Being French and speaking a bit of English myself, I was wondering while listening to Brassens: can this ever be translated without ruining the whole thing? I thought not, but I see Jake Thackray proved me wrong (well, he proved me wrong before I was born, really...)
I remember seeing him on "That's life", he was an amazing singer, quite versatile, funny and clever in the way he performed. I remember a version of "La di dah", but, without an orchestra and just a string bass, the simplicity of that setting was stunning. Thank you for posting.
never heard of him till a few weeks ago,quite by accident late one night on bbc2.missed the first ten minutes or so. was glued,fantastic style and talent.
When my son was about 8 - he is now 40, so that dates it - there was a programme on, I think, BBC2, which was half an hour of Jake Thackray and John D Loudermilk. Jake sang this one and the Bantam Cock. I don't remember ever laughing so much. I miss him. Thanks so much for posting.
Jake Thackray was the English equivalent of Georges Brassens, but, unlike Brassens, he didn't get the recognition he deserved in his own country. Thackray's translation of the original Brassens song is perforce fairly free, but it retains the important aspect of it, i.e. the wit and biting satire.
I think this is from very late November or early December 1972: on November 28th that year two men, Roger Bontems and Claude Buffet were executed in La Santé Prison. I doubt if there were many weeks in France in the 70s when more than one person was put to death.
Great poet and, like Brassens, with a social / political position -- not in a sense of political affiliation, but in the sense of personal responsibility for what is going on. I like most his translation of Brassens' Gorilla and also his own antiwar song The Remembrance. And also "The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington" -- I doubt, such freedom is taken seriously or has a possibility to be widely seen anymore.
I grew up with Brassens, at home and at school - my elementary school was called "Ecole Primaire Georges Brassens" - can you believe it? I always thought it would be so difficult to translate him: his songs are all a love letter to the French language, with a precise and musical phrasing, old-fashioned expressions and use of slang. However, he always said that his main musical inspiration was jazz. Translating is therefore possible - only if you translate the intent, not simply the words.
Unbelievable! Go back to watching X factor,or Big Brother,or anything on your intellectual level and leave the appreciation of true talent to those that can appreciate it
Great clip. Sadly, that is all we have now. Jake sang in an amazing way that makes me feel ignorant of my language, but he inspired me to constantly increase my diction.
so the de andre' song was a translation! (into Italian). I know this song already in another foreign language! (nb this is so like other Fabrizio de Andre' songs that he must have been one of many similar throughout europe at that time)
Well, as a French living in the US, I know some Americans who are quite good too (I'm thinking Jon Stewart, George Carlin, Louis CK). But indeed, the oh so British understatement and despise of political correctness is a treat I enjoy often, from Swift to the Monty Python - even in the three idiots of Top Gear!
Well perhaps he isn't as well known in Britain as Brassens is in France but that doesn't mean he isn't well known by those of us who were around at the time.
I appreciate Jake's timeliness: that's what Brassens intended. Apart from Jake's English, De Andre's Italian, and Nanni Svampa's vernacular Milanese, does anyone know about any more translations of Brassens's song?
Talented lyricist-translators can rise to the beastly task.... the song was also translated to Hebrew in the late 1960’s by Dan Almagor, here sang by Yossi Banai in his album "There are no happy loves" singing Brassens songs. It was quite popular in Israel. One of the raunchiest songs I've ever heard in the language of the Bible... th-cam.com/video/BJbLJP5Z0aY/w-d-xo.html And here is the original French song, sang by Brassens, with Hebrew subtitles th-cam.com/video/NzRvLGBu3hY/w-d-xo.html
@TheGayZebra Sorry you don't like this. I suspect it means you have no soul. Seriously: when you look in a mirror - is there a reflection? If you hold a mirror in front of your mouth, can you see your breath on it? Just asking.
Although associated with The great Frenchman he sounds very unlike him Jake stands on his own style wise and he is very much a Yorkshire man Both these men stand on their own Comparisons are lazy 😴
Being French and speaking a bit of English myself, I was wondering while listening to Brassens: can this ever be translated without ruining the whole thing? I thought not, but I see Jake Thackray proved me wrong (well, he proved me wrong before I was born, really...)
I remember seeing him on "That's life", he was an amazing singer, quite versatile, funny and clever in the way he performed. I remember a version of "La di dah", but, without an orchestra and just a string bass, the simplicity of that setting was stunning. Thank you for posting.
"This song is called the gorilla, and it offensive"
His seriousness in saying that is hilarious!
Absolute genius. What a performer. And what an incredible translation too!
never heard of him till a few weeks ago,quite by accident late one night on bbc2.missed the first ten minutes or so.
was glued,fantastic style and talent.
You have just discovered a treat - so much to hear, so much to enjoy.
When my son was about 8 - he is now 40, so that dates it - there was a programme on, I think, BBC2, which was half an hour of Jake Thackray and John D Loudermilk. Jake sang this one and the Bantam Cock. I don't remember ever laughing so much. I miss him. Thanks so much for posting.
He actually lived in France in the early sixties, and was influenced by a lot of French singer/songwriters
Jake Thackray was the English equivalent of Georges Brassens, but, unlike Brassens, he didn't get the recognition he deserved in his own country. Thackray's translation of the original Brassens song is perforce fairly free, but it retains the important aspect of it, i.e. the wit and biting satire.
Brilliant! Like so many of Jake's songs - even though this wasn't one of his own! Big fan obviously!
Superb - in my opinion , you were the best of the best . Gather a bud or two for Jakexx
So good to see the late, lamented, Jake. A genius!
So many thanks for this rare clip of a genius. Made me really laugh, and that's good.
