961–present
Labels	Disques Vogue Columbia Records
Associated acts	El Toro et les Cyclones

Jacques Dutronc (born April 28, 1943) is a famous French singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He is known for hit songs like "Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille" and "Les Cactus".

Dutronc started his music career playing guitar in a rock band called El Toro et les Cyclones. In the 1960s, he wrote popular songs for singer Françoise Hardy before becoming a successful solo artist. His music mixed traditional French pop and French rock with styles like psychedelic rock and garage rock. He was a key figure in the Yé-yé music movement, which was a fun and upbeat style of pop music in France.

According to the music website AllMusic, Dutronc is "one of the most popular performers in the French-speaking world."

Later, Dutronc became a movie star, starting in 1973. He won a César Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1991 film Van Gogh. He married Françoise Hardy in 1981, and they have a son, Thomas Dutronc, who is also a musician. The couple separated in 1988 but never divorced.

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Jacques Dutronc was born in Paris, France, on April 28, 1943. As a young man, he studied graphic design.

In 1960, Dutronc started a band with his school friends. They were called El Toro et les Cyclones. The group released two singles but had to stop when Dutronc joined the army for his military service.

After leaving the army, Dutronc worked for a record label called Vogue. He helped write songs for other artists, including the famous singer Françoise Hardy.

Music Career

The Swinging Sixties

Dutronc performing on Dutch TV in 1966

In 1966, a record producer asked Dutronc to record his own version of a song called "Et moi, et moi, et moi". The song was a huge success and reached number 2 on the French music charts. This launched his solo career.

His first album, also released in 1966, sold over a million copies. He followed it up with more hits, like "Les play boys", which was number one for six weeks.

Dutronc became one of France's biggest music stars. His early songs were often described as a French style of garage rock. Like other famous songwriters of the time, such as Bob Dylan, he wrote catchy melodies with clever lyrics.

Music and Movies in the 1970s

Dutronc performing in Annecy in 1971. Also pictured is bassist Noël Mirol.

Dutronc continued to release popular songs in the 1970s. Most of his songs were written with his friend, the writer Jacques Lanzmann.

In 1973, his song "Et moi, et moi, et moi" was translated into English as "Alright Alright Alright" and became a hit in the United Kingdom for the band Mungo Jerry.

That same year, Dutronc started his acting career. He appeared in the movie Antoine et Sébastien. His second film, That Most Important Thing: Love, was a big success in France. He began to focus more on acting and worked with famous directors like Jean-Luc Godard and Claude Lelouch.

The famous director Steven Spielberg thought Dutronc was the best French actor of his time. He even wanted him for the role of René Belloq in Raiders of the Lost Ark. However, Dutronc did not get the part because his English wasn't strong enough.

The 1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, Dutronc released more albums, including Guerre et pets and C'est pas du bronze. He also continued to act in movies like Malevil.

In 1992, Dutronc's acting talent was officially recognized when he won the César Award for Best Actor. He received the award for playing the famous painter Vincent van Gogh in the movie Van Gogh.

That same year, he returned to the stage for three big concerts in Paris. A live album from these shows, called Dutronc au Casino, was released.

Career in the 21st Century

On stage in Lorient, 2010

Dutronc has continued to act in films and make music into the 2000s. In 2003, he released a new album called Madame l'existence. In 2005, he received an Honorary César for his lifetime achievements in film.

In 2010, he went on tour for the first time in 17 years. In 2014, he performed a series of concerts with French music legends Eddy Mitchell and Johnny Hallyday.

In 2022, he released an album with his son, Thomas, called Dutronc and Dutronc. On the album, they re-recorded 13 of Jacques's classic songs together.

Legacy and Influence

Jacques Dutronc is seen as a symbol of the 1960s in France. In 1991, his song "Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille" was voted the best French-language song of all time by a group of music critics.

Many artists have recorded their own versions of his songs, including Vanessa Paradis, Mungo Jerry, and The Last Shadow Puppets. He is even mentioned in the lyrics of the song "Brimful of Asha" by the band Cornershop.

Personal Life

Hardy in December 1969

Dutronc began a relationship with singer Françoise Hardy in 1967. Their son, Thomas Dutronc, was born in 1973 and is now a successful musician himself.

Dutronc and Hardy married in 1981. They separated in 1988 but remained married and were good friends. Hardy passed away in 2024.

Dutronc currently lives on the island of Corsica.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Et moi et moi et moi (1966)
• Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille (1968)
• L'opportuniste (1968)
• Le responsable (1969)
• Jacques Dutronc 71 (1971)
• Jacques Dutronc 72 (1972)
• Jacques Dutronc 75 (1975)
• Guerre et pets (1980)
• C'est pas du bronze (1982)
• C. Q. F. Dutronc (1987)
• Brèves rencontres (1995)
• Madame l'existence (2003)

Live Albums

• Dutronc au Casino (1992)
• Et vous et vous et vous (2010)

Selected Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Jacques Dutronc para niños

• French pop
• French rock
• Yé-yé
• Jacques Lanzmann