Ne me quitte pas

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For the 1972 album, see Ne Me Quitte Pas (album). For the Regina Spektor song, see Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas).
"Ne me quitte pas"
Song by Jacques Brel
from the album La Valse à Mille Temps
Published1959
Released1959
Recorded11 September 1959
Length3:52
LabelPhilips
Songwriter(s)Jacques Brel

"Ne me quitte pas" ("Don't leave me") is a 1959 song by Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. It has been covered in the original French by many artists and has also been translated into and performed in many other languages. A well-known adaptation, with English lyrics by Rod McKuen, is "If You Go Away".

Background[]

Moi, je t'offrirai des perles de pluie venues de pays où il ne pleut pas

"Ne me quitte pas" is considered by some as "Brel's ultimate classic".[1] It was written after Brel's mistress "Zizou" (Suzanne Gabriello) threw him out of her life.[2] Zizou was pregnant with Brel's child, but Brel refused to acknowledge the child as his own. Zizou later had an abortion due to Brel's actions.[2] Brel first recorded the song on 11 September 1959, and it was released on his fourth album La Valse à Mille Temps.[3] It was published by Warner-Chappell Publishing. In 1961 a Dutch-language version sung by Brel was released on the Philips label; entitled "Laat me niet alleen", with lyrics by Ernst van Altena, it was a B-side to Marieke (also a Dutch-language version).[4] Brel recorded "Ne me quitte pas" again as the title track of his 1972 album.

In a 1966 interview, Brel said that "Ne me quitte pas" was not a love song, but rather "a hymn to the cowardice of men", and the degree to which they were willing to humiliate themselves. He knew, he said, that it would give pleasure to women who assumed it was a love song, and he understood that.[5]

The lyrics "Moi, je t'offrirai des perles de pluie venues de pays où il ne pleut pas" ("I'll offer you rain pearls from lands where it does not rain") are sung to a theme borrowed from the second part, Lassan (Andante), of the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 by the composer Franz Liszt.

Johnny Hallyday version[]

"Ne me quitte pas / La garce"
Single by Johnny Hallyday
from the album Johnny Hallyday au Zénith
B-side"La garce"
Released30 November 1984 (1984-11-30)
LabelPhilips
Johnny Hallyday singles chronology
"Rien à personne"
(1984) 		"Ne me quitte pas" / "La garce"
(1984) 		"Le Chanteur abandonné"
(1985)
Music video
"La garce" on YouTube

French singer Johnny Hallyday released a live version of this song as a single in November 1984. It was recorded during his performances at Le Zénith. The song was part of his 1984 album .

Critical reception[]

Alain Wodrascka in his 2008 book Johnny Hallyday: les adieux du rock'cœur notes how Hallyday put in his 1984 cover of Jacques Brel's "Ne me quitte pas" his special vocal qualities, i.e. his vocals that are "full of sensuality and expression of physical strength of an indestructible man, who sings as if making love".[6]

Track listing[]

7" single Philips 880 504-7

Side 1. "Ne me quitte pas" (5:25)
Excerpt from the album Zénith no. 824 045-2
Arrangement:  [fr]
Side 2. "La garce" (Studio Version) (4:56)
Arrangement: Éric Bouad[7][8]

Other versions[]

French[]

