Lucien Boyer, (1876-1942) was a French

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

singer. He first won popularity singing to soldiers at the front during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Boyer's fame as a writer and singer spread throughout the world from the

Montmartre Montmartre ( , , ) is a large hill in Paris's northern 18th arrondissement of Paris, 18th arrondissement. It is high and gives its name to the surrounding district, part of the Rive Droite, Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for its a ...

district of

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. He was author of more than 1,000 songs and 39

musical comedies Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

and

operettas Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs and including dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, and length of the work. Apart from its shorter length, the ope ...

. Among his best known songs were ''

Valencia Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...

'', ''Cu C'est Paris'', ''La Femme du Matelot'' and ''Mon Paris''. When he came to

America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in 1921, it was for the purpose of acquiring American songs to be adapted for the public in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

that liked "le Jazz." Though Boyer did not author the famous French song ''

La Madelon or ''Quand Madelon'', also known in English as ''Madelon (I'll Be True to the Whole Regiment)'' is a French popular song of World War I. Although it is mostly known as the proper title is ''Quand Madelon'' which are the beginning words of the re ...

'', he popularized the song during

.Billboard June 27, 1942

Published works

* Lucien Boyer ''Le Gondolier de Montmartre'', collection of poetry, Paris, éditions du vieux moulin, 1926 * Lucien Boyer ''Paysages de France'', Paris, société des publications modernes, 1931 * Lucien Boyer ''Qu'il était beau mon village'', novel, Paris, éditions Baudinière, 1935

References

* Léon de Bercy, ''Montmartre et ses chansons : Poètes et Chansonniers'' (with 5 portraits-charges by C. Léandre), H. Daragon, Paris, 1902, 280 p. En ligne sur Gallica
/small> * 1920 : Chez Mayol (

Concert Mayol The name Concert Mayol refers to a former cabaret situated at 10 in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. Opened on the site of the former convent of the Filles-Dieu by MM. Valentin Fournier under the name Concert parisien, this café-chantant was a ...

). ''Berlingot'' : operetta in 2 acts and 3 tableaux by Lucien Boyer, music by

Willy Redstone Willy (or Willie) Redstone (24 September 1883 – 30 September 1949) was a French composer and conductor of light music who had a substantial career in England and Australia, where he became music editor for the ABC. History Redstone (originally ...

and A. Stanislas : Poster illustrated by

Adrien Barrère Adrien Barrère (baptised 'Adrien Baneux') (1874 Paris – 1931 Paris), was a French poster artist and painter, active in Paris during the Belle Époque. After studying the law and medicine, Barrère turned to illustrating and particularly to t ...

(1877-1931) En ligne sur Gallica
/small> * Chantal Brunschwig,

Louis-Jean Calvet Louis-Jean Calvet (born 5 June 1942) is a French linguist. Biography As a student at the University of Nice, where he was a student of linguist Pierre Guiraud, Calvet was elected in 1964 to the national bureau of the Union Nationale des Étudi ...

, Jean-Claude Klein, ''Cent ans de chanson française'', Seuil, 1972 (1^re éd. reliée); ré-éd. poche (coll. Points actuels), 1981

External links

Le voyage autour du monde de Lucien Boyer et Numa Blès vu par ''Paris qui chante'' (personal site of Hervé David)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyer, Lucien People from Gironde 1876 births 1942 deaths French chansonniers French librettists 20th-century French poets Knights of the Legion of Honour Burials at Batignolles Cemetery