Artist: Jacques Dutronc
Author: Jacques Dutronc/Jacques Lanzmann
Label: Vogue
Year: 1966
Covers:
David Bowie [riff in The Jean Genie; see footnote]
Sweet [same guitar riff in Blockbuster; n°1 UK & NL; blocked Bowie's The Jean Genie's way to the top in January '73]
Gourds [undercurrent of Bean Bowl]
Beverly Jo Scott [as Jean Baltazaarrr; duet with Arno and in medley with David Bowie's The Jean Genie]
Dutronc may well have been inspired by Don't You Dare Blame Me by The Five Americans, B-side of Evol - Not Love (HBR - 1966), single also released on Vogue, Dutronc's French label. Bowie's The Jean Genie ('72) follows La Fille du Père Noël's rhythm; see: Bo Diddley's Oh Yea and I'm A Man (the Yardbirds version more precisely). Jean Genie has the same christian name as Dutronc's Jean Balthazar, "le fils du Père Fou(e)ttard" in La Fille du Père Noël. Just like the real Père Fouettard (Santa's little helper), Bowie's Jean Genie "loves chimney stacks".
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)