BIOGRAPHY PROJECT: ORAL PRESENTATION ON CLAUDE …



BIOGRAPHY PROJECT

ORAL PRESENTATION ON CLAUDE FRANÇOIS

I did my biography project on Claude François a famous French singer who died tragically at the age of 39 in Paris on March 11th 1978. He was born on February 1st 1939 in Ismailia, Egypt where his father, a naval engineer, and many generations before him lived. The François family originally came from the city of Lyon in southern France. When Claude François was 17, he and his family had to flee Egypt for political reasons. They left overnight with nothing and did the long journey back to their ancestral country France.

Claude François became famous with his music. He had numerous hit songs in the 60’s and 70’s. He achieved such fame in his short career that he counted as the top 3 French artists of his time. His first hit song was Belles, Belles, Belles in 1963 which made him famous, and his last was Alexandrie, Alexandra in 1978 which was released one week after his death. This last song introduced a new tempo and style of music, the disco which many French artists after him followed.

Claude François’ impact on French pop music was through his musical talent. He sold millions of records in France and in Europe. Millions of people loved him and his concerts were always sold out. Claude François won many Gold Records in his 15 year career. Even today some 34 years after his death, Claude François remains popular with the younger generations. His music can often be heard on the radio and in clubs all over France. He still has a huge fan base that never even knew him, and he remains an icon in French pop music today. There is even a square named after him in Paris near where he used to live. Claude François also gave generously to society by giving free concerts to raise money and help causes that were dear to him. He was particularly affected by young children with disabilities and terminal illness.

Claude François’ life is remarkable because he had to leave behind the only life he knew when he was just a teenager, and start over in a new country. He and his family had no money and had to live on very little. He took on many odd jobs just to survive. There were many days that the family went hungry. His father could not find work and later fell ill. He let himself die because he never fully recovered from the humiliation of being expelled from the country they had come to know as their own. After his father’s death Claude François was even more determined to succeed and make a name for himself. Above all he wanted to provide for his mother and sister and give them a good life, which he did.

One of the traits that was most helpful to him is his perseverance. Even though he was rejected countless of times by record companies when he first started to sing, he knew he had talent and that it was only a matter of time till he made it big. He had that invincible rage to win, no doubt a revenge on his past, fueled by the unforeseen turn of events that forever changed his life and who he was.

As a young teenager growing up in France I listened to his music and bought all the magazines on him. I desperately wanted to go see him in concert with my best friend but we were young with no driving license and no car of our own. I learned many valuable lessons from the way he lived his life. First you must believe in yourself and in your dreams. You have the power to change the way you look at things. Another lesson

I learned is that you must do everything possible to make your dreams come true. Nothing will be handed to you. You have to make it happen. I learned also that character does matter. Some people may have talent but lack character to succeed. Others may not be as gifted but they believe strongly in themselves. I learned too that success is not always measured by how much money you make but rather by doing something you can be proud of.

I can still remember that beautiful spring day in March when all regularly scheduled TV programs were interrupted in mid-afternoon with newsflash of his tragic death. I can still remember how I felt when I first heard that he had passed away so suddenly. I will never forget the person that he was. And even after all these years I still have the same emotion when I listen to his songs. But most importantly whenever I listen to his music it always brings me to a good place.

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