Michel Berger (born Michel Jean Hamburger; 28 November 1947 – 2 August 1992) was a French singer and songwriter. He was a leading figure of France's pop music scene for two decades as a singer; as a songwriter, he was active for such artists as his wife France Gall, Françoise Hardy or Johnny Hallyday. He died of a heart attack at age 44.
Berger first became known to the French public in the 1960s as singer of hit song Salut les copains, after which he became record producer and songwriter for EMI and where he wrote amongst others Les Girafes for Bourvil in 1967. In the early 1970s, he moved to Warner Music where he produced the early albums of Véronique Sanson, and Allah once again in 1989. In 1973, he was responsible for producing the album Message personnel, the title track of which relaunched Françoise Hardy's career. He also produced the single Je suis moi for Hardy. Berger started writing for France Gall in 1974, produced all her albums from 1975 on, and married her on 22 June 1976.[citation needed]
Unfortunately, the two musicals Berger worked on immediately after Starmania did not fare well. In 1980, Berger partnered with producer Jérôme Savary and lyricist Luc Plamondon to produce the musical La Légende de Jimmy, inspired by the life of James Dean. However, this bombed. Berger's next musical project, Dreams in Stone, was conceived as an American musical, co-arranged with Michel Bernholc, and recorded in the United States, with lead vocals by singers Rosanne Cash, Bill Champlin, Lynn Carey, Jennifer Warnes, and Bill Withers among others.[1] Though the show itself never saw the light of day, the album was nevertheless released in 1982. The album was a complete flop, and is not generally known outside of a few fansites.
Berger was one of a handful of French artists who participated readily and actively in humanitarian acts: in 1985, he worked exclusively for Action Écoles alongside Gall, Richard Berry and Daniel Balavoine, then later for Ethiopia with Renaud (Chanteurs Sans Frontières) and for Les Restos du cœur with comedian Coluche.
Death
On 2 August 1992, weeks after the release of his first album of duets with France Gall and six months after the death of his father, Berger suffered a fatal heart attack after a tennis match at Ramatuelle in Southern France.
His death came as a shock to many as he had been one of the most popular French singer-songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, unlike many pop stars, he came across as a nice and simple man, more interested in music and family life than in rock and roll excesses. Indeed, his marriage to Gall was remarkably stable.
Berger was buried in Paris, in the Montmartre cemetery. His daughter Pauline, who died of cystic fibrosis in 1997 aged only 19, is buried close by. He was also the father of French music supervisor, Raphaël Hamburger.
Plamondon & Berger : Full Text of the Rock Opera, La Légende de Jimmy, Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, 1990, ISBN2-86274-189-2
Plamondon & Berger : Full Text of the Rock Opera, Starmania, 1995 Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, ISBN2-86274-357-7
Filmography
Berger, alongside fellow musicians Michel Fugain and Michel Sardou, appeared as extras (uncredited roles) in the 1966 René Clément film Paris brûle-t-il? (English title Is Paris Burning?). Berger played the role of "Chef des explosifs", whereas Fugain and Sardou appeared as student protestors.
References
^"Michel Berger – Dreams in Stone (1982, Allied Pressing, Vinyl)".
^"Michel Berger's 72nd Birthday". Google. 28 November 2019.
^Steffen Hung. "Discographie Michel Berger". lescharts.com. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
Biographies
Hugues Royer & Philippe Seguy: France Gall – Michel Berger, Deux destins pour une légende, Éditions du Rocher, 1994, ISBN2-268-01873-3
Jean-François Brieu & Éric Didi: Michel Berger – Quelques mots d'amour, Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 1997, ISBN2-7096-1798-6
Jacques Pessis: Michel Berger, Collection Les Lumières du Music-Hall – Éditions Vade Retro, 2001, ISBN2-909828-80-8
Essays
France Gall & Jean Brousse: Michel Berger – Si Le Bonheur Existe, 2002 Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, ISBN2-7491-0012-7
michel, berger, belgian, olympic, hockey, player, field, hockey, born, michel, jean, hamburger, november, 1947, august, 1992, french, singer, songwriter, leading, figure, france, music, scene, decades, singer, songwriter, active, such, artists, wife, france, g. For the Belgian Olympic hockey player see Michel Berger field hockey Michel Berger born Michel Jean Hamburger 28 November 1947 2 August 1992 was a French singer and songwriter He was a leading figure of France s pop music scene for two decades as a singer as a songwriter he was active for such artists as his wife France Gall Francoise Hardy or Johnny Hallyday He died of a heart attack at age 44 Michel BergerMichel Berger in 1990Background informationBirth nameMichel Jean HamburgerBorn 1947 11 28 28 November 1947Neuilly sur Seine FranceDied2 August 1992 1992 08 02 aged 44 Ramatuelle FranceOccupation s Composer and singer Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Tribute 4 Discography 4 1 Albums 4 2 Singles 5 Booklets 6 Filmography 7 References 8 Biographies 9 Essays 10 External linksBiography EditBerger was born as Michel Jean Hamburger on 28 November 1947 in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly sur Seine the son of Jewish parents Dr Jean Hamburger and Annette Haas a concert pianist of Swiss Jewish origin Berger first became known to the French public in the 1960s as singer of hit song Salut les copains after