Le Métèque
"Le métèque" is a French chanson by Georges Moustaki. He wrote it in 1969, and it was his first breakthrough hit, reaching number one in the French charts for six non-consecutive weeks. Before this song he had written for many singers, including "Milord" for Édith Piaf. He recorded an Italian version titled "Lo straniero", which became the best-selling record of 1969 in Italy.
Métèque is a pejorative word for a shifty-looking immigrant of Mediterranean origin.
Other versions
- The song has been translated into several languages.
- 1968 - Pia Colombo album A L'Olympia
- 1969 - Caravelli album Caravelli
- 1969 - Manu Dibango album Manu Dibango
- 1969 - Georges Jouvin album Trompette d'or
- 1969 - Dominique Bellot featuring Orchestre Bernard Wystraëte album Hits Variety N° 1
- 1970 - Bobby Solo, lyrics by Bruno Lauzi, album Bobby Folk, published in Spain
- 1970 - The Musicos album Discothèque N° 2
- 1970 - Tanju Okan, lyrics by, with the title Hasret
- 1971 - Herman Van Keeken album Herman Van Keeken, published in The Netherlands
- Greek singer George Dalaras recorded a Greek version "O Metoikos" with new lyrics by Dimitris Christodoulou in 1971.
- 1972 - Melina Mercouri with the title O metikos, lyrics by D. Christodoulou, album Melina Mercouri, published in Spain, Germany, Canada and United Kingdom
- 1972 - Yossi Banai with the title פרצוף של צועני, lyrics by Nisim Aloni, Album 'face of a gypsy', published inisrael
- 1978 - De Strangers with the title De gastarbeider, lyrics by Lex Colman; album Goe zot, published in Belgium
- 1982 - Dennie Christian with the title Voor zoiets is het nooit te laat, lyrics by David Hartsema, album Vriendschap, published in The Netherlands
- 1986 - Stranger Alex with the title De gastarbeider, lyrics by Lex Colman; album Helemaal Alleen Op Z'n Eentje, published in Belgium
- 1986 - Utako Watanabe album Devo tornare a casa mia, published in Japan
- 1988 - Manolo album Manolo, published in France
- 1991 - Luc et Patrick, album Les troubadours des temps modernes, published in Switzerland
- Moustaki recorded an Italian version with lyrics translated by Bruno Lauzi. His rendition of this version was released in 1969 as a single titled "Lo straniero", with arrangement by Alain Goraguer. It reached number one on the Italian charts, and became the best-selling record of the year in Italy. In 1970, Moustaki's recording won the Mostra internazionale di musica leggera in Venice as the best-selling record of 1969.