New Tribute Album Celebrates the Lesser-Known Music of Alain Bashung

A new double tribute album titled "C'est la faute à Bashung" has been released, celebrating the enduring musical legacy of the late French singer Alain Bashung. Spearheaded by longtime lyricist Boris Bergman alongside the Nowhere duo, the project features approximately thirty artists covering lesser-known tracks from the singer's repertoire. Bashung passed away in 2009 at the age of 61 following a battle with cancer, leaving behind a rich catalog that continues to influence generations of musicians.

The journey to bringing this double album to life was not without hurdles. Launched in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project initially faced rejection from major record labels that considered it too commercially risky and legally complex regarding rights management. Operating independently from traditional industry constraints allowed the creators to maintain strict artistic control. Every participating artist received finished rock orchestrations and was required to record their vocals over those exact arrangements without making alterations.

The impressive lineup features numerous notable figures from the French music and entertainment industries, including Francis Cabrel, Carla Bruni, Jean-Louis Aubert, Dave, and actors such as Pierre Richard and Patrick Chesnais. Francis Cabrel was the first to sign on, sending his approval by email before recording his track from his studios. The compilation spans twenty-six tracks, highlighting forgotten B-sides alongside occasional classics to showcase the timeless nature of Bashung's artistic vision.

Not every artist approached for the project was receptive, however. Boris Bergman reached out personally to singer Sheila, hoping to create an unexpected and amusing stylistic contrast by having her cover a Bashung song. According to the lyricist, the invitation was met with a frosty reception, with Sheila questioning who had provided her telephone number. Bergman reflected on the interaction with humor, noting that not everyone shares the same sense of comedy.

Alongside the release of the tribute album, Boris Bergman has shared a deeply personal memory that he previously kept private out of respect for privacy. Speaking with journalists, the 82-year-old lyricist revealed that he unexpectedly ran into Alain Bashung about a month before the singer's death in March 2009. The two men crossed paths at a Parisian brasserie where Bergman frequently enjoyed fish and chips.

Recalling their final conversation, Bergman described a peaceful hour spent discussing cinema and everyday topics, comparing the atmosphere to a favorite novel where two individuals share quiet moments over simple things. Although they had experienced a professional and personal rift decades earlier following a 1981 magazine profile, they had reconciled years prior and maintained a quiet bond. Bergman noted that while he did not explicitly dwell on it being their final meeting, he sensed that Bashung understood his time was nearing its end.

The collaboration between Bergman and Bashung produced some of the singer's most celebrated early career hits, including "Gaby, oh Gaby" and "Vertige de l'amour," before their creative partnership concluded with the 1989 album "Novice." With the launch of this new tribute project, Bergman hopes to redirect public attention toward Bashung's broader musical contributions, emphasizing that beyond his iconic vocals, Bashung was an exceptional composer and a remarkably talented guitarist whose influence remains as potent as ever.