Megumi Satsu
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Megumi Satsu (Japanese: 薩 めぐみ, 14th February 1948, Sapporo, Japan - 18 October 2010, Paris) was an Japanese singer. Megumi Satsu released a few singles in Japan early in her career and then moved to France at the end of the seventies. She was discovered by Jacques Prevert who wrote an album of new songs especially for her. Some additional albums were recorded in the following years with the collaboration of some of the most famous French writers; Roland Topor, Jean Baudrillard, William Cliff and Frédéric Mitterrand, who is today the Minister of Culture in France. These recordings were released in collaboration with famous musicians like Serge Perathoner or Patrick Vasori, to name just a few. With her alternative repertoire, her expressionist interpretation and her charismatic personality, Mégumi became the icon of an alternative underground generation and the muse of modists who saw in her the new Marlene Dietrich with an Asian touch. She had the opportunity to sing some French poems written by the famous writer and poet Jacques Prévert. Just a few years before dying, Prévert saw Satsu on TV; he was fascinated by her voice and her personality. He told his wife that Satsu would be perfect for interpreting some of his unedited texts. Prévert's wife contacted Megumi Satsu after her husband died and the things happened. Megumi Satsu was a friend of Jean Baudrillard, the famous French sociologist. He also wrote two songs for her, "Motel Suicide" and "Lifting Zodiacal" Roland Topor was captivated too by this "lady in black" wearing strange hats. She knows how to use her mysterious look. He wrote two songs, "Monte dans mon Ambulance" et "Je m'aime". Megumi Satsu is mainly singing in French even if some English versions were recorded but not edited except "Give back my soul" in 1986. Megumi Satsu is also inspired by the 30s when interpreting Bertold Brecht in French.
Discography
- 1979 : Megumi Satsu chante Prévert (LP)
- 1980 : Zozo Lala, Kaze/Normandie (45T)
- 1980 : Je m'aime (LP)
- 1984 : Silicone Lady (Motel suicide) (LP)
- 1986 : Give back my soul (maxi 45T)
- 1986 : Silicone Lady (Motel suicide) (reissue)
- 1987 : Chante Prévert (reissue)
- 1991 : Du vent à la folie (CD single 2 tracks)
- 2002 : Sombre dimanche (compilation, 1 track)
- 2006 : Chansons littéraires des années 30
- 2008 : Complete discography digitally reissued
- 2008 : En concert au Bataclan 1984
- 2009 : Après ma mort
- 2011 : Remixes VOL1
- 2011 : Remixes VOL2
- 2011 : Je m'aime, en concert (1980)
- 2011 : Give back my soul, (The Complete Story)
- 2011 : Ma petite annonce (6 versions)
- 2011 : Chansons inédites et versions alternatives
