English title Amsterdam Language French | Published 1964 | |
"Amsterdam" is a song by Jacques Brel. It combines a powerful melancholic crescendo with a rich poetic account of the exploits of sailors on shore leave in Amsterdam.
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Brel never recorded this for a studio album, and his only version was released on the live album Enregistrement Public à l'Olympia 1964. Despite this, it has been one of his most enduringly popular works. It was one of the songs Mort Shuman translated into English for the musical Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.
Brel worked on the song at his house overlooking the Mediterranean at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the house he shared with Sylvie Rivet, a publicist for Philips; a place she had introduced him to in 1960. "It was the ideal place for him to create, and to indulge his passion for boats and planes. One morning at six o'clock he read the words of Amsterdam to Fernand, a restaurateur who was about to set off fishing for scorpion fish and conger eels for the bouillabaisse. Overcome, Fernand broke out in sobs and cut open some sea urchins to help control his emotion."
The melody shows strong similarities with the English folk song Greensleeves.
David Bowie version
Scott Walker recorded several of these translated Brel songs in the late 1960s. This inspired David Bowie to record his own versions of "Amsterdam" in the early 1970s. Bowie's studio version was released as the B-side to his single "Sorrow" in September 1973. (This recording may have been made in the summer of 1973 or in late 1971.) Brel originally stated that he didn't want to "give his songs to fags", and refused to meet Bowie, who nevertheless admired him.
Bowie's version is also found on several other releases:
Other English covers
Dave Van Ronk recorded a version on his 1971 album, Van Ronk.
The Dresden Dolls often play a cover of the song live with English lyrics. More recently, Amanda Palmer has performed the original French version in her live solo show with Jason Webley playing accordion.
The Bolshoi recorded a version for their debut single Sob Story in 1984.
Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie recorded a version for their debut album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags.
Irish cabaret singer Camille O'Sullivan performs a cover of the song as part of her show with the Spiegeltent. Irish singer-songwriter Jack L has also recorded a version of the song.
John Denver released a version of this song on his album, Take Me To Tomorrow (1970).
Bellowhead have recorded Amsterdam on their 2010 album Hedonism.
Rod McKuen made his own translation of "Amsterdam" and included it on his album Rod McKuen Sings Jacques Brel.
A rather obscure German art collective named Flaming Star recorded a version for their untitled first 7" single.
In 2007 Marc Almond recorded a version for the EP "Brel Extras" released 2008 (http://www.discogs.com/Marc-Almond-Brel-Extras/release/1481753)
Scott Walker Recorded a version on his album Scott. Otherwise known as Scott 1
Dutch covers
Both Dutch band De Dijk and Dutch artists Acda en De Munnik recorded Dutch language versions of the song, called "Amsterdam" and "De stad Amsterdam" (The city Amsterdam) respectively. Other Dutch versions can be found by Liesbeth List (Liesbeth List zingt Jacques Brel), Jan Mesdag (Jan Mesdag zingt Brel) and Jeroen Willems (Jeroen Willems zingt Jacques Brel).