Julian Dassin
USABiography of Julian Dassen
Julian Dassen is a singer and the son of the famous French singer Joe Dassin. On November 5th, Joe Dassin could have turned 70 years old. However, he tragically passed away in 1980, before reaching the age of 42. Dassin was born in the same year as Vladimir Vysotsky and sadly died less than a month after the death of the "Taganka bard". Valentin Gaft, a Russian actor and poet, once exclaimed in one of his poems: "And let the radio announce the death of Joe Dassin, and let it be silent about the death of our Vysotsky. What do we care about Dassin?! We don't know what he sang about at all...". This frustration was understandable given the political climate of the time. However, the charming lyricism of the French singer was just a coincidence that caught Gaft's attention. Dassin's intonation was resonant and understandable to the Russian audience (even without knowing the language of Hugo and Dumas) no less than the style of Vladimir Semenovich. It spoke to certain reservoirs of the soul. It represented something poignant, bright, and sometimes unattainable. For example, Dassin's song "Les Champs-Elysees" resonated with the Russian people as a saga about an unattainable dream, a fairytale world, just like the famous "Nautilus" song "Goodbye, America!" Demand for Dassin in Russia today is unquestionable, so it's not surprising that we didn't let his birthday pass unnoticed. On the eve of November 5th, the “Kultura” TV channel aired one of the singer's last triumphant concerts in 1979 at the Parisian Olympia, and on November 8th, at the popular "Legends of Retro FM" festival at the "Olympic" stadium, Joe's 28-year-old son, Julian Dassin, will perform as a special guest. Before his arrival in Moscow, he had a conversation with a journalist from "Izvestia".
Question: Julian, I imagine that most of the questions addressed to you will be about your famous father. Especially since November marks 70 years since his birth. How was this date celebrated in France?
Answer: We don't have a tradition of celebrating birthdays on a large scale. Rather, we pay attention to the anniversaries of deaths. On such days, people remember the departed artists, their creativity, and the times when they performed.
Question: Is Joe Dassin still popular in his homeland? Or is he overshadowed by the names of legendary French chansonniers like Brassens, Bécaud, and Brel?
Answer: In my opinion, my father has never been as popular in France during his lifetime as he is now, in the last five years. His songs are often played on television, radio, and are widely used in various films and commercials. Many of our contemporary popular performers, such as Roch Voisine, include compositions from Joe Dassin's repertoire in their own performances. And Mika concludes his concerts with the hit song "Les Champs-Elysees".
Question: Why did you and your brother Jonathan choose to stage the musical dedicated to your father two years ago in Canada and not in France?
Answer: We were approached by a Canadian producer who was interested in this project. And we remember that our father loved touring in Canada and premiering his songs in that country. So we gladly agreed to stage the musical there. However, it is no longer being performed on stage.
Question: Joe Dassin passed away when you were only six months old. How do you remember him in your thoughts, and do you have any contact with his friends and acquaintances?
Answer: My father's presence is still noticeable in my life. I recreated his office in my apartment, complete with his gold discs, paintings, and favorite photographs. When you enter this room, it feels like my father is still here. I still often see Claude Lemesle, his friend and the author of many of his song lyrics. Unfortunately, many of my father's friends are no longer with us.
Question: When you grew up, did you ever try to ask your mother, Christine Delvaux, about your father and why their relationship became so strained in the last period of their lives, leading to a tumultuous divorce?
Answer: My mother never spoke at length about this topic, and my brother and I have no desire to ask her such questions. Moreover, much has already been said in the press about her relationship with my father, and in my opinion, some of these testimonies and stories are exaggerated. It is difficult to judge any romantic story when it does not concern you personally, when you have not experienced it from the inside.
Question: Do you think producers pushed you towards a music career, hoping for a catchy PR move: Joe Dassin's son following in his father's footsteps? Or did they genuinely see exceptional performing potential in you?
Answer: I think having the surname Dassin, if you want to go into show business, is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Because you are inevitably compared to someone who made that name famous. Besides, I don't have a producer, only a manager. And in the end, an artist's verdict is always given by the audience, regardless of their name.
Question: In Russia, your father is still very popular. Do you have any plans to stage a musical based on his songs in our country? A similar show based on ABBA's songs was successful here, and there is currently a nostalgia trend in Russia. You will soon experience it yourself as you are going to such a festival. By the way, what attracted you to "Legends of Retro FM"?
Answer: The musical about my father, which we are currently preparing, will be presented to the Russian audience in 2010. There are many registered users from Russia on internet forums of Joe Dassin's fans. My father loved your country, and we would very much like the Russian audience to see the musical about him. The invitation to the "Retro FM" festival is another opportunity for me to promote my father's songs, to present them as he would have done if he were alive. I am proud that the organizers of such a large-scale festival remembered him.
Question: You will be performing in front of a large audience at the "Olympic" stadium. Have you ever sung in stadiums before?
Answer: This will be my first time performing for such a large audience. It is an honor for me, and I have to admit that I am a little nervous already.
Question: Which song will you perform as a "virtual duet" with Joe Dassin, and who had the idea for this number?
Answer: I will sing "Et si tu n'existais pas" ("If You Didn't Exist") in a duet with my father, and I will also perform "Salut" solo. In France, I recorded a TV show called "Impossible Duets". It was well received by the representatives of "Retro FM", and that's how the idea for this performance at the "Olympic" stadium was born.
