Jacques Brel nació el 8 de abril de 1929 en Schaerbeek, un barrio de Bruselas, Bélgica. Hijo de Romain Brel y Elisabeth Lambertine, su familia era de clase media, dedicada a la industria del cartón. A pesar de las expectativas familiares de que siguiera en el negocio, Jacques mostró desde temprana edad un interés profundo por la música y las artes.
En su juventud, Brel integró algunos grupos locales y comenzó a escribir sus propias canciones. Su estilo ya mostraba una inclinación por las letras profundas y emotivas. En 1953, decidió mudarse a París, el epicentro de la chanson francesa. Allí, con mucho esfuerzo y persistencia, empezó a presentarse en pequeños cabarets, donde su talento y carisma no tardaron en llamar la atención.
El verdadero despegue de su carrera llegó en 1959 con la canción "Ne Me Quitte Pas". Este tema, una súplica desgarradora en un tono casi obsesivo, capturó la imaginación del público y se convirtió en un himno, interpretado por artistas de todo el mundo. A partir de ahí, su popularidad no hizo más que crecer.
Los años 60 y 70 fueron testigos de una producción prolífica. Brel desarrolló un estilo único, combinando letras poéticas que abordaban temas como el amor, la soledad, la muerte y la resistencia personal con melodías apasionadas. Sus actuaciones en vivo eran electrizantes, famosas por su intensidad emocional y su capacidad de conectar con la audiencia.
Carousel Song Lyrics
Carousel by Jacques Brel Carnivals and cotton candy
Carousels and calliopes
Fortune-tellers in glass cases
We will always remember these
Merry-go-rounds quickly turning
Quickly turning for you and me
And the whole world madly turning
Turning, turning 'till you can't see
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a ferris wheel
A crazy ferris wheel
A wheel within a wheel
And suddenly we feel
The stars begin to reel
And down again around
And up again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
Carnivals and cotton candy
Carousels and calliopes
Crazy clowns chasing brass rings
Soda pop and rock-candy trees
Merry-go-rounds quickly turning
Quickly turning for you and me
And the whole world madly turning
Turning, turning 'till you can't see
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a ferris wheel
A crazy ferris wheel
A wheel within a wheel
And suddenly we feel
The stars begin to reel
And down again around
And up again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
Carnivals and cotton candy
Carousels and calliopes
Kewpie-dolls with painted faces
Tricky shell games and missing peas
Merry-go-rounds quickly turning
Quickly turning for you and me
And the whole world madly turning
Turning, turning 'till you can't see
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a ferris wheel
A crazy ferris wheel
A wheel within a wheel
And suddenly we feel
The stars begin to reel
And down again around
And up again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
La, la, la, la - la, la, la, la
La, la, la - la, la, la, la, la - la!