  • 1959:
    • Simone Langlois – possibly the very first recording: Brel would have passed it to her prior to recording his own version[9]
  • 1961:
  • 1961:
    • Barbara chante Brel
  • 1965:
    • Nina Simone in her June 1965 I Put a Spell on You album
    • Frida Boccara (some versions): 1. Duet with Luis Recatero (EP Belter 51532, 1965); 2. Frida Boccara Sings – 1967, LP Melodia, made in USSR (Поёт Фрида Боккара [Д-20579-80]); 3. Place des Arts – Montreal '71 Live (2 LP Philips, 1971 and CD 2006, Canada); 4.An Evening With Frida Boccara (1978, Live at Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne – 2 LP Philips and some CD compilations); 5. Un jour, un enfant – posthumous CD (1999)
  • 1967:
    • Sandie Shaw included the song on her third album Love Me, Please Love Me.
  • 1970:
    • Vicky Leandros – Brel asked Leandros to sing this song after they met in a French TV studio. The song was released on the album Ich Bin released January 1971 and on the French album Je Suis Comme Je Suis released in Canada (October 1971)
  • 1974:
  • 1985
    • Mireille Mathieu in Les grandes chansons francaises
  • 1987:
  • 1988:
  • 1994:
    • Alison Moyet Appears as the B-side to "Getting into Something"
  • 1995:
  • 1997:
    • in their album "Chansons et violons"
  • 1998:
    • Hugues Aufray in Hommage – Ils chantent Jacques Brel CD
    • in Herencia Africana
    • Miguel Bosé in 11 maneras de ponerse un sombrero CD
    • Faudel in the tribute album Aux suivants
  • 2000:
  • 2001:
    • Natacha Atlas in her album Ayeshteni
  • Maria Bill sings Jacques Brel
  • 2002:
    • Paloma Berganza in the Avec le temps CD
    • Cirque du Soleil's 2002 production Varekai features a performance of the song.
    • Ute Lemper in But One Day
  • 2003:
  • 2004:
    • In-Grid in her album La vie en rose
    • Angélique Beauvence in the Still...love you CD
    • Wende Snijders on the CD
    • Alcione Nazareth in the Um Barzinho, um Violão Vol. 4 CD
  • 2005:
    • Mikel Laboa in the Xoriek - 17 CD.
    • Pierre Bachelet in the Tu ne nous quittes pas CD.
    • ('à la manière de Patrick Bruel, Julien Clerc, Serge Lama, Johnny Hallyday') in Ces gens-là
  • 2006:
    • Estrella Morente, a flamenco singer, on her album Mujeres, whose arrangement and performance is based on Nina Simone's.
  • 2007:
  • 2009:
    • Maria Gadú in the Maria Gadú CD & live at Vivo Altas Horas (Brazil) 19 September 2009.[11] Used in 2010 for the Brazilian mini-series Cinquentinha.
    • Barbra Streisand sings a mixed French/English lyric on her album Love Is the Answer.
  • 2010:
  • 2011
    • Celine Dion performs the song during her Las Vegas residency show, Celine
  • 2012
    • The song is featured in the Deluxe Edition of Celine Dion's album Sans attendre
    • Sophie Hunger on The Danger of Light (Deluxe Edition) CD
  • 2013
  • 2014
    • Caro Emerald as a digital download performed in both French and English.
  • 2017

Arabic[]

  • 2012: Mashrou' Leila's version "ما تتركني هيك - ne me quitte pas". Indie band from Lebanon performed the cover-version at Paleo Festival Nyon – (Chapiteau / Switzerland) in 2012.
  • 2017: Mike Massy adapted the song in Arabic, Lebanese slang "ما تفل Ma Tfell / Ne Me Quitte Pas" and released it in his EP "Le Délire". Lyrics by , Arranged by Mike Massy.

Armenian[]

  • 1976: Onnik Dinkjian's version "Yete Heranas." Recorded by Onnik Dinkjian with John Berberian (oud) and others (all from the US) on the album "Inner Feelings of Onnik." (US release)
  • 2015: Lilit Bleyan's version "Չթողնես երբեք": Recorded at Ardini studio (Yerevan, Armenia)
  • 2018: Berge Turabian's version "Դու ինծ մի լքիր": Arrangements by Tigran Nanian on the album "Brel, Brassens, Ferré in Armenian" (US release)

Afrikaans[]

  • 1980: Laurika Rauch's version "Moenie weggaan nie". Dutch artist Herman van Veen performed a cover-version in the 2000s.
  • 2011: Herman van den Berg's version "Laat my by jou bly".

Belarusian[]

  • 2008: 's version "Nie hublaj mianie" ("Не губляй мяне")was recorded on the album Toje što treba.

Catalan[]

  • 1965: – "No em deixis tan sol"
  • 1967: – "No te'n vagis pas"
  • 1968: Salomé – "No em deixis mai"
  • 2005: – "No em deixis, no"

Croatian[]

Czech[]

Dutch[]

  • 1961: Jacques Brel's version "Laat me niet alleen"
  • 1968: Liesbeth List's version "Laat me niet alleen".
  • 2013: Brigitte Kaandorp's version "Lieve koningin", an homage to (the about to be abdicating) Queen Beatrix.[12]
  • 2014: Sjors van der Panne as "Laat me niet alleen".

English[]

Main article: If You Go Away

The pop standard "If You Go Away", with lyrics by Rod McKuen, has been covered by many artists including Ray Charles. Different lyrics by Momus, closer to those of the original, render the song as "Don't Leave", added to all reissues of his 1986 album Circus Maximus. American duo the Black Veils translate the song as "Don't Leave Me" on their 2009 album Troubadours, which includes translations of six other French chansons. Sung by Holcombe Waller in Ryan Trecartin's "Sibling Topics (section a)" at 23:10.

