Ne me quitte pas (Jacques Brel) - [English subtitles] Reaction! 

This has got to be the most heartfelt performance of any song I have ever heard, and at 66 years old I have heard many. I don't speak French, but even without understanding the lyrics he conveys such passion and desperation in his voice, and when you actually see the lyrics translated they are without doubt a masterclass in song writing. So well chosen. Brilliant! Without parallel or as they say in French "Sans Pareil"

Quand on est français et qu'on parle le français, il est presque impossible de rester impassible devant ce chef-d'œuvre absolu

As a Belgian myself, it is nice to see someone not speaking French be so receptive to the art of this national treasure

Merci 🙏 Jacques Brel est un immense artiste… Il vit les textes … Son œuvre est une Grande fresque sociale de l’époque …

The Master from Belgium. I can’t think of a singer that can tell a story like he does.

A phenomenon of a breed you don't see anymore. He just is giving everything he's got until there is nothing more left to give. RIP Jacques et merci pour votre larmes.

This is Jacques Brel a fantastic Belgian singer with passion and deep presence in all of his performance. Ne me quitte pas is made of passion and profession. You can hear his heart beating of love.

My French teacher in high school ( Mavo in The Netherlands 1981) 'forced' my class to listen to french chansons. I loved those classes, I still listen to those songs.... it;s so intense... Thanx!

All the covers of this song are just a faint shadow of the original.

This is my parent's generation, but I heard it often on the radio. Even the younger ones liked his musical poetry.

this dude was a genius. He was not sweating because e was nervous but because he was giving it all

A massive hit in English as "If You Go Away" recorded by everyone back in the day including Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand.

Brel was a phenomenon. His lyrics, his melodies, his vocal performance, his literally burning on stage every single time...A genius.

You don’t hear poetry like that anymore. Mr. Jacques Brel is a master of lyrics and delivery. What a gift! 🤗

So good to see someone from the 21st century who is able to look back 60 years and appreciate the wonderful music of the French chansonniers. When I was 13 years old, back in the early sixties in the middle of the British pop revolution, I discovered Brel and became hooked. And you might also want to give us your 'reaction' to another great performer from those times, Leo Ferré. If you are amazed by Brel's performance of 'Ne me quitte pas', you will be equally amazed by Ferré's performance of 'Avec le temps'.

This song is about Jacques Brel's mistress, who he refused to leave his wife and three children for. She left and he wrote this song. He's commented on it and said it was "an hymn to the cowardice of men. How much a man can humiliate himself, though I know it pleases women who quickly assume it's a love song as it is comforting, and I understand that well. But it's the story of an idiot and a loser."

Man!!!! All my youth coming up watching this. I’m a Belgian living in Brazil for 22 years! Jacque Brel was a monument back then 70’s and 80’s back home and I must say my dear late father was a friend of him and yes he came to our home sometimes when I was a kid and crawling from upstairs to see my parents have diner with him in the dining room in our house in Brussels..Man!!! I am overwelmed😭 Pierre, Balneario Camboriu, SC, Brasil😘😘😘😘😘

In Belgium, Jacques Brel is still "alive". I always liked him. He is special. Don't stay with only this one. Listen to "Dans le port d'Amsterdam", "Le plat pays", "Marieke", "Madeleine" and the gem : "Les bourgois"

As a French person I feel so lucky to understand these lyrics and growing up with these songs that my mom used to sing to me...

I love his interpretation, the hearbreak he felt.... he is in pain, his suffering... I love this song

Even without the lyrics or knowing what he is singing, just watching his performance makes me well up with tears from the emotion he puts into it. You feel his desperation.

For us in France this song is one of the best song ever. So thx a lot to share this master piece. Thx thx!

Belgium and French artists have always been known for their beautiful texts and lyrics! The French language is so rich and beautiful 🥰

I absolutely love the imagem he paints of "pearls of rain from countries where it never rains" and "to dig up the earth to cover the lover's body with gold and light". That's so powerful. I loved Brel from first time heard him.

I'm french and I love that song so much, it is very precious to me and I wanted to say I'm touched to see that it goes through the barrier of language to reach others... Thank you for your reaction. Fun fact : Jacques Brel is one the most famous and favourite singers in France, so much that some have forgotten that he is from Belgium, thks Belgium. As a note, I think the video was filmed just after his mistress (Suzanne Gabriello) left him at the time and when they broadcast the song there was a technical problem so that camera was the only one working. I like that these circumstances captured a very pure emotion he must have been feeling at the time.

the translation absolutely did it justice wow, first one ive seen thats this good

His poetry is something else, unforgettable, rich, and beautiful. An artist that the years can not damaged.

tears in my eyes , one of the most text in the world , and Jacques Brel , extraordinary , singer who lives his song . i m french , excuse me for my english , thanks to you too

French is the language to express feelings in a powerful poetic manner. Brel was part of the 3 "B": Brel, Brassens and Barbara. Jean Ferrat singing his poems and the ones of Aragon can be added to them

Hé was and IS forever ‘Le grand Jacques’. Maybe one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever. He had it all. The voice, the lyrics and the passion.

