Pierre Delanoë
Pierre Charles Marcel Napoléon Leroyer, known professionally as Pierre Delanoë, was a French lyricist who wrote thousands of songs for dozens of singers, including Dalida, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, Johnny Hallyday, Joe Dassin, Michel Sardou and Mireille Mathieu.
Career
Pierre Leroyer was born in Paris. For his professional career, he adopted his grandmother's maiden name Delanoë. After obtaining a law degree, he began a career as a tax collector, and later a tax inspector. After World War II, he met Gilbert Bécaud and began working as a lyricist. For a period, he even performed alongside Bécaud in clubs. They penned some of France's best loved songs, including "Et maintenant", translated into English as "What Now My Love", which was covered by artists including Agnetha Fältskog, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, the Supremes, Sonny & Cher, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and the Temptations. "Je t'appartiens" was covered by the Everly Brothers, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Nina Simone and Nofx. "Crois-moi ça durera" was covered as "You'll See" by Nat King Cole.In addition to Bécaud, Delanoë wrote for Édith Piaf, Tino Rossi, Hugues Aufray, Michel Fugain, Nicoletta, Nana Mouskouri, Michel Polnareff, Gérard Lenorman, Joe Dassin, Nicole Rieu and Michel Sardou. He wrote a passionate song about Joan of Arc in "La demoiselle d'Orléans" for Mireille Mathieu. The final lyric: "When I think of all I have given France... and she has forgotten me" was truly how the singer felt as she was made a caricature by Communists.
The song "Dors, mon amour", performed by André Claveau, for which Delanoë only wrote the music, and went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 1958.
In 1955, Delanoë was involved as Director of Programs in the launch of Europe 1, the first French radio station to program popular music in a modern way.
He served as President of SACEM in 1984 and 1986, then from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1992 to 1994. He was awarded the Poets Grand Prize in 1997 by the institution.
On 31 March 2004, Delanoë was given France's highest culture award, Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
He created some controversy in July 2006 after expressing dislike for rap music, saying that it is "a form of expression for people incapable of making music" and "not music but vociferations, eructations (belching)".