  • 1967: Shirley Bassey released a version as a single which also appeared on her album And We Were Lovers.
  • 1967: Dusty Springfield popularized a multi-lingual French/English version for her album The Look of Love
  • 1967: Lana Cantrell, for her album
  • 1967: Kim Weston, for her MGM album For The First Time
  • 1967: The Seekers, for their album Seekers Seen in Green
  • 1968: Glen Campbell recorded a version on his album Wichita Lineman
  • 1969: Frank Sinatra released a version on his album My Way
  • 1969: Scott Walker recorded a cover of "Ne me quitte pas" on his third solo album Scott 3, originally released in 1969. Scott Walker released various Brel covers on the albums Scott 1, 2 & 3, which were translated by Mort Shuman.
  • 1971: Neil Diamond covered "Ne me quitte pas" on his seventh studio album "Stones".
  • 1974: Terry Jacks covered "If You Go Away" and released it as a stand-alone single.[13]
  • 1982: Marc Almond covered the track with his band Marc and the Mambas on the album Untitled
  • 1989: Marc Almond recorded a second cover on his album Jacques, an hommage to Jacques Brel.
  • 2000: Emilíana Torrini for her promotional album Rarities
  • 2002: Patricia Kaas recorded the song for her album Piano Bar. This version was featured in the movie And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen.
  • 2003: Shirley Horn, for her final album May the Music Never End
  • 2003: Cyndi Lauper recorded a version for her album At Last
  • 2006: Art of Time Ensemble recorded a version with vocalist Martin Tielli on their debut album Live in Toronto.
  • 2009: Barbra Streisand recorded a multi-lingual French/English version for her album Love Is the Answer
  • 2010: Julie Christmas recorded a version for her album The Bad Wife.
  • 2011: Dalis Car recorded for the album InGladAloneness
  • 2013: recorded a version which was released as a single on iTunes.
  • 2014: Storm Large in her album "Le Bonheur"
  • 2014: Caro Emerald as a digital download performed in both French and English.
  • 2015: Lauryn Hill for the album .

Finnish[]

West Frisian[]

  • 2007: "Leafste bliuw by my"

German[]

  • 1963: Marlene Dietrich "Bitte geh nicht fort"
  • 1976: Klaus Hoffmann "Geh nicht fort von mir"; "Bitte geh nicht fort" (1997)
  • 1977: Markus Pol Lass mich nicht allein

Greek[]

  • 1971: Vicky Leandros in the album Pes mou pos mporeis (Tell me how you can).
  • 1979: Yiannis Parios in the LP Tha Me Thymithis (You will remember me), with the title "Mi me afinis mi" (Don't leave me, don't).
  • 1996: Haris Alexiou in her live album: Gyrizontas ton kosmo (During my world tour).
  • 2007: Yiannnis Parios' live rendition of the aforementioned song.
  • 2009: Vassilikos in the album "Vintage"

Hebrew[]

  • 1974: Sang "Ana Al Telchi" - Please don't go(אנא אל תלכי), a translation by , in his album Shkiot Nashim Vechol Hashar.
  • 1992: The late Yossi Banai sings Al telchi mikan - Don't go from here(אל תלכי מכאן), a translation by Naomi Shemer, in the Im neda' le'ehov – Songs of Jacques Brel (אם נדע לאהוב) record
  • 2001: Rita and Rami Kleinstein sang the same Hebrew version live in their tour, that was later released on a CD, Rita Rami on Stage
  • 2008: Israeli composer Itay Pearl, wrote a song as a response to the original Jacques Brel version.
  • 2009: : Translated by Dory Manor, Al Telchi Achshav - Don't go now (אל תלכי עכשיו).
  • 2011: Miri Mesika sings the translation by Naomi Shemer, in her http://www.israel-music.com/miri_mesika/live_acoustic_at_zappa

Italian[]

Japanese[]

  • 1979: Hiromi Iwasaki's version "Ikanaide (行かないで)" from her album Koibito-tachi (恋人たち)

Macedonian[]

  • 1960: , "Ако отидеш" (lat. "Ako otideš")

Persian[]

  • 2021: , "Age To Beri / اگه تو بری / If You Go Away"

Polish[]

Portuguese[]

  • 1974: Simone de Oliveira (Portugal) "Não me vás deixar (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" (J. Brel – David Mourão Ferreira) in Nunca mais a Solidão
  • 1979: (Brazil) "Se Você Partir" – Se Você Partir (Ne Me Quitte Pas) (J.Brel – Romeo Nunes)
  • 1989: Raimundo Fagner (Brazil) "Não Me Deixes" – Não Me Deixes (Ne Me Quitte Pas) (J. Brel – Fausto Nilo)