My favorite Brel song is *JEF*, where he describes how je tries to make a depressed friend happy again.

There is so much beautiful music in the world that is hidden, because it is not english or populair these days.

This version of him singing this song just tears me up. I don't weep.... I sob. I cry copious tears.

Il est belge,pas français😉❤🇧🇪

Love this song.. It so deep.. Luckely I understand French.. I listen to a lot of French chansons. Glad you liked it.

This is a song that marked my youth my parents were huge Brel fans. He is one of the greats. Not as well known is America but he was a huge star is Europe in the days of Edith Piaf. That particular song was voted the most important song of the last century. Brel was also an excellent actor. He had a lot of influence to some known artists (David Bowie to name one). His songs were translated in many languages. Actually Angelina Jordan sings an excellent version of this song in english called "If you go away".

One of the most beautiful song of the world!

You're learning French in the process 😁👍😘

The beauty of the text cannot be reproduced in any other language than that of its author. Only native French speakers can understand that this is true.

I have no idea who you are but your response is wonderful. He's not just putting generalized passion into it. There's full life experience in the exact words he's singing in each moment. I'm guessing you don't speak French but he's got this so deeply inside of him it's excruciating and gorgeous at the same time. Excruciating because of his regret and sense of loss and gorgeous because what it was at its best is still coming through. I've known this song from long before you were born and I want you to know that the level at which you get it and feel it is deeply gratifying for me because it shows me that what it is comes from inside of all of us, he just happened to have seized it, said it, and got it out, and it's still touching people like you.

This song gives me shivers on every listening even though I know it by hart (I'm Belgian (Like him))

He’s was from Belgium like Lara fabian

The biggest misunderstanding of this incredible piece is that it's a love song. It's a song about how low men can go for love, "Let me become the shadow of your dog" wich is a feeling all men have to fight at one point in their life, I think you call it "simping" in America. It actually made him laugh that most women would listen to this as a love song, because it proved his point that, contrary to the popular belief, men are not those tough creatures who dominate women, when it comes to love, women are not powerful, they're almighty.

Here in The Netherlands we now have a show on "Chansons" presented by Mathijs van Nieuwkerk and Rob Kemps ( yes the guy from the Snollebollekes) the gued us through the French Chansons througout the years.. very intresting show. Edith Piaff was on, some Brell too.. Dalida... and some Aznavour... and short pieces of random other French chansons

He was born at 10 miles from where I live, at the border with France Nord and Belgium West Flanders

He was a great poet and singer.

I’m from Belgium and Jacques Brel is the best singer of her time

I never thought that I will see reaction on this ♥️🥺🥺🥺

Thanks for reacting! A true classic from a poet who mastered French language, that song brings me to tears every time. Even Nina Simone covered this song in French. Merci!

thank you HCReacts for finding this pearl, you are definitely above average!

Jacq Brel is a master

La plus belle chanson et prestation que je connaisse merci de le partager et d’analyser cette œuvre en anglais Thanks you

yes - finally you are reacting to one of our most amazing Belgian singers!!! :)

Great reaction- thanks! The sweat was mixed with his tears, and he did write the song (released in 1959). He WAS a singer, songwriter, actor and poet, but I was told by another singer (my late husband) who personally knew the French singers of that day that Jacques Brel became so emotional whenever he performed it that it seemed to tear him apart. I didn’t know him, but I always had the feeling that it was very personal to him and drawn from his personal life. Can’t hear it without crying.

"I'll offer you Pearls of rain, coming from countries where it doesn't rain" its a really strong statement of what a desperate man is capable for his love.

Every woman would love to be loved like this!

He was a poet before he was a performer... and he was a hell of a performer. Love that you do Brel

Jacques Brel est pour moi, le plus beau cadeau que la Belgique nous ait offert.. :)

Thank you so much for this, I needed it!

Do you know who is a big fan of Jacques Brel, the one guy who won the Dutch show 'the smartes human'. That one guy who has a somewhat photographic memory for song lyrics. That one guy who can move whole Netherlands from left to righ... Snollebolleke :) Jup no kidding, he made a whole TV program about his love for France chansons.

Quelles paroles. Quel grand homme...

Very glad to be from québec Canada I can understand the original version and hear you guys be amaze Brel is a master I know all his songs

This is one of the greatest songs ever written, in any language and many artists paid credit to him, especially for that song. There are many covers by great artists such as David Bowie, Shirley Bassey...

