Les Marquises

In 1975 Brel followed the earlier example of Paul Gauguin and settled at Atuona on the island of Hiva Oa in the remote Marquesas Islands group of French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Three years later Brel passed away and was buried in the town cemetery a few steps from Gauguin. Brel's 1977 song "Les Marquises" included on this album has become almost an anthem of the island: "Veux-tu que je te dise gemir n'est pas de mis, Aux Marquises". Listener take care, many have been drawn on pilgrimages to the legendary South Seas by the haunting sounds of this little masterpiece.

Must have it!

This is what you get, if you wish to learn about Brel! This is one of the best collections there are available, with Brel's classics such as breath-taking Amsterdam, La chanson des vieux amants - absolutely one of the most beautiful and yet realistic songs in the world -, La Fanette, Les bourgeois, Quand on n'a que l'amour... Unfortunately Ne me quitte pas is not the best known nor the best version, in my opinion. But the song is beautiful in any way he sings it. However, if you want to hear the most powerful and touching version of it, it's on the live recording made in Olympia 1961.

This album covers some of the highlights of Brel's music. Songs like Les bergers, Une ile and Vesoul are more seldom heard, but imaginative and magical, like his best songs are. Also included there are several songs from his last album, like Vieillir, Jojo and Orly, which sounds remarkably like an entire play, where Brel is the narrator and the audience, feeling everything that goes on between an unknown couple in Orly - with the most beautiful music around him, sometimes like a whisper, sometimes like thunder. His voice had more soul and humanity than any other singer's.

What is missing is some of his earlier recordings from the 50's. Songs like Seul, La mort and La tendresse would have given an even better insight to his themes - loneliness, mortality and love, of which he (supposedly) said: "I'd rather not use the word. Maybe tenderness is a better one." I don't remember the actual quote, but the meaning was: people use 'love' in all the wrong ways, making it mean things, that have nothing to do with love. They can say: "I know this hurts, but I'm doing it because I love you." "I want to own you because I love you." But try using "...because I want to be tender to you." Makes one doubt the real motives, huh?

Anyway, if you don't care much of his themes or ideas, there are some of the most beautiful - and painful - love songs ever written. La Fanette, Ne me quitte pas, La chanson des vieux amants - he did them, sang them and nobody has done them better since then.

Power and passion

The only thing missing from this collection of classic songs are some of the Dutch versions. The passionate late 60's are well reflected and give a real feel of the social environment at that time. This without sounding outdated. For a younger listener raised on poppy songs, Brel is a bit of an acquired taste however.