Russian[]

  • 1973: Radmila Karaklajić's version "Если ты уйдёшь" (Melodiya, LP album "Радмила Караклаич" USSR 1973)[14]
  • 1995: Igor Ivanov's version "Если ты уйдёшь" (CDRDM 502065, CD album "Игорь Иванов – Я тебя помню", 1995)[15]
  • 2001: Mumiy Troll's version "Когда ты уйдёшь"

Serbian[]

  • 1968: 's version "Ako odeš ti" (, EP "Anica" Yugoslavia 1968)

Slovene[]

Spanish[]

  • 1969: Matt Monro "No me dejes no", Album: "Todo Pasará"
  • ?: Alma Ritano "No me dejes no"
  • 1977: Angélica María "No me dejes no"
  • 1997: Sandy Aruba's salsa music version "No Me Dejes Mas"
  • 2011: Fito Páez: "Ne me quitté pás", Album: "Canciones para Aliens"

Swedish[]

  • 1968: Lill Lindfors: "Om du går din väg" in Kom i min värld
  • 1982: Tommy Körberg & : "Du får inte gå" in Tommy Körberg & Stefan Nilsson tolkar Jacques Brel
  • 2000: : "Du Får Inte Gå" in Franska chansoner

Turkish[]

  • 1972: Zeki Müren "Beni Terketme"
  • 1975: "Beni Terketme"
  • 1977: "Beni Bırakma"

Yiddish[]

  • 2008: Mendy Cahan's version "לאָז מיך נישט אַלײן"

Multilingual[]

  • 2005: Lam Nhat Tien's version of "Ne Me Quitte Pas": Người Yêu Nếu Ra Đi in French and Vietnamese, from the album Giờ Đã Không Còn Nữa.
  • 2007: Das Blaue Einhorn's version of "Ne Me Quitte Pas" in French and German, from their album Verkauf dein Pferd – Lieder vom Halten und Lassen (2007)
  • 2014: Caro Emerald as a digital download performed in both French and English.

Instrumental[]

In popular culture[]

The song was used in season 1 episode 19 of the critically acclaimed TV show Person of Interest and in the final episode of Mr. Robot. It was also used in season 1 finale of The Leftovers. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" was used by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar in his sixth film, Law of Desire, in a striking performance by Brazilian singer Maysa Matarazzo. A parody of the song and the singer, as the archetypal chansonnier, was performed by Italian actor Gigi Proietti.[16] Claudio Corneiro performed a clown act with this song in Cirque du Soleil's Varekai. [17] It is also the name of an episode in the series Ramy.

References[]

  1. ^ Robine, Marc. "Quand on n'a que l'amour- Jacques Brel". Nescio.info. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Christian Lamet; Stan Cuesta; François Gorin; François Ducray (2007). La chanson française (in French). Paris: Scali. p. 234. ISBN 978-2350120973.
  3. ^ "Jacques Brel - N° 4". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Jacques Brel – Marieke / Laat Me Niet Alleen (Ne Me Quitte Pas) (1961, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. ^ Dialogue between Jacques Brel and Geneviève de Vilmorin, interviewed by Emmanuel Poulet (RTL, 1966)
  6. ^ Alain Wodrascka (2008). Johnny Hallyday: les adieux du rock'cœur. Carpentier. ISBN 978-2-84167-565-4. ... à fleur de sensualité et l'expression de la force physique d'un homme indestructible, qui chante comme s'il faisait l'amour - Johnny mettra ces mêmes qualités vocales au service de sa reprise de «Ne me quitte pas» de Jacques Brel (1984)
  7. ^ "Johnny Hallyday - Ne Me Quitte Pas / La Garce". Discogs.com. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  8. ^ "ultratop.be - Johnny Hallyday - Ne me quitte pas". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Confusion between Suzanne Langlois and Jacques Brel". Second Hand Songs. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
  10. ^ "Sting – Ne Me Quitte Pas – (live)". YouTube. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  11. ^ "Maria Gadú – Ne Me Quitte Pas – (live)". YouTube. 20 September 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  12. ^ Video on YouTube
  13. ^ "Terry Jacks - If You Go Away / Me And You". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Радмила Караклаич – Радмила Караклаич (1973, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. ^ [1][dead link]
  16. ^ "GIGI PROIETTI - NUN ME ROMPE ER CA'". YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Varekai spotlight clown act ne me quitte pas,Cirque du Solei". YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2021.

External links[]

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