Biography
Yves Simon, born on May 3, 1944, in Choiseul, Haute-Marne, is a French singer and author. He has published more than 30 books and released around twenty albums.
Simon was born in the former clergy house of Choiseul, France. His father worked on the railways in Contrexéville, while his mother was initially a waitress before becoming a nurse. At eight years old, he received a diatonic accordion from his parents. During his teenage years, he played guitar in a Nancy-based band called "Korrigans nancéens."
In a television interview, he shared that at 16, he was inspired by Salvatore Adamo, who at 17 had just won a competition final and fulfilled his dream of becoming a writer and singer.
Simon attended school in Mirecourt and, after passing his baccalauréat, enrolled at the faculté de lettres in Nancy. He later moved to Paris to continue his studies at university and took preparatory classes at lycée Voltaire aiming to enter IDHEC. After earning his BA, he left Paris to travel across Europe and the United States.
In 1967, Simon released three singles: "Ne t'en fais pas petite fille," "T'as pas changé tu sais," and "Ne t'en fais pas petite fille." In 1969, he released "La Planète endormie." Although "Ne t'en fais pas petite fille" achieved some success, these recordings remained relatively obscure.
During this period, he also authored several novels. In 1971, his works "En couleur" and "L'homme arc-en-ciel" were well received. Additionally, he contributed to the magazine Actuel and the radio station Europe 1.
Simon gained widespread recognition in 1972 with the release of "Les Gauloises Bleues." Following this, he opened for prominent artists such as Georges Brassens. His 1973 album "Au pays des merveilles de Juliet" earned the prestigious Grand Prix de l'Académie du disque. The 1974 album "Respirer chanter" was also successful.
He stopped performing live concerts in 1977 but continued to release albums showcasing diverse musical styles. That same year, his soundtrack for Diane Kurys's film "Diabolo Menthe" was well received. His 1983 album "USA-USSR" was successful, as was "Liaisons" in 1988. He made occasional live appearances in Japan in 1982 and in France in 2007.
Simon's first best-selling novel, "Océans," was published in 1983. In 1991, he was awarded the Prix Médicis for his novel "La Dérive des sentiments." His 1997 novel "Le Prochain amour" achieved success, and his 1998 short story collection "Un instant de bonheur" received the Grand Prix de la chanson de l'Académie française.
Later in his career, Simon continued composing music less frequently, focusing more on writing. In 1999, he released "Intempestives," produced with Michel Cœuriot. This album featured orchestral arrangements blending rock, classical, and Arabian influences. His lyrics grew more socially conscious, addressing issues such as the plight of Afghan women imprisoned by the Taliban in "Les Souffrantes," defending criminal Florence Rey in "Pardonnez," depicting life in the banlieues in "Des cités des pleurs," and promoting dialogue between East and West. Other songs were more personal, like "Je te prie d'oublier," while "Je me souviens" paid tribute to Georges Perec.