I could never get tired of it.
I'm a fan of Georges Brassens and love the original french song "Le gorille" and I just discovered this english cover. That's really good :)
Pure Pure Genius. The end.
Jake. You were a genius. God rest your soulxxx
aghhh!!! i thought i had lost this song FOR EVER ThANK YOU FOR UPLOADING YESSS! jake is da man (:
This is the only Jake Thackray song that I've heard that doesn't make me laugh, but it's great just the same.
Merci beaucoup. And you have one of the loveliest countries in the world, and we like you very much.
Big Love to the bold Jake, funny , dry man
I think this is from very late November or early December 1972: on November 28th that year two men, Roger Bontems and Claude Buffet were executed in La Santé Prison. I doubt if there were many weeks in France in the 70s when more than one person was put to death.
A national treasure!
A perfect Mr. Bean's brother ;) RIP Jake we love you.
Great poet and, like Brassens, with a social / political position -- not in a sense of political affiliation, but in the sense of personal responsibility for what is going on. I like most his translation of Brassens' Gorilla and also his own antiwar song The Remembrance. And also "The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington" -- I doubt, such freedom is taken seriously or has a possibility to be widely seen anymore.
England's finest
Wonderful Jake Thackray a true poet
No...an international treasure!
I've posted Jake's translation next to George's original in my favourites.Many thanks, Folkie.
I grew up with Brassens, at home and at school - my elementary school was called "Ecole Primaire Georges Brassens" - can you believe it? I always thought it would be so difficult to translate him: his songs are all a love letter to the French language, with a precise and musical phrasing, old-fashioned expressions and use of slang. However, he always said that his main musical inspiration was jazz. Translating is therefore possible - only if you translate the intent, not simply the words.
Thackray was an unconditional fan of Brassens. So am I.
That is what all translators do - translate the concept, not the words - which is why it's not as easy as most folk think.
"It is offensive" ......love it!
Unbelievable! Go back to watching X factor,or Big Brother,or anything on your intellectual level and leave the appreciation of true talent to those that can appreciate it
i've been looking for videos of him since a show on the BBC a while ago
but i couldn't remember his last name
pure genius
Same here, only discovered him through that show on BBC!
Cheers for the upload bigchimp, and thanks for the Jake DvD.
:-D
This is fantastic.
Great clip. Sadly, that is all we have now. Jake sang in an amazing way that makes me feel ignorant of my language, but he inspired me to constantly increase my diction.
I always smile from beginning to end of his songs. What has happened to intelligent wit?
ah Jake.. the staple for all drunken yorkshiremen. a great loss for our county.
Genius!!
awesome!
A classic
Sheer genius!
Jake Thackray, still much missed.
so the de andre' song was a translation! (into Italian). I know this song already in another foreign language! (nb this is so like other Fabrizio de Andre' songs that he must have been one of many similar throughout europe at that time)
God bless our Jake......loved him so much 🦍❤
Well, as a French living in the US, I know some Americans who are quite good too (I'm thinking Jon Stewart, George Carlin, Louis CK). But indeed, the oh so British understatement and despise of political correctness is a treat I enjoy often, from Swift to the Monty Python - even in the three idiots of Top Gear!
thanks for that, folkie
Amazingly good translation! Brassens is a hero in France, Thakray is virtually unknown in England. What does that say?
Well perhaps he isn't as well known in Britain as Brassens is in France but that doesn't mean he isn't well known by those of us who were around at the time.
As a gorilla in the zoo, I'd only go for the grandma if she was Helen Mirren.
The original brassens song is good too
Brassens was a genius, that's an understatement.
I appreciate Jake's timeliness: that's what Brassens intended. Apart from Jake's English, De Andre's Italian, and Nanni Svampa's vernacular Milanese, does anyone know about any more translations of Brassens's song?
Talented lyricist-translators can rise to the beastly task.... the song was also translated to Hebrew in the late 1960’s by Dan Almagor, here sang by Yossi Banai in his album "There are no happy loves" singing Brassens songs. It was quite popular in Israel. One of the raunchiest songs I've ever heard in the language of the Bible...
th-cam.com/video/BJbLJP5Z0aY/w-d-xo.html
And here is the original French song, sang by Brassens, with Hebrew subtitles
th-cam.com/video/NzRvLGBu3hY/w-d-xo.html
I just found this English version! Here it is in Greek: th-cam.com/video/kHwN2HSk4zg/w-d-xo.html
And a Spanish version:
th-cam.com/video/qsIacKMeQ1M/w-d-xo.html
"Go for granny every time" :D
they don t come like this any more !
Who of you knows italian... Take a listen to Fabrizio De Andre's version :)
genius...
Odd session -- no live audience. Anyone know where it's from?
It sounds very Russian Bard-esque
jake in a box i think,same as whatever his album was called.
Well, yeah. If someone cut my head off, I'd at least want to know what I'd done to piss them off.
good
Old Grey Whistle Test?
Paco Ibañez translated 2 or 3 songs in spanish.
lol
@TheGayZebra Sorry you don't like this. I suspect it means you have no soul. Seriously: when you look in a mirror - is there a reflection? If you hold a mirror in front of your mouth, can you see your breath on it? Just asking.
Given that souls are an invention of the church they don't actually exist.
@TheGayZebra
I don't think you have any idea what you are talking about and that is being polite. Stick to modern pop and ridiculous videos.
Although associated with The great Frenchman he sounds very unlike him
Jake stands on his own style wise and he is very much a Yorkshire man
Both these men stand on their own
Comparisons are lazy 😴
This song , funnily enough is not that funny!