Le Métèque Explained
"Le métèque" is a French chanson by Georges Moustaki (1934 - 2013). 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.[1] 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 (Disc'Az – LPS 25)
- 1969 - Caravelli album Caravelli (CBS Records International – S 7–63687)
- 1969 - Manu Dibango album Manu Dibango (Mercury Records – 135.717 MCY)
- 1969 - Georges Jouvin album Trompette d'or (La Voix de son maître - 2C 062–10278)
- 1969 - Dominique Bellot featuring Orchestre Bernard Wystraëte album Hits Variety N° 1 (AFA – 20 728)
- 1970 - Bobby Solo, lyrics by Bruno Lauzi, album Bobby Folk (Dischi Ricordi – 23 23 004), published in Spain
- 1970 - The Musicos album Discothèque N° 2 (Concert Hall Society – SMS-15017)
- 1970 - Tanju Okan, lyrics by, with the title Hasret (Yonca Plakçılık Ve Reklamcılık – YCA-010)
- 1971 - Herman Van Keeken album Herman Van Keeken (Nap – 2935 001), published in The Netherlands
- Greek singer George Dalaras recorded a Greek version "O Metoikos" with new lyrics by Dimitris Christodoulou in 1971.[2]
- 1972 - Melina Mercouri with the title O metikos, lyrics by D. Christodoulou, album Melina Mercouri (Polydor – 23 93 027), published in Spain, Germany, Canada and United Kingdom
- 1972 - Yossi Banai with the title פרצוף של צועני (face of a gypsy), 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 (Decca Records - DEC 193.500 K), published in Belgium
- 1982 - Dennie Christian with the title Voor zoiets is het nooit te laat, lyrics by David Hartsema, album Vriendschap (Polydor – 2925–134), published in The Netherlands
- 1986 - Stranger Alex with the title De gastarbeider, lyrics by Lex Colman; album Helemaal Alleen Op Z'n Eentje (Dureco Benelux – 66063), published in Belgium
- 1986 - Utako Watanabe album Devo tornare a casa mia (Omagatoki – SC 5005), published in Japan
- 1988 - Manolo album Manolo (Discadanse – D 76), published in France
- 1991 - Luc et Patrick, album Les troubadours des temps modernes (Luc – 1691), 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" (B-side "Giuseppe"), with arrangement by Alain Goraguer.[3] It reached number one on the Italian charts,[4] and became the best-selling record of the year in Italy.[5] In 1970, Moustaki's recording won the Mostra internazionale di musica leggera (Gondola d'oro) in Venice as the best-selling record of 1969.[6]
Charts
References
- Book: An Anthology of French and Francophone Singers from A to Z . 11 June 2018 . 493 . 9781527512054 . Cambridge Scholars Publishing . Marcelline Block. Michaël Abecassis .
- Book: Kasimis, Demetra . The Perpetual Immigrant and the Limits of Athenian Democracy. 2018. ix. 9781107052437 . Cambridge University Press .
- Web site: Discografia Nazionale della canzone italiana . 2022-06-08 . discografia.dds.it.
- Hits of the World . Billboard . 41. 1969-12-27 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en.
- Book: Lauzi, Bruno . Ricomporre armonie (Poesie 1992 - 2006). 2020. 9788899932978. Oltre Edizioni .
- Venice Boosts Strained Italian Disk Industry . Billboard . 84. 1970-10-10 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en.
- Hits of the World. Billboard. 102. 28 March 1970. 19 March 2024.
- Hits of the World . Billboard. 7 June 1969 . 63.