Merci la Belgique pour ce monstre de la chanson française

oooh i cried agaiiiiiiiiiin!! every time i watch this video i cry ! "ces gens là " is also amazing.. well he has so many good songs , some funny too !

Hé was ammaissing thank you for your reaction.

The great Jacque was a superb singer but also a magnificent man, long life Belgium, Flamish and Walon

Thank you for getting thought with this very song and original version. A Hell of a masterpiece.

Thank you so much to love this song....I can see your reaction....same reaction that a French who listen this song.....thank you so much...❤❤❤❤

L une des meilleur prestation de tout les temps, que dieu le benisse.

"Ces gens-là" from him has the same energy and same sadness

He makes me cry

Thank you for appreciating Brel, he's timeless. His songs were compiled into a Broadway musical back in the sixties (Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well). I think you might enjoy Marieke, one other song that was in that musical.

Merci de faire partager cette très belle chanson de Brel !

One of the greatest !!

So sad and powerfull! thank you.

The reason he's sweating is emotion, but also the spotlights what are driving very hot light.

There are many artists whose voice make me emotional but Jacques is the only singer make me cry every time I listen to this particular song . It’s interesting to know his widow Miche just passed away at age of 93 in 2020 despite she wasn’t loved by him during the last days of his life till he died from lung cancer at age of 49 . Absolutely one of the greatest singer ever!!

brel wrote this song to showcase how low a man would go for love and how he will throw away self respect. he said it oftejn and he knew that women would love listening to it as a love song. and that made him laugh

So good so emotional!!!!! Thank you!!!

the most beautiful love song ever

It’s great to see him reaching a wider audience even though he’s been dead for so long.

He rips out his heart and holds it out.

One of the greatest chanson singers to ever walk the earth, Jaques Brel, Charles Aznavour, and Serge Gainsbourg (oh and let's not forget the amazing Edith Piaf) are all amazing story tellers with amazing voices, singing in the beautiful French language. Their music is pure poetry set to music, truly beautiful and emotional.. you really dont have to understand a word of it because if you allow it.. you'll feel every word being sung. Keep these legends of music alive man, their music needs to be heard by newer generations too, what they gave us is too important to "be stuck in French speaking regions only" this is music for everyone.

Nowaday the french pupils can study Jacques brel's songs for the litterature test of the french "baccalauréat". Because of for us Jacques Brel was more than a singer. He Is a poet like Baudelaire, Byron etc....When I was teen my high school called lycée Jacques Brel.

He's a classic.R.I.P.

As a french Made me cry a bit I dont listen to brel but this one is ...amazing Genious..

You just listened to one of the greats of our time!!

sa fait plaisir de voire un connaissaire de musique française avec des mots et un vraie sens a la chanson, respect a toi

French songs sounds so harmonious and Romantic.... Jacques Brel Sings this beautifully with so much feeling He was a Chansonnier and is a French word for Song poet or Cabaretier. Perfect just like Charles Aznavour I love it ❤️ Thank You 🦋 🐞 💕 💫

Superbe chanson , moi je traduis vos paroles en Français en écoutant ce fantastique Jacques Brel , c était les adieux de BREL à l OLYMPIA, la standing ovation et son plublic qui le reclamait encore et encore cette soirée là, inoubliable MONSIEUR JACQUES BREL !!!!!

the French singers ( mainly the classic ones ) are very poetic, those kind of lyrics are not an exceptions, to the contrary, they are the rule of French music perfection. Anyone who wants to learn to speak French, should listen to those classic singers and some new ones like Stromae. No wonder the Voltaire's language is considered the most romantic of all.

This belgium's singer is super famous in Belgium and France ! Powerful songs and performance ! Many said Stromae (from Belgium too) is new "Jacques Brel".

you stole my heart with your reaction to garden of remembrance by fish, you handled the subject matter so respectfully this is in my humble opinion another of those absolute passionate songs out there. Hope you are doing well and please keep making videos like this.

I think this performs was recorded for the NTS (Netherlands Television) in a small local. With large film lights so it was very hot for him. I was always a fan of him. My mother to.

Love this song very much in English it's called If you go away and is sung by many famous singers but i love the French version most. Barbara Streisand went to see him in a concert to hear tis song and then he didn't sing it. her version is great too by the way,

WOW... WOW...fantastic

THE SINGER!! BREL IS ICONIC

never has another man sung a broken heart that way, it s almost disturbing it s so honest and profound. 'horse face', as he called himself, was a monster! A treat to see people who don t speak the language being touched also. Cheers from France.

Comment peux t'on encore précisé ? Et en même temps c'est un poète et un merveilleux poète.. Vive l'homme quelle que soit les frontières..