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Behind the Brel - The Story of a Musical Genius

Marc Almond’s personal exploration of the life and work of singer-songwriter Jacques Brel.

Marc Almond delivers a personal exploration of the music and unconventional life of singer-songwriter - Jacques Brel. He is considered one of the great French speaking singer songwriters of the 20th Century, whose lyrical content is poetically introspective and startlingly honest, tackling subjects such as love, death and many social issues.

His music has been translated by artists such as David Bowie, Scott Walker, Shirley Bassey, Joan Baez, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Rod McKuen, Terry Jacks, Nirvana and Vera Lynn.

(Photo: Jacques Brel, during the Cannes Cinema Festival, 1972. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

50 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Apr 2016 21:06GMT

Music Played

  • Jacques Brel

    Ne Me Quitte Pas

  • Jacques Brel

    Voir Un Amis Pleurer

  • Jacques Brel

    Le Moribond

  • Jacques Brel

    Mathilde

  • Jacques Brel

    Jef

  • David Bowie

    Port of Amsterdam

  • Jacques Brel

    Amsterdam

  • Γ‰dith Piaf

    La Vie En Rose

  • Jacques Brel

    La Quete

  • Jacques Brel

    Quand On N'a Que L'Amour

  • Jacques Brel

    Ne Me Quitte Pas

  • Shirley Bassey

    If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)

  • Dusty Springfield

    If You Go Away

  • Marlene Dietrich

    Bitte Geh Nicht Fort

  • Jacques Brel

    Le Moribond

  • Terry Jacks

    Seasons In The Sun

  • Jacques Brel

    Le Moribond

  • Jacques Brel

    Vesoul

  • Jacques Brel

    Au Suivant

  • Jacques Brel

    Ces Gens-La

  • Jacques Brel

    Amsterdam

  • David Bowie

    My Death

  • Jacques Brel

    La Mort

  • Jacques Brel

    Quand On N'a Que L'Amour

  • Jacques Brel

    L'Enfance

  • Elly Stone

    Carousel

  • Jacques Brel

    Quand On N'a Que L'Amour

  • Jacques Brel

    La Valse A Mille Temps

  • Jacques Brel

    Voir Un Ami Pleurer

  • Jacques Brel

    La Ville S'En Dormait

  • Marc Almond

    The Town Fell Asleep

  • Jacques Brel

    Ne Me Quitte Pas

Broadcasts

  • Sat 2 Apr 2016 13:06GMT
  • Sun 3 Apr 2016 19:06GMT
  • Sun 3 Apr 2016 21:06GMT