F. R. David

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F. R. David
FRDavid cpr.jpg
Background information
Birth nameElli Robert Fitoussi
Also known asRobert Fitoussi
Born (1947-01-01) 1 January 1947 (age 74)
Ferryville, French Tunisia
OriginParis, France
GenresEuropop, synth-pop, pop rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
InstrumentsVocals, bass, guitar
Years active1963–present
LabelsCarrere, Discos RGE, Discos CBS, Columbia, Epic, CBS Records, Sony
Associated actsLes Variations, Vangelis, Les Trèfles
Websitewww.frdavid.net

Elli Robert Fitoussi (born 1 January 1947), better known as F. R. David, is a French singer. He is best known for his 1982 hit single "Words".

Career[]

F. R. David was born Elli Robert Fitoussi in Menzel Bourguiba, then in the French protectorate of Tunisia, to a Tunisian Jewish family.[1][2] In Paris, David began his music career as Robert Fitoussi.[1] He first performed with French garage band Les Trèfles. After one EP, they mutated into Les Boots, but achieved very little commercial success. Adopting his new stage name, he went solo in 1967 and recorded some orchestral pop psych with Michel Colombier, including a version of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" ("Il Est Plus Facile"). He enjoyed minor hits with the Éric Charden penned "Symphonie" and a cover of the Bee Gees' "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World", but this success did not last. He then created Aztec Records with Sonopress & Carrer and started producing with Michael Haubrich and they wrote and produced several groups. The first was called Cockpit, followed by David Cast, Doc & Prohibition Group, Ragga, Alain Maria, Freddy Meyer, and DD Daughterdydawn with Vangelis Papathanassiou.

During the early 1970s, David formed the progressive rock group David Explosion but their one album was not a success. He was a guitarist for Vangelis in the early 1970s.[1] With Vangelis, he also appeared as vocalist on some of his early 1970s albums. David's voice is also heard on the 1974 single "Who" by Vangelis under the name 'Odyssey'. David then joined French rock band Les Variations, appearing on their final album Café De Paris (1975), which featured an early rock-disco crossover "Superman, Superman". When the band broke up, he went solo again. His personal "trademarks" are his sunglasses and his guitar (a white Fender Stratocaster).

His most recognised song was his hit "Words" in 1982, which sold eight million records worldwide, topped various charts around Europe in late 1982, and reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart[1] in spring 1983, surpassing a rival version by 1960s hitmakers the Tremeloes, and going on to becoming the 22nd best-selling single in the UK during 1983. The song appears in the Oscar-nominated film for Best Picture, Call Me by Your Name. The song is a catchy, slightly plaintive synth-led mid-tempo ballad sung in a slender, high-pitched voice.

During the 1990s, he took time out from his own music career and focused on writing and composing for other well known artists. David released another album, Words – '99 Version in 2000 which contains mostly covers. In 2009, he released the album Numbers, which was in collaboration with other musicians and featured songs that David himself most preferred.[3]

Between 2010 and 2011, he went on a national French tour of 52 concerts.[3]

Discography[]

Albums[]

Title Year Peak positions
GER
 UK
Words 1982 13 46
  • Words (1982)
  • Long Distance Flight (1984)
  • Reflections (1987)
  • Voices of the Blue Planet (1998) (with Yoann Marine)
  • Words – '99 Version (1999)
  • The Wheel (2006)
  • Numbers (2008)
  • Midnight Drive (2013)

Compilation albums[]

  • Rocker Blues (1986, Argentina Only)
  • Greatest Hits (1991)
  • Best Of F. R. David (2000)
  • Songbook (2003)

Singles[]

Charting
Title Year Peak positions Album
FRA
 AUS
 AUT
 GER
 UK
 US
 SWI
"Words" 1982 2 12 1 1 2 62 1 Words
"Pick Up the Phone" 1983 26
"Music" 71
"I Need You" 33
Listing
  • "Je veux mourir un jour dans un monde d'amour"/"Bal joli bal" (1969)
  • "Le bonheur est un cerf-volant"/"Les rubis" (1969)
  • "Souviens toi du temps"/"Le ciel est rouge" (1972)
  • "Black Jack"/"Bouge, secoue-toi" (1981)
  • "Words"/"When The Sun Goes Down" (1982)
  • "I Need You"/"Porcelain Eyes" (1983)
  • "Pick Up The Phone"/"Someone to Love" (1983)
  • "Music"/"Givin' It Up (1983)
  • "Play a Little Game"/"Gotta Get a Move On" (1983)
  • "Gotta Get a Move On"/"Rock Fame" (1983)
  • "Sand Dunes"/"Play a Little Game" (1983)
  • "Long Distance Flight"/"This Time I Have to Win" (1984)
  • "Dream Away"/"Good Times" (1985)
  • "Sahara Night"/"Shooting Star (1986)
  • "Don't Go"/"Sing in My Life (1987)
  • "Words (1989 Remix) (1989)
  • "I'll Try to Love Again"/"Someone to Lead Me" (1992)
  • "Your Love Shines" (2018)
  • "Paris is Her Home" (2018)
Singles (only Italy)
  • "Luisa Luisa"/"Calendario" (1969)
  • "Cuore non mente mai"/"Giusto, bene, brava" (1970)
  • "Marianna Marianna"/"Facci caso" (1973)

Discography in other formations[]

with Les Trèfles
  • Sont ils innocent? (EP, 1965)
with Les Boots
  • "Laissez briller le soleil"/"Trop tard"/"Le cerf-volant"/"Demain" (EP, 1966)
  • "Les gens sont méchants"/"Ali Baba"/"Vingt ans"/"Twen" (EP, 1966)
  • Tout Va Bien (Compilation, 1997)
with Cockpit
  • Cockpit (album, 1971)
  • "Fifi"/"Father Machine" (single, 1971)
  • "Bright Tomorrow"/"Lena, Lena" (single, 1971)
  • "Mister Hardy"/"8 Days and a Wake Up" (single, 1972)
with Les Variations
  • Café de Paris (album, 1975)
with King of Hearts
  • Close, but No Guitar (album, 1978)

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d German, Yuri. "F.R. David Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. ^ Benarde, Scott R. (2003). Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories. Lebanon, New Hampshire: Brandeis University Press. p. 2. ISBN 1584653035 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Site officiel. F. R. David. Retrieved 10 February 2013.

External links[]


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