Rétro: Francis Cabrel and Shakira: Je l'aime a mourir

With Shakira taking a classic French song to the top of the country's charts, I thought a mention of the song Je l'aime a Mourir was appropriate.

The song , originally by Francis Cabrel, featured on his 1979 second album Les Chemins de Traverse.

It was Cabrel's biggest hit, a commercial high point in a long career, and was number one for five weeks in 1979.

However, Shakira probably became more aware of the song though Spanish language versions of the song.

Cabrel recording one himself - under the title La Quiero a Morir in 1979 for his Spanish language album Algo más de Amor. A cover by Sergio Vargas in 1986 later became a big hit in Latin American countries.

Shakira's cover of the song, in French and Spanish, reached number one in the French charts and was there for several weeks. She performed her version of the song at the NRJ Music Awards.

Shakira became the first Colombian to be honored by France as a Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in January.


Francis Cabrel (unplugged) version:

Francis Cabrel-Je l'aime à mourir by manon42


Shakira version from the NRJ Awards