(for photos of Hallyday, please click PHOTO COMPANION TO MUSIC DISCUSSION POSTS)
I was still researching and gathering information on Tommy Steele when I stumbled across my next discovery. Again, it all started with a film I had seen in the past. It was an extremely silly, and not very impressive film called "He's My Girl". I remembered it being a low budget comedy starring a nobody. A cute nobody....but a nobody, none the less. The one thing I did remember about this film was that I totally loved the song at the end. It just plain rocked and kicked ass! The nobody little actor in the lead role was playing a guy who was trying to get his music noticed in L.A., and the final scene was him on stage, finally being able to perform his song...lip-syncing over this great piece of rock.
So, a couple years back, I was visiting my sister and her husband. We were watching a DVD, but when Jason went out to smoke, and the DVD was stopped, the television was airing this movie. We managed to work things out to where I could see the song at the end again. I wanted to watch the credits for the band that did the song, so I could check them out and get more of their music. So...it got to the scene. I was really enjoying the song. But then I noticed something. When I watched the movie back in the early 90s, I had not yet had all the band insider music exposure. This time around, I had. Suddenly, I noticed that this nobody little actor was actually chording the notes I was hearing. I noticed that, like a genuine musician, he was watching his chording hand, and not his strumming hand - as non-musical actor might.
Son-of-a-bitch! This nobody little elfin pretty boy WAS the kick-ass band!!!!
His name is David Hallyday. And he's French. You wouldn't know it from watching the film, though. His English is fluent, and you'd think he was from the mid west or something. But, his name definitely isn't French, so it's my guess his family moved to France and he's traveled a lot throughout his life. After all, his father, Johnny Hallyday, was also a rock star. Still is, actually. But now he's more of a rock legend. In any case, David Hallyday wanted to rock, and he wanted to do it in America. His first several albums were exclusively in English, and he played English concerts to countless French audiences. Unfortunately, his bid for American just didn't work out, and so, in America, he's all but unknown, and so is his music. Which is a shame, since it's fantastic stuff.
Like my other discoveries, my first act was to start obtaining CDs. Which wasn't easy! It was harder to get my hands on Hallyday's stuff than the Tommy Steele stuff. But I finally managed it. And not only that, but I also managed to get a concert VHS from France, had it converted to Region 1 and have been able to see what a dang few other Americans have...David Hallyday in concert. Around 1993, David reconciled himself to his fate of only being a rock star in France, and started doing his music in French. He's also an accomplished Formula One race car driver. But his brief stint with doing English rock has left my music collection enhanced by some really great pieces. He has a real 80's rock sound. Not quite as hard as hair metal...but not as "cute" as pop, either. I've made many "Best Of" CDs for my friends, and many of them listen to him as regularly now as they do the music that is currently getting radio airplay.
Though many people in the music industry are of the opinion that good = what hasn't been done before, it's my opinion that if something's good, and people enjoy listening to it, there's no reason it should have to fade into history just because the industry wants to market newer sounds...especially if those newer sounds aren't necessarily better. I really feel this way about 80s rock. There are a few bands out there trying to bring it back, but...just like with Tommy Steele's oldies...when I discovered David Hallyday, I was able to hear new 80s rock! Again, a very uniquely satisfying experience.
If you have the chance and the means, here is a list of Hallyday's best songs to look for: These live performances: (and the live pieces are cool in that, though he's singing in English, he's shouting at the audience in French) Shadow Side Vertigo Hey Louise Move Hold On Blue Eyes (love this one!) Wanna Take My Time (the live version, folks! The Live version is so much better than the studio version...and WOW!)
For studio recordings, look for: Rock Revival (the song from the film) Church of the Poison Spider High Listening (also a great one!) Where is David? (funny and quirky) Ooh, La, La Change of Heart Tears of the Earth To Have and to Hold (rock ballad - great for weddings!)
I was still researching and gathering information on Tommy Steele when I stumbled across my next discovery. Again, it all started with a film I had seen in the past. It was an extremely silly, and not very impressive film called "He's My Girl". I remembered it being a low budget comedy starring a nobody. A cute nobody....but a nobody, none the less. The one thing I did remember about this film was that I totally loved the song at the end. It just plain rocked and kicked ass!
The nobody little actor in the lead role was playing a guy who was trying to get his music noticed in L.A., and the final scene was him on stage, finally being able to perform his song...lip-syncing over this great piece of rock.
So, a couple years back, I was visiting my sister and her husband. We were watching a DVD, but when Jason went out to smoke, and the DVD was stopped, the television was airing this movie. We managed to work things out to where I could see the song at the end again. I wanted to watch the credits for the band that did the song, so I could check them out and get more of their music.
So...it got to the scene. I was really enjoying the song. But then I noticed something. When I watched the movie back in the early 90s, I had not yet had all the band insider music exposure. This time around, I had. Suddenly, I noticed that this nobody little actor was actually chording the notes I was hearing. I noticed that, like a genuine musician, he was watching his chording hand, and not his strumming hand - as non-musical actor might.
Son-of-a-bitch! This nobody little elfin pretty boy WAS the kick-ass band!!!!
His name is David Hallyday. And he's French. You wouldn't know it from watching the film, though. His English is fluent, and you'd think he was from the mid west or something. But, his name definitely isn't French, so it's my guess his family moved to France and he's traveled a lot throughout his life. After all, his father, Johnny Hallyday, was also a rock star. Still is, actually. But now he's more of a rock legend.
In any case, David Hallyday wanted to rock, and he wanted to do it in America. His first several albums were exclusively in English, and he played English concerts to countless French audiences. Unfortunately, his bid for American just didn't work out, and so, in America, he's all but unknown, and so is his music. Which is a shame, since it's fantastic stuff.
Like my other discoveries, my first act was to start obtaining CDs. Which wasn't easy! It was harder to get my hands on Hallyday's stuff than the Tommy Steele stuff. But I finally managed it. And not only that, but I also managed to get a concert VHS from France, had it converted to Region 1 and have been able to see what a dang few other Americans have...David Hallyday in concert.
Around 1993, David reconciled himself to his fate of only being a rock star in France, and started doing his music in French. He's also an accomplished Formula One race car driver.
But his brief stint with doing English rock has left my music collection enhanced by some really great pieces. He has a real 80's rock sound. Not quite as hard as hair metal...but not as "cute" as pop, either. I've made many "Best Of" CDs for my friends, and many of them listen to him as regularly now as they do the music that is currently getting radio airplay.
Though many people in the music industry are of the opinion that good = what hasn't been done before, it's my opinion that if something's good, and people enjoy listening to it, there's no reason it should have to fade into history just because the industry wants to market newer sounds...especially if those newer sounds aren't necessarily better. I really feel this way about 80s rock. There are a few bands out there trying to bring it back, but...just like with Tommy Steele's oldies...when I discovered David Hallyday, I was able to hear new 80s rock! Again, a very uniquely satisfying experience.
Some nice person has put a video for one of his songs on YouTube. Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-rqssj7iwI
If you have the chance and the means, here is a list of Hallyday's best songs to look for:
These live performances: (and the live pieces are cool in that, though he's singing in English, he's shouting at the audience in French)
Shadow Side
Vertigo
Hey Louise
Move
Hold On Blue Eyes (love this one!)
Wanna Take My Time (the live version, folks! The Live version is so much better than the studio version...and WOW!)
For studio recordings, look for:
Rock Revival (the song from the film)
Church of the Poison Spider
High
Listening (also a great one!)
Where is David? (funny and quirky)
Ooh, La, La
Change of Heart
Tears of the Earth
To Have and to Hold (rock ballad - great for weddings!)