Comme d'habitude
Encyclopedia
"Comme d’habitude" is a French song written in 1967 by Claude François
and Jacques Revaux
with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibaut.
Originally titled "For Me" with lyrics in English, the song was initially refused by numerous artists (most notably Michel Sardou
), until Hervé Vilard finally agreed to record it. However, Revaux was not satisfied with Vilard's version of the song and approached Claude François
to record it. François accepted but asked that an underlying theme of a couple in a strained relationship be included, in reference to his recent breakup with fellow French singer France Gall
. Revaux agreed and with some rewriting from Gilles Thibaut the song became "Comme d'habitude" and was released by François in 1968.
Paul Anka
, after hearing the song while watching French television in Paris, got the rights to it for free for his American production company. After rewriting with English lyrics – unrelated to the original – Frank Sinatra
recorded a cross-Atlantic version of it in 1969 under the title "My Way
". "Comme d'habitude" has reputedly been recorded in more languages, by more artists than any other song in contemporary music history.
The tune of "Comme d'habitude" is also the musical basis for a song David Bowie
wrote in 1968, but never recorded, called "Even a Fool Learns to Love". Bowie had previously been asked to write English lyrics to "Comme d'habitude" by his manager Tony Defries – the year before Paul Anka acquired the French song – but declined, believing there was no commercial or artistic merit in the project.
"Comme d'habitude" was also covered by Florent Pagny
in 1989 and released as a single in France.
Claude François
Claude François was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way."-Early life:...
and Jacques Revaux
Jacques Revaux
Jacques Revaux is a French songwriter most famous for his 1968 collaboration with singer Claude François on the song "Comme d'habitude" that singer-songwriter Paul Anka reworked into the English language as "My Way". He co-founded Trema Records with Regis Talar...
with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibaut.
Originally titled "For Me" with lyrics in English, the song was initially refused by numerous artists (most notably Michel Sardou
Michel Sardou
Michel Sardou is a French singer.He was born in Paris, the son of Fernand Sardou and Jackie Rollin . Contrary to claims common towards the beginning of his career, he is not the grandson of the dramatist Victorien Sardou...
), until Hervé Vilard finally agreed to record it. However, Revaux was not satisfied with Vilard's version of the song and approached Claude François
Claude François
Claude François was a French pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He wrote "Comme d'habitude," the original version of "My Way."-Early life:...
to record it. François accepted but asked that an underlying theme of a couple in a strained relationship be included, in reference to his recent breakup with fellow French singer France Gall
France Gall
France Gall is a popular French yé-yé singer.Gall was married to, and had a successful singing career in partnership with, French singer-songwriter Michel Berger....
. Revaux agreed and with some rewriting from Gilles Thibaut the song became "Comme d'habitude" and was released by François in 1968.
Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
, after hearing the song while watching French television in Paris, got the rights to it for free for his American production company. After rewriting with English lyrics – unrelated to the original – Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
recorded a cross-Atlantic version of it in 1969 under the title "My Way
My Way (song)
"My Way" is a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the...
". "Comme d'habitude" has reputedly been recorded in more languages, by more artists than any other song in contemporary music history.
The tune of "Comme d'habitude" is also the musical basis for a song David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
wrote in 1968, but never recorded, called "Even a Fool Learns to Love". Bowie had previously been asked to write English lyrics to "Comme d'habitude" by his manager Tony Defries – the year before Paul Anka acquired the French song – but declined, believing there was no commercial or artistic merit in the project.
"Comme d'habitude" was also covered by Florent Pagny
Florent Pagny
Florent Pagny is a French musician. He has also acted in many French films. He records work in French, Italian, Spanish and English, and his greatest hits include "N'importe quoi", "Savoir aimer", "Ma Liberté de penser" and "Caruso" .As of 2008, he has sold 4,268,980 copies of singles,...
in 1989 and released as a single in France.