A phenomenon. Anyone who has had the chance to see Johnny in concert will remember a real showman. Like Elvis Presley, his idol, he had the gift of capsizing the hearts of his fans. But beyond his gestures, he has always had an amazing voice, powerful, pleasantly modulated at the beginning, then more serious and warm as he gets older.
Read the fileDOSSIER – Death of Johnny Hallyday: a look back at his immense career
This unique talent allowed him to interpret everything with equal ease. We will remember that in the 1960s, he incorporated Aznavour (Retiens la nuit) and Jean-Jacques Debout into his repertoire. At the same time, he already excelled in adaptations and covers of rock from America. We know that he had boundless admiration for Chuck Berry.
In the mid-1970s, Johnny almost became a classical singer. After using the pen talent of Philippe Labro (Que je t’aime), he borrows Pierre Delanoë (Derrière l’amour) from Bécaud. With Gilles Thibaut and his old accomplice Long Chris, they will blow up the charts with hits like Gabrielle and Requiem pour un fou.
The big turning point for Johnny is at the turn of the century. He then knows that he must renew himself or else he will disappear. He will then work with Michel Berger, Jean-Jacques Goldman or Gérald de Palmas. Sign of destiny, at the end of his career he will resume the masterpieces of Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel. The loop was complete. The two geniuses of the song can welcome him serenely to the paradise of great performers.
● Leave the girls in 1960, lyrics by Jill and Jan, music by Johnny Hallyday
● Memories, memories in 1960, of Fernand Bonifay and Cy Cohen
● Hold back the night in 1961, by Charles Aznavour and Georges Garvarentz
● The Idol of the Young in 1962, by Ralph Bernet and Jack Lewis
● For me life will begin in 1963, by Jean-Jacques Debout
● The Penitentiary in 1964 by Vline Buggy, Hugues Aufray and Alan Price
● When the Night Returns in 1965, by Georges Aber, Bobby Vinton and Gene Allan
● Black is black in 1966, adaptation by Georges Aber of Black Is Black by the Spaniards Los Bravos
● Que je t’aime in 1969, composed by Jean Renard and written by Gilles Thibaut
● Oh! My pretty Sarah in 1971, by Philippe Labro, Mick Jones and Tommy Brown
● Requiem pour un fou in 1976, by Gilles Thibaut and Gérard Layani
● Behind love in 1976, by Pierre Delanoë and Toto Cutugno
● Don’t Play Rock’n’Roll For Me 1976, by Long Chris N. Chinn and M. Chapman
● Gabrielle in 1976, by Long Chris, Patrick Larue and Tony Cole
● Ma gueule in 1979, by Gilles Thibaut and Philippe Bretonnière
● Something from Tennessee in 1985, by Michel Berger
● Laura in 1986, Jean-Jacques Goldman
● Lighting the fire in 1998, by Zazie and Obispo
● Blood for blood in 1999, by Éric Chemouny and David Hallyday
● Marie in 2002, by Gérald de Palmas
