Dick Annegarn
Encyclopedia
Dick Annegarn is a Dutch rock singer-songwriter who sings mostly in French
, although on occasion Dutch
and English
. He spent his youth in Brussels
, and after having learned to play guitar he went to Paris
, where he recorded his first album in 1973, which was very successful; although nearly never happened, as his money had run out and he was ready to return home before finding a producer for his songs just as he was about to leave. This was the subject of his best known song "Bruxelles".
He quit the music business in 1978 at the height of his fame citing its corrupt nature and then worked on social projects in Paris before slowly returning to music, working often with avant garde and occidental musicians, before releasing a string of albums in the late nineties up to 'Plouc' (2005), where he played with musicians from the south of France, accompanying his unique voice and guitar with often sparse and unusual arrangements played on brass instruments.
Proclaimed by many as the "son of Jacques Brel
" ; he is one of the most well-respected current day troubadours of the chanson, plus a charismatic and irreverent performer. He does not like the musical trade and prefers an underground
lifestyle.
Because he is not French but a Dutchman educated in Brussels and Paris, he has a unique French singing voice, very guttural and well articulated. His lyrics are sublime "poetry of the earth" and he has a playful yet caustic sense of humour with emotive, stark and imaginative arrangements like Townes Van Zandt
or John Martyn. His "outsider" status as a gay man was also the subject of his 'Un' Ombre' album.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, although on occasion Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He spent his youth in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, and after having learned to play guitar he went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he recorded his first album in 1973, which was very successful; although nearly never happened, as his money had run out and he was ready to return home before finding a producer for his songs just as he was about to leave. This was the subject of his best known song "Bruxelles".
He quit the music business in 1978 at the height of his fame citing its corrupt nature and then worked on social projects in Paris before slowly returning to music, working often with avant garde and occidental musicians, before releasing a string of albums in the late nineties up to 'Plouc' (2005), where he played with musicians from the south of France, accompanying his unique voice and guitar with often sparse and unusual arrangements played on brass instruments.
Proclaimed by many as the "son of Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
" ; he is one of the most well-respected current day troubadours of the chanson, plus a charismatic and irreverent performer. He does not like the musical trade and prefers an underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
lifestyle.
Because he is not French but a Dutchman educated in Brussels and Paris, he has a unique French singing voice, very guttural and well articulated. His lyrics are sublime "poetry of the earth" and he has a playful yet caustic sense of humour with emotive, stark and imaginative arrangements like Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
or John Martyn. His "outsider" status as a gay man was also the subject of his 'Un' Ombre' album.
Albums
- Dick AnnegarnDick AnnegarnDick Annegarn is a Dutch rock singer-songwriter who sings mostly in French, although on occasion Dutch and English...
(1974) - Je te vois (1974)
- Mireille (1975)
- Anticyclone (1976)
- De ce spectacle ici sur terre (live, 1978)
- Ferraillages (1980)
- Citoyen (1981)
- 140 BXL (live, 1984)
- Frère ? (1986)
- Ullegarra (1990)
- Chansons fleuves (1990)
- InéDick (1992)
- Approche-toi (1997)
- Adieu Verdure (1999)
- Au Cirque d'Hiver (live, 2000)
- Un' ombre (2002)
- Plouc (2005)
- Soleil du soir (2008)
Compilations
- Bruxelles (3 first albums + part of the 4th one+ the songs Va and Les Gueux) (1996)
- Les Années nocturnes (Frères ?, Ullegara and Chansons fleuves) (2007)
Contributions
- Egmont and the FF Boom, featuring Daniel SchellDaniel SchellDaniel Schell is an Australian rules footballer. He played for both the Fremantle and the Adelaide Football Clubs. He was drafted from Central District in the SANFL as the 18th selection in the 1998 AFL Draft and played mainly as a full forward.Schell struggled to be a successful forward at AFL...
(1978 ?) - Route MansetGérard MansetGérard Manset is a French singer-songwriter, painter, photographer and writer, most well known for his musical work.Since 1972, the covers of his albums state his name as simply "Manset"...
(1996) - Aux suivants, Hommage à Jacques BrelJacques BrelJacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
(2003) - Plutôt tôt Plutôt tard (2005, tôt ou tard)
Tribute album
- Le Grand Dîner or Tribute à Dick Annegarn (2006, tôt ou tard), on which he himself contributes