Renaud’s full name is Renaud Pierre Manuel Séchan (1952-) and he was born in Paris. Renaud was an indifferent student and a generally rebellious youth. He participated in the 1968 upheavals and left school with acting ambitions but became a Parisian street busker and cabaret singer with his guitar. His prime days as a singer-songwriter were in the years between 1970-2000, when he sold some 20 million copies of his 26 albums. Something of a social activist, he carried various political and social commitments into his songs that earned a nickname as the “irritating singer” (“le chanteur énervant”). Nevertheless, he established engaging interactions with audiences through his raspy voice and a casual manner amplified by his scruffy, proletarian demeanor.
Part of this persona was the use of a version of slang (“argot”) called “verlan” in his work. “Verlan” originally arose in the 19th century as a marker of group identity (among thieves) and a means to evade social control but it crept into mainstream culture, particularly among suburban youth. “Verlan” inverts syllables in a word to create a new word. Verlan itself is a word that inverts the syllables in the word “l’envers” which means “inverse.” The title of Renaud’s 1977 album and song “Laisse Béton” is verlan for “laisse tomber” (“drop it” or “forget it”) and in 1978 the song hit the top of the French charts.
Strongly influenced by Georges Brassens as a youth, later in his career (1996) Renaud recorded an album of 23 Brassens songs (“Renaud chante Brassens”)—his last album before a 6-year hiatus for recovery from alcoholism. Afterwards, he re-launched his career in 2002 with a successful song “Manhattan-Kaboul” in an album “Boucan d’enfer” which he sang as a duet with Axelle Red. Renaud’s other influences included Bob Dylan to whom he listened in French translations by Hughes Auffray. Renaud admired Bruce Springsteen to the point of translating his songs and borrowing rear-end jeans pocket imagery from Springsteen’s 1984 album cover for "Born in the USA" for use on his own 1991 release "Marchand de Cailloux" ("Stone Merchant").
Part of this persona was the use of a version of slang (“argot”) called “verlan” in his work. “Verlan” originally arose in the 19th century as a marker of group identity (among thieves) and a means to evade social control but it crept into mainstream culture, particularly among suburban youth. “Verlan” inverts syllables in a word to create a new word. Verlan itself is a word that inverts the syllables in the word “l’envers” which means “inverse.” The title of Renaud’s 1977 album and song “Laisse Béton” is verlan for “laisse tomber” (“drop it” or “forget it”) and in 1978 the song hit the top of the French charts.
Strongly influenced by Georges Brassens as a youth, later in his career (1996) Renaud recorded an album of 23 Brassens songs (“Renaud chante Brassens”)—his last album before a 6-year hiatus for recovery from alcoholism. Afterwards, he re-launched his career in 2002 with a successful song “Manhattan-Kaboul” in an album “Boucan d’enfer” which he sang as a duet with Axelle Red. Renaud’s other influences included Bob Dylan to whom he listened in French translations by Hughes Auffray. Renaud admired Bruce Springsteen to the point of translating his songs and borrowing rear-end jeans pocket imagery from Springsteen’s 1984 album cover for "Born in the USA" for use on his own 1991 release "Marchand de Cailloux" ("Stone Merchant").
Over time, Renaud mellowed his views and songs, likely a result of the popular success of his music and his emergence as a recognized pop star, as well as his marriage to Dominique Quilichini and the birth of a daughter, Lolita, both in 1980. Inspired by Jacques Brel, he became an avid sailor and celebrated sailing in his hit song “Des que le vent soufflera” (1983). His first album was in 1975 and others followed in 1978, 1979 and 1980. Our featured song, “Mistral Gagnant,” appeared in his fifth album in 1985.
Renaud’s Song
Mistral Gagnant (Winning Mistral)