Non C'est Rien / Free Again

Free Again

I recently discovered that "Free Again" by Barbra Streisand is based on a french song called "Non, C'est Rien" or "C'est Rien".

Barbra even sung the French version before "Free Again" (released as B-side of the single "La mer" Columbia 4-43739 in 1966).

Although my earlier research gave 1957 as original date, I currently can't find a source that confirms this. The French song was possibly performed first by Michel Jourdan, who wrote it together with Joseph Basil and Armand Canfora. Robert Colby probably translated it into English.

Barbra is certainly not the original for the French version, since I found a version by Jacqueline Danno in 1965 at http://www.scpp.fr

I do think she's the original singer of the English version.

Does anyone have more information about the French version?

It's very hard to find anything about the first release of this song on the net.

The oldest version I could find is in Spanish or Portugese from 1965 by a Brazilian artist called Moacyr Franco: Novamente Livre http://cliquemusic.uol.com.br/artistas/artistas.asp?Status=DISCO&Nu_Disco=9068

Another version from 1966 in Italian: Finalmente Libera by Ornella Vanoni :

http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/resto/cover/titolior.htm

Quote by Filip at 1159370732:

The oldest version I could find is in Spanish or Portugese from 1965 by a Brazilian artist called Moacyr Franco: Novamente Livre http://cliquemusic.uol.com.br/artistas/artistas.asp?Status=DISCO&Nu_Disco=9068

This seems to be the first translation in Portugese, translated by Myrian Celeste herself.

Quote by Filip at 1159370732:

Another version from 1966 in Italian: Finalmente Libera by Ornella Vanoni :

http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/resto/cover/titolior.htm

It looks like the song has quite a history, given all these different translations.

One thing is for sure: the original was French. Pity I can't find the source again where I got the year 1957 from.

Sorry, can't help with 1957, but there is another French version here (1967) by Liesbeth List:

http://www.fonos.nl/fonos2/store?request=detail&type=view&catalogue_key=395467

Jon

Quote by baggish at 1159378664:

Sorry, can't help with 1957, but there is another French version here (1967) by Liesbeth List:

With lyrics by Ernst Bader, which probably makes it a German version

Sorry, Liesbeth List is 1966

http://www.liesbethlist.nl/carriere.htm#1

Probably you found these, but just in case some more French covers are listed here, but all are late 60s:

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/discologue-bin/resultsum/m=0/e=0/h=25/p=1/f=TI/t…

There seems to be some debate over Basile/Baselli.

Jon

Yes there is a typo in the original post (Basil should be Basile).

His full name is Joseph Octave Basile, as listed in the ASCAP database (http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=19… )

He is affiliated to SACEM, but their site (http://www.sacem.fr ) has been down lately.

His biography at http://francois.faurant.free.fr/baselli/barbara_index.html also lists him as Joss Baselli (also see the record cover), which explains the confusion.

But still no trace of "Non, C'est Rien" in 1957...

Looks like Michel Jourdan was age 10 in 1957, and maybe made his first recordings in the early 1960s:

http://fanclubdo.free.fr/amis.htm

Barbra Streisand's versions are both on 1966 LPs, 'Non...C'Est Rien' on 'Color Me Barbra', 'Free Again' on'Je M'Appelle Barbra'.

Jon.

Quote by baggish at 1159400290:

Looks like Michel Jourdan was age 10 in 1957, and maybe made his first recordings in the early 1960s:

I think your source could be wrong. Another source (http://www.auteurscompositeurs.com/jourdan.html ) also lists 1947 as birth date, but further down the page it sais En 1950, alors qu’il n’a que seize ans (...in 1950, when he was only 16 years old...) which means he was born in 1934.

1934 is also listed at http://www.evene.fr/celebre/biographie/jourdan-michel-20110.php

In this case he would have been 23 years old in 1957, which still makes the date possible.

A very interesting subject. I am searching too for information and other versions of this song.

The Greek singer Vicky Leandros recorded the english version in 1968 for her album "Summertime forever" and re-recorded it in 1971.

She sang the French version as well, which was released on her first Greek album (1968).

Vicky Leandros is still giving concerts in Europe and -as it is one of her favourite songs- performs it during every concert and gala she does.

Quote from Denis

Free Again

Barbra is certainly not the original for the French version, since I found a version by Jacqueline Danno in 1965 at http://www.scpp.fr

I do think she's the original singer of the English version.

Does anyone have more information about the French version?

Release: 1965 / La Voix de son Maître / EMI (7EGF805)

http://www.encyclopedisque.fr/disque/31447.html

Added the original, as suggested by Isa, thanks!

Please lock up.

Why are you sure that Jacqueline Danno is the original?

Because she introduced it on the "Rose D'Or" D'Antibes à L'Olympia.

If not for her recording, then her performance is a "first" anyway. See the year 1965:

http://larosedor.pagesperso-orange.fr/historique.htm

As long as no other version appears, she counts for the original, no?