Photo: Jack de Nijs for Anefo / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Jacques Brel was born on April 8, 1929 in Schaerbeek, Belgium and was credited as a singer, chansonnier and singer-songwriter. Death is recorded on October 9, 1978, at the age of 49. Credited works include Amsterdam, Les Bourgeois and Bruxelles.
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
- Occupation
- singer / chansonnier / singer-songwriter / guitarist / composer
2. 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 | — |
3. Links
- Official sitehttps://fondationbrel.be/
- Xhttps://x.com/ejbrel
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques%20Brel
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%83%BB%E3%83%96%E3%83%AC%E3%83%AB
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1666
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Jacques Brel born?
Born April 8, 1929.
When did Jacques Brel die?
Died October 9, 1978, aged 49.
Where was Jacques Brel from?
Jacques Brel was from Schaerbeek, Belgium.
What did Jacques Brel do?
Jacques Brel worked as singer, chansonnier, singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer.
What was Jacques Brel known for?
Notable works include Amsterdam, Les Bourgeois, Bruxelles.