User:Villainouschurl/Vesoul (song)

Vesoul is a song written, composed, and sung by Jacques Brel, released in 1968, which references the city of Vesoul, a prefecture of the county of Haute-Saône, but also other cities such as Vierzon, Honfleur, Hambourg, Anvers and Paris. Jacques Brel is accompanied by the accordionist Marcel Azzola, from where comes the statement "Chauffe, Marcel!" ("Faster, Marcel!") which—along with his accordion solo—contributed to the success of the song. Like many of the singer's works, the song is characterized by the "Brelian" style, consisting of a progressive acceleration of rhythm, intensity, and vocal tonality.

Known worldwide, the song has been covered and recorded more than 150 times in over fifteen languages by nationally and internationally renowned artists. It has been quoted in numerous literary works, musicals, and films.

Context and inspiration
Jacques Brel visited Vesoul twice, during the 1960s. However, certain confusions exist on the dates and the reasons for which he came to stay in Vesoul.

On July 28, 1960, Jacques Brel stayed in the city of Vesoul, in Haute-Saône. He spent a night at the hotel and restaurant La Bonne Auberge; the establishment was situated precisely between Vesoul and Frotey-lès-Vesoul, close to the route nationale 57. After having spent the night in the company of the clients, staff, and owners of the hotel René and Jacqueline Kielwasser, he promised to one day write a song evoking Vesoul,,. The artist signed the visitors' book of the establishment, "Avec ma plus gentille chanson. Très amicalement. J Brel." According to Danièle Déroulède-Kielwasser, the daughter of the owners of the establishment, who was still an adolescent at the time, Jacques Brel reportedly said while taking breakfast on the terrace under a tree: "You have received me so well that one day, I will write a song about Vesoul."On August 20, 1966 (or according to other sources in 1967), Jacques Brel spent a second night in Vesoul, à l'Hôtel du Nord, owned by Henri et Monique Kielwasser (at present the Grand Hôtel du Nord), a renowned hotel of the city built in 1928 by the architect André Boucton, on Aigle Noir road, in the town center of Vesoul.