If we often talk about “one-hit wonder” artists, those who have only had one hit in their career, the case of Patrick Hernandez is probably the most telling. The singer exploded in 1979 with “Born To Be Alive”, number one worldwide and which, more than 45 years after its release, has not aged a bit! Proof of this is the wave of disco-pop hits by Dua Lipa, Doja Cat and The Weeknd which have caused havoc in recent times. A success that has spanned generations, “Born To Be Alive” is at the heart of the new episode of “Face A”, the Purecharts podcast in which the artists look back on the history of their hits. That of “Born To Be Alive” dates back to the early 70s and, for the Ile-de-France musician, it is motivated by anger. “ When I wrote this song I was particularly angry with those around me who were doing things half as well in terms of their job, their loves, their relationships, and the diehard that I am was a little rebel against that » he says.
“A very bad idea”
With the idea of encouraging the public to say “ Get moving, do things, do them thoroughly », Patrick Hernandez therefore wrote a first version of the song in 1973 before offering, three years later, a first folk-rock version inspired by Bob Dylan or the Eagles. At this time, the singer wanted to take a step back after his adventure within the Paris Palace Hotel group. Initially, he wrote the text and thought of “Born To Be Wild” as the title, but it already existed with Steppenwolf’s hit, popularized by the film “Easy Rider”: “ I found that the sound of the word “Alive” was a bit loud, a bit clear like that “. It was its producer Jean Vanloo who had the idea of transforming the song into a disco anthem: “ Honestly, I think that with the previous versions, either the folk version or the rock version, I would never have had the success that this song had “. However, someone who was immersed in English rock finds that singing a disco hit was “ a very bad idea “. Jean Vanloo changes his mind by telling him about the Bee Gees, of whom he is a fan, and their work on “Saturday Night Fever”.
“I got thrown out of all the record companies”
During the recording, it was his fellow guitarist Hervé Tholance who came up with the idea for the guitar riff which would instantly become cult. Except that at the time, few producers believed in the potential of “Born To Be Alive”, which was released in November 1978: “ I was thrown out for six months by all the French record companies… but like my comrades. I reassure everyone, this is something that almost all of us have experienced. “. He found salvation in Italy then in Belgium, where the song quickly became number one… and finally interested labels in France. Patrick Hernandez can then enjoy his “ petite vengeance » : « It cost the position of the boss of CBS at the time in France because when his bosses in the United States learned, while I was signing with them, that he had [refusé] for six months of this song, he went to the countryside for a walk. Bye ! ».
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“It’s exhausting”
Very quickly, the success of “Born To Be Alive” spread throughout the world. The disco hit took first place in 23 countries including France, but also Canada, Mexico, Spain, West Germany and also in the American disco charts. Today, sales of the single are estimated at 25 million copies worldwide! A consecration that Patrick Hernandez lives in different ways. At the time, he was already 30 years old and had a small career behind him, which made it easier for him to grasp success. But he no longer had a minute to himself and spent nearly three years defending his anthem in the four corners of the globe: “ It’s both exhausting and also prevents us from moving forward creatively. I even wrote songs in the back of the plane because when I got off the plane, I had to go to the studio to record new stuff but I didn’t have time. “. Motivated by this success, his label asked him to release a second album in 1981, when the disco wave had passed. He bets on “ a compilation of very very nice pieces ». « But I sinned out of pride » he explains, regretting today not having called on external composers: “ The successor to “Born To Be Alive” was missing and I sinned out of pride because I was incapable of doing it ».
READ – “Born to Be Alive” covered by Rahim Redcar (Christine and the Queens): Patrick Hernandez gives his opinion!
Having become extremely wealthy thanks to this cult song, Patrick Hernandez nevertheless assures that the area of money only interests him “ moderately », even if he is asked the question very often. Because, yes, “Born To Be Alive” allows him to earn a very good living. “ Between 800 and 1500 euros per day » he had confided in the past. Even today, the hit is played all over the world, is used in international commercials and has even been included in the soundtrack of the film “Minions 2: Once Upon a Gru”. “ I am the author, composer, performer, editor and producer of the song. So obviously, it makes money on a title that is played globally. Plus, I’m part of “Stars 80”, which has existed for 15 years, which does 100 concerts a year, all of which are sold out… That’s another windfall. And then, compared to certain comrades in showbiz, (…) I suppose that Jean-Jacques Goldman, we can add two zeros to the figures that I give » he tempers.
Finally, Patrick Hernandez loudly proclaims that he is not tired of singing this hit, which has been broadcast many times and which was recently performed during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games by Rahim Redcar: “ I’m almost 74 years old, so there are times when we’re on tour, and we play 100 concerts a year, there are moments of fatigue. This song has such a dynamic, that it boosts me, but serious, as soon as I hear the first notes “. Timeless!