Jacky (Jacques Brel song)
Encyclopedia
"Jacky" is a song written by Jacques Brel
. He recorded the song on 2 November 1965, and it was released on his 1966 album Ces Gens-Là
. The song was translated from French into English and retitled as "Jackie".
Scott Walker
recorded and released the song as a single in late 1967. The single met with controversy in the UK because of lyrics like "authentic queers and phony virgins" and drug references. The song was banned by the BBC and was not performed on TV or played on the mainstream radio channels. The song was performed on the non-BBC channels most notably on Frankie Howerd
's show Howerd's Hour where Walker sang and danced in an overly comical fashion. The song eventually charted at #22, and the following year was included on Walker's critically acclaimed second album Scott 2
.
In the United States, the song's popularity grew through its appearance (as "Jackie") in the score of the off-Broadway
revue
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
, which opened on January 22, 1968.
In May 1986, Momus released his version of the song, retitled as "Nicky" after the singer's first name, as the title track of a three song EP of Brel covers.
In 1991, Marc Almond
recorded a cover version Brel's song for his album Tenement Symphony
, and released it as a single that reached #17 in the UK and #14 in Ireland.
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 recorded the song on 2 November 1965, and it was released on his 1966 album Ces Gens-Là
Ces Gens-Là
Ces Gens-Là is Jacques Brel's eighth studio album. Also known as Jef, the album was released in 1966 by Barclay . The album was reissued on 23 September 2003 under the title Ces Gens-Là as part of the 16-CD box set Boîte à Bonbons by Barclay .- Track listing :* Tracks 1–10 constituted the original...
. The song was translated from French into English and retitled as "Jackie".
Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
recorded and released the song as a single in late 1967. The single met with controversy in the UK because of lyrics like "authentic queers and phony virgins" and drug references. The song was banned by the BBC and was not performed on TV or played on the mainstream radio channels. The song was performed on the non-BBC channels most notably on Frankie Howerd
Frankie Howerd
Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...
's show Howerd's Hour where Walker sang and danced in an overly comical fashion. The song eventually charted at #22, and the following year was included on Walker's critically acclaimed second album Scott 2
Scott 2
-Chart positions:-Personnel:*Wally Stott - arrangements and conductor *Reg Guest - arrangements and conductor *Peter Knight - arrangements and conductor *Peter Olliff - engineer-Release history:...
.
In the United States, the song's popularity grew through its appearance (as "Jackie") in the score of the off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is an American musical revue of the songs of Jacques Brel.-Original Off-Broadway Production:...
, which opened on January 22, 1968.
In May 1986, Momus released his version of the song, retitled as "Nicky" after the singer's first name, as the title track of a three song EP of Brel covers.
In 1991, Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
recorded a cover version Brel's song for his album Tenement Symphony
Tenement Symphony
Tenement Symphony is an album by Marc Almond, released in 1991. It reached #39 in the UK Albums Chart and includes the UK top 40 single "My Hand Over My Heart", top 20 "Jacky",and the top 5 hit "The Days of Pearly Spencer".-Track listing:...
, and released it as a single that reached #17 in the UK and #14 in Ireland.