A Toulouse woman writes a book on the story that inspired “The Bird Cage”…Pierre Perret congratulates her

The song “La cage aux oiseaux” by Pierre Perret was a hit upon its release in 1971. But do you know the story behind this song? Eva Kopppresenter at AirZen radio, discovered it while doing research.

The Crazy Story Behind “The Birdcage”

“Pierre Perret reads the local newspaper in Castelsarrasin (Tarn-et-Garonne) in the early 1970s, he discovered an article about a prisoner released from detention who opened the cages of a bird shop because he could not bear to see the birds locked up …and he gets four years in prison again”, says Eva Kopp. And she continues: “Pierre Perret will walk for three hours along the Canal des deux mers the following night because history marks him, and he writes his song!”

Pierre Perret's benevolent and mischievous response

This anecdote marked Eva Kopp, who already has two novels to her credit ( “The Child of the Tsunami” et ” The one who bothers.”) She asked permission to take inspiration from the singer; “Rebecca his wife called me and told me to go!” For three years she wrote and rewrote a new novel. When she finished her manuscript, she sent it to Pierre Perret and his wife. And, joyfully, she received a response from the singer, aged 90. “Well done Eva, you have opened the cage. May your beautiful writing open the door to glory… and that of wealth…” writes mischievously as usual, Pierre Perret. “I screamed in the apartment, I cried with joy,” says Eva. She is now looking for a publisher for her book, entitled “Open the Cage”, which talks about freedom through various eras.