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Dec 16, 2025

Pierre Delanoë | The exclusive playlist of the 5,000 songs man!

What do “Les lacs du Connemara,” “Une belle histoire,” “Dans les yeux d’Émilie,” “Je reviens te chercher,” ” Laissez-moi danser” and countless other French songs that have stood the test of time have in common? The answer: their lyricist, Pierre Delanoë (16.12.1918 / 27.12.2006), a tax inspector who became known as “The 5,000 songs man”!

From Michel Fugain to Joe Dassin, including Gérard Lenorman, Gilbert Bécaud, Dalida, Nana Mouskouri and Michel Sardou, Pierre Delanoë wrote thousands of lyrics for legendary performers, symbolizing the golden age of French song, of which he is the most famous lyricist.

A shadowy artist, from his beginnings in the 1950s alongside his career as a tax inspector, to a list of 19 songs ranked number 1 in sales in France between 1964 (“L’orange” by Bécaud) and 2006 (“Le papa pingouin” by Pigloo!).

Still present today in the daily lives of people who hum his lyrics, often without knowing him, Pierre Delanoë leaves behind a colossal popular cultural legacy worth sharing. Listen to some of the works from his impressive catalog, gathered in an exclusive playlist developed by his grandson, Nicolas Gilbert, with a selection offering his 40 most popular titles, as well as 40 songs to rediscover.

Official website: https://www.pierre-delanoe.fr

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The 5000 songs man | Pierre Delanoë

Discover 80 songs wirtten by Pierre Delanoë Listen now