which he became record producer and songwriter for EMI and where he wrote amongst others Les Girafes for Bourvil in 1967 In the early 1970s he moved to Warner Music where he produced the early albums of Veronique Sanson and Allah once again in 1989 In 1973 he was responsible for producing the album Message personnel the title track of which relaunched Francoise Hardy s career He also produced the single Je suis moi for Hardy Berger started writing for France Gall in 1974 produced all her albums from 1975 on and married her on 22 June 1976 citation needed In 1978 he composed the musical Starmania with lyrics by Luc Plamondon The musical starred Gall Claude Dubois Daniel Balavoine Diane Dufresne Nanette Workman Eric Esteve and Fabienne Thibeault It was a big success in France in the 1980s and 1990s An English version entitled Tycoon was released in 1991 with lyrics by Tim Rice but it did not achieve the success the original version had in France citation needed Unfortunately the two musicals Berger worked on immediately after Starmania did not fare well In 1980 Berger partnered with producer Jerome Savary and lyricist Luc Plamondon to produce the musical La Legende de Jimmy inspired by the life of James Dean However this bombed Berger s next musical project Dreams in Stone was conceived as an American musical co arranged with Michel Bernholc and recorded in the United States with lead vocals by singers Rosanne Cash Bill Champlin Lynn Carey Jennifer Warnes and Bill Withers among others 1 Though the show itself never saw the light of day the album was nevertheless released in 1982 The album was a complete flop and is not generally known outside of a few fansites Berger also scored several film projects over the years which included Mektoub a 1970 film by Algerian Director Ali Ghalem Robert Benayoun s Serieux comme le plaisir in 1975 Jean Paul Rappeneau s Tout feu tout flamme in 1982 and Rive droite rive gauche the 1984 film by Philippe Labro He was known for his Orangina advertisement jingle citation needed Berger was one of a handful of French artists who participated readily and actively in humanitarian acts in 1985 he worked exclusively for Action Ecoles alongside Gall Richard Berry and Daniel Balavoine then later for Ethiopia with Renaud Chanteurs Sans Frontieres and for Les Restos du cœur with comedian Coluche Death EditOn 2 August 1992 weeks after the release of his first album of duets with France Gall and six months after the death of his father Berger suffered a fatal heart attack after a tennis match at Ramatuelle in Southern France His death came as a shock to many as he had been one of the most popular French singer songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s Moreover unlike many pop stars he came across as a nice and simple man more interested in music and family life than in rock and roll excesses Indeed his marriage to Gall was remarkably stable Berger was buried in Paris in the Montmartre cemetery His daughter Pauline who died of cystic fibrosis in 1997 aged only 19 is buried close by He was also the father of French music supervisor Raphael Hamburger Tribute EditOn 28 November 2019 Google celebrated his 72nd birthday with a Google Doodle 2 Discography EditAlbums Edit Studio albums1973 Michel Berger Le coeur brise 1974 Chansons pour une fan 1975 Que l amour est bizarre 1976 Mon piano danse 1980 Beausejour 1981 Beaurivage 1981 Tout feu tout flamme instrumental movie soundtrack 1982 Dreams in Stone With Bill Withers on Apple Pie 1 background vocals Denise DeCaro on Innocent Eyes instrumental 1983 Voyou 1984 Rive droite Rive gauche instrumental movie soundtrack 1985 Differences 1990 Ca ne tient pas debout 1992 Double jeu with France Gall Live albums1980 Au Theatre des Champs Elysees 1983 En public au Palais des Sports 1986 Au ZenithCompilation albums2014 Pour me comprendre Best ofSingles Edit For comprehensive list see lescharts com website 3 Selective Quelques mots d amour Seras tu la Le paradis blanc La groupie du pianiste Diego libre dans sa tete Chanter pour ceux qui sont loin de chez eux Selective charted singles with France Gall 1992 Laissez passer les reves FR 37 1992 Superficiel et leger FR 42 Booklets EditPlamondon amp Berger Full Text of the Rock Opera La Legende de Jimmy Editions Le Cherche Midi Paris 1990 ISBN 2 86274 189 2 Plamondon amp Berger Full Text of the Rock Opera Starmania 1995 Editions Le Cherche Midi Paris ISBN 2 86274 357 7Filmography EditBerger alongside fellow musicians Michel Fugain and Michel Sardou appeared as extras uncredited roles in the 1966 Rene Clement film Paris brule t il English title Is Paris Burning Berger played the role of Chef des explosifs whereas Fugain and Sardou appeared as student protestors References Edit Michel Berger Dreams in Stone 1982 Allied Pressing Vinyl Michel Berger s 72nd Birthday Google 28 November 2019 Steffen Hung Discographie Michel Berger lescharts com Retrieved 23 August 2012 Biographies EditHugues Royer amp Philippe Seguy France Gall Michel Berger Deux destins pour une legende Editions du Rocher 1994 ISBN 2 268 01873 3 Jean Francois Brieu amp Eric Didi Michel Berger Quelques mots d amour Editions Jean Claude Lattes 1997 ISBN 2 7096 1798 6 Jacques Pessis Michel Berger Collection Les Lumieres du Music Hall Editions Vade Retro 2001 ISBN 2 909828 80 8Essays EditFrance Gall amp Jean Brousse Michel Berger Si Le Bonheur Existe 2002 Editions Le Cherche Midi Paris ISBN 2 7491 0012 7External links EditBiography of Michel Berger from Radio France Internationale Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michel Berger amp oldid 1124959328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
