Jacky
When I was just 15, I heard a new song from Scott Walker. He had recently split from The Walker Brothers, and this was a single released from his first solo album. It was a strange song, very theatrical in feel, as if from a show. It had unusual lyrics, and you certainly couldn’t dance to it. However, Walker’s powerful vocals and the infectious chorus guaranteed that this song became stuck in my mind, so I bought the single soon after.
Much later, I discovered that it was a cover version, an English translation of the original French song, written and performed by the Belgian singer/songwriter, Jacques Brel. I sought out Brel’s version, and got it on an album of equally unusual songs, most of which appealed to me for their very different construction to the popular songs of the day.
Then in 1991, former Soft Cell vocalist Marc Almond also recorded his version of ‘Jacky’, and I bought the album that came from. In almost a quarter of a century, the appeal of this song had never died for me, and I ended up owning three versions, including that original. I still love to hear them now.
Which one do you prefer?
Jacques.
Scott.
Marc.
beetleypete 
Almond all the way!
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Thanks for voting for your choice.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Scott Walker is a musical genius of the highest caliber. Though he is obscure in this moment of time, I do believe that he is going to become a legend when he passes on. Time will remember him kindly. The first album I listened to of his was The Drift. Such nightmare fuel! And yet I was hooked. It was ten times more dark and depressing than any Radiohead song, and that’s saying a lot because I love that band.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. I do hope that Scott will be appreciated as a significant musician and singer in years to come.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Really enjoyed the Scott Walker version.
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Thanks for listening and adding your choice, Lloyd.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Couldn’t load the last cover but enjoyed the rest.
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Thanks, Lloyd. The Marc video doesn’t work outside of the UK, it seems.
Cheers mate, Pete.
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Always pete.
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks very much, Michael.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I liked Scott’s version the best. If I could have ignored the over the top theatrics of Marc’s and deleted the gyrating women, I might have been able to judge his voice better!
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Marc is a very theatrical performer, Elizabeth. That’s a style he has never lost. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Monsieur Brel is a little intense for me so Scott remains number one!
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Thanks, Gilly. I know what you mean about Jacques.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The old classic is my favorite. What a passionate performance.
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Thanks, Cindy. He really felt his own lyrics, and put it all out there.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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I can’t say I remember this song? Almond’s won’t play for me here in Australia. The other two are both great.
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Thanks for listening, Peggy. Glad you liked the song.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have the Scott version on my iPad and sing along madly when it comes on! Hadn’t heard the other two versions but I like them too now!
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That would be my iPod not my iPad 🙄
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Thanks, FR. Happy to introduce you to both, and to make you aware of the original in the process too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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If I had to choose, I’d go for Marc Almond – though I really like Scott’s, too.
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Thanks, Mary. They have both covered a lot of Brel’s songs.
I think Marc is an accomplished singer indeed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Has to be Marc for me, although great to hear the other two versions.
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He does give it his all, I agree. I like them all, but have a soft spot for Scott, as it was the first one I heard.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I don’t think I’ve heard this song before, in any version!
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It was ‘of its time’ I suppose, Sarah. But for me at least, it still holds up.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think it’s a good song – I just hadn’t heard it before!
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Glad you liked it. Give Choppy a stroke from me. 🙂
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Will do!
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Scotts was the best for me. You don’t hear nice voices any more. It’s become all noise in modern times.
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Scott can definitely sing, Ron. No doubt about that.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I wasn’t able to watch the last one so I’m going over to YouTube to look it up. I like both the French original and Scott’s version, but if I absolutely had to pick one, it would be Scott’s. I love his theatricality.😊
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I will be interested to see what you make of Marc’s version, Kim. I like them all, for different reasons.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I like the last one, Pete.
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Thanks, Robbie. It is a great version, I agree.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have no preference. I like all three.
Warmest regards, Theo
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Thanks, Theo. I like them all too, for different reasons.
Best wishes, Pete.
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