Photo: Jack de Nijs for Anefo / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Jacques Brel is, for me, one of the giants of song. Born in Schaerbeek in 1929 and gone far too soon at forty-nine, he poured a ferocious emotional honesty into chansons like Amsterdam and Bruxelles that still cut to the bone. He didn't so much sing as expel his soul, and though Belgian, he became a master of French chanson revered worldwide. The title of master of the modern chanson feels understated. What moves me is his refusal to prettify: he gave voice to human frailty, drunkenness, and grief without flinching. That raw sincerity is why his work outlives its era.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jacques Brel
- Name (Japanese)
- ジャック・ブレル
- Reading
- じゃっく・ぶれる
- Born
- April 8, 1929 – October 9, 1978
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Snake
- Origin
- Schaerbeek, Belgium
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- singer / chansonnier / singer-songwriter / guitarist / composer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Amsterdam | — | |
| Notable work | Les Bourgeois | — | |
| Notable work | Bruxelles | — | |
| Notable work | Ces Gens-Là | — | |
| Notable work | La Fanette | — | |
| Notable work | L'Ivrogne | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Jacques Brel born?
April 8, 1929 – October 9, 1978.
Where is Jacques Brel from?
Jacques Brel is from Schaerbeek, Belgium.
What does Jacques Brel do?
Jacques Brel works as singer, chansonnier, singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer.
What is Jacques Brel known for?
Notable works include Amsterdam, Les Bourgeois, Bruxelles.
Singer — see all → · More people from Belgium →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.