Amsterdam (Jacques Brel song)

"Amsterdam" ("Amsterdam")
Written by	Jacques Brel
Music by	Jacques Brel
Published	1964
Language	French
Original artist	Jacques Brel
Recorded by	Jacques Brel, Scott Walker, David Bowie, De Dijk, Acda en De Munnik, Hector, John Denver, Bellowhead

"Amsterdam" is a song by Jacques Brel. It combines a powerful melancholic crescendo with a rich poetic account of the exploits of sailors on shore leave in Amsterdam.

It is a slightly modified version of the traditional English folk song Greensleeves.

Brel never recorded this for a studio album, and his only version was released on the live album Enregistrement Public à l'Olympia 1964. Despite this, it has been one of his most enduringly popular works. It was one of the songs Mort Shuman translated into English for the Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris musical.

Brel worked on the song at his house overlooking the Mediterranean at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the house he shared with Sylvie Rivet, a publicist for Philips; a place she had introduced him to in 1960. "It was the ideal place for him to create, and to indulge his passion for boats and planes. One morning at six o'clock he read the words of Amsterdam to Fernand, a restaurateur who was about to set off fishing for scorpion fish and conger eels for the bouillabaisse. Overcome, Fernand broke out in sobs and cut open some sea urchins to help control his emotion."

Cover versions

Scott Walker recorded several of these translated Brel songs in the late 1960s. This inspired David Bowie to record his own version of "Amsterdam" in 1970. Bowie's version was released as the B-side to his single "Sorrow" in November 1973.

Bowie's version is also found on several other releases:

• The German rerelease of the single "Alabama Song" from July 1982 had "Amsterdam" as the B-side.
• The compilation album, Rare (1983).
• It was released as picture discs in both the RCA Life Time picture disc set and the Fashion Picture Disc Set.
• On the Rykodisc CD release of the Bowie album Pinups in 1990, "Amsterdam" was released as a bonus track.
• On Bowie at the Beeb released in 2000. A live recording from 1970.

Dave Van Ronk recorded a version on his 1971 album, Van Ronk.

The Dresden Dolls often play a cover of the song live with English lyrics. More recently, Amanda Palmer has performed the original French version in her live solo show with Jason Webley playing accordion.

Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie recorded a version for their debut album Good Deeds and Dirty Rags.

Both Dutch band De Dijk and Dutch artists Acda en De Munnik recorded Dutch versions of the song, called "Amsterdam" and "De stad Amsterdam" (The city Amsterdam) respectively.

German chanteuse Ute Lemper included a version of "Amsterdam", in English and French, on her 2002 album But One Day....

Irish cabaret singer Camille O'Sullivan performs a cover of the song as part of her show with the Spiegeltent.

The Polish version of "Amsterdam", with lyrics translated by Wojciech Młynarski, was performed by, among others, Piotr Zadrożny and Katarzyna Groniec.

The song was translated into German and regularly sung by Hildegard Knef at the end of her live performance career, usually to conclude her concerts.

Finnish singer-songwriter Hector recorded a cover of the song in Finnish for his album Yhtenä iltana (1990).

Slovenian actor Branko Završan translated and recorded "Amsterdam" in his album Senca tvojga psa (Shadow of your dog), realised in 2008.

John Denver released a version of this song on his album, Take Me To Tomorrow (1970).

Irish singer-songwriter Jack L has also recorded a version of the song.

Bellowhead have recorded Amsterdam on their 2010 album Hedonism.

Rod McKuen made his own translation of "Amsterdam" and included it on his album Rod McKuen Sings Jacques Brel.