“Born to be alive”, the crazy story of a hit that spans the ages

A hell of a disco launch. On Wednesday night, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Chris (ex-Christine and The Queens) got the crowd at Place de la Concorde, and millions of TV viewers, moving with his cover of “Born to be alive”. A hit that is almost half a century old, by Patrick Hernandez, which has stood the test of time with its share of anecdotes. 20 Minutes immerses you in the story of a piece of music that almost never reached our ears.

A tube that makes you completely crazy

To mask the screams of children in the car when returning from vacation or to show off your dancing skills at your brother-in-law’s wedding, Born to be alive is definitely part of your life. And for good reason. The hit, composed by Patrick Hernandez, is part of the disco pantheon. Number 1 when it was released in 1978, in France, but also in the United States, and in several European countries, this song with its intense rhythms and repetitive lyrics (the expression “Born to be alive” is repeated dozens of times), almost remained a dead letter. Replay.

It all started over 50 years ago. Patrick Hernandez writes Born to be alive. He was then a singer in several rock groups, including Paris Palace Hotel (PPH). Seeing that success was not there with PPH, Patrick Hernandez left to raise goats in Périgord, until a phone call from a producer, Jean Vanloo, looking for a singer for a single. One evening while recording, Patrick Hernandez played him some old PPH songs, including Born to be alive. Jean Vanloo liked this song, and asked “PH” to make him a disco arrangement of the piece. However, the artist was not very enthusiastic about the genre.

Born to be alive was rejected by all the Parisian record companies. Producer Jean Vanloo found a buyer in Italy and the song was released in 1978, five years after it was written. The hit would make the world dance throughout 1979, with a chic-looking performer with a cane-knob that would make it legendary… and a fortune.

“The song has returned to its rock origins”

Over the decades, Born to be alive has become a classic, the hit of a career for Patrick Hernandez (27 million copies sold internationally), often covered. The song is thus on the soundtracks of Poltergay, performed by actress Julie Depardieu at a slow tempo. An instrumental version can also be heard in Climaxby Gaspar Noé. Before being readapted by the singer Christine and the Queens.

A 2024 musical proposal that left the original artist speechless. “The song has found its rock origins again,” Patrick Hernandez rejoiced in our colleagues at ParisianThe arrangements were very successful, just like this ceremony. […]. I had a blast on this version. I’m very proud that my song was put in such majesty at the end of the ceremony and happy that its positive message was conveyed. Moving forward, it fits perfectly with the Paralympic spirit.” The singer recalled that the song, in its original version, was also broadcast during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games, “during the descent of the delegations and barges on the Seine.”

The latter is even considering a new version of Born to be alive. “A duet with Chris, it’s a good idea,” he suggested to franceinfo.

1000 to 1500 € per day

Aged 75, Patrick Hernandez returned to the limelight in 2012 with the film Stars 80produced by Thomas Langmann, and was a member of the troupe during the tour of the same name. In several interviews, the father of Born to be alive assured that he lived very well in the south of France from the fruits of his one and only hit, which would earn him between 1000 and 1500 € per day. Born to be alive is very regularly played on the radio, in nightclubs or even… on television. We understand better why we no longer hear Patrick.