Georges Aber - Official Website

Georges Aