Genres Chanson Instruments Vocals Website annesylvestre.com | Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter Years active 1957 (1957)– () Siblings Marie Chaix | |
 | ||
Born 20 June 1934
Lyon, France ( 1934-06-20 ) Labels Philips
Anne Sylvestre
EPM Musique
Universal Books La Petite Josette, Mechant !, Flocon, papillon, Fabulettes sans notes pour matelots et matelotes Albums Comment je m'appelle, Carré de dames Parents Albert Beugras, Alice Beugras Similar Henri Dès, Michèle Bernard, Agnès Bihl, Pauline Julien, Aldebert | ||
Anne Sylvestre ([an silvɛstʁ], born Anne-Marie Beugras 20 June 1934) is a French singer and songwriter.
Contents
Anne sylvestre
Biography
The daughter of Albert Beugras, she is the sister of writer Marie Chaix. Her father was a politician turned collaborationnist during the Occupation of France. Marie Chaix wrote a book about their father's role during the Occupation, Les Lauriers du lac de Constance (1974). Since 1992, Marie Chaix is Harry Mathews's wife, which makes Anne Sylvestre his sister-in-law.
While studying Literature in Sorbonne University, Anne Sylvestre started singing in cabarets in the fifties and was discovered by Michel Valette. Jean-Claude Pascal recorded her song "Porteuse d'eau" (Waterbearer) under the title "La terre" (The Dirt, 1958). She started recording in 1959, and Georges Brassens wrote a preface for her second album (1962). Since 1962, she also wrote and sang for children (Fabulettes). She wrote a song for Serge Reggiani, "La Maumariée" (The Wrongly-Wed Bride, 1968). She recorded a comical duet with Boby Lapointe, "Depuis l'temps que j'l'attends mon prince charmant" (I've been wainting for my prince charming for ages, 1969).
In 1973, she created her own recording company to release her albums. In 1976, along with Isabelle Aubret, she recorded album Fabulettes et Chansons d'Anne Sylvestre. In 1987, she put on a show with singer Pauline Julien from Quebec (Gémeaux croisées, Crossed Gemini, 1987-1988). With fellow singer Michèle Bernard, she put on a show aimed at children, Lala et le Cirque du vent (Lala and the Wind's Circus, 1992-1996). More recently, she sang on scene with Agnès Bihl in the show Carré de Dames (Four of Queens, 2012).
Her songs encompasses a large range of subjects. Her love songs are often in a nostalgic mode ("Le Pêcheur de perles", The Pearl Fisher, 1967; "La Chambre d'or", Golden Room, 1969). Some of her songs could not be broadcast because of their strong engagement, and others contain profanity, for instance "Les Gens qui doutent" (Doubting People, 1977). Some songs deal with difficult subjects such as poverty ("Porteuse d'eau", Waterbearer, 1961), homelessness ("Pas difficile", Not difficult, 1986), education in a consumer society ("Abel Caïn, mon fils", Abel Cain, my son, 1971), war ("Berceuse de Bagdad", Lullaby from Baghdad, 2003). Numerous songs give a feminist take on women's life: "Non, tu n'as pas de nom" (You have no name, 1973) about abortion, "La Vache engagée" (Engaged Cow, 1975), "Une sorcière comme les autres" (A Witch like any other one, 1975) about maternity, "La Faute à Ève" (Eve's Fault, 1978) about women's rights, "Rose" (1981) about teen pregnancy, or "Juste une femme" (Only a woman, 2013) about sexism. She also supported same-sex marriage ("Gay marions-nous", 2007).
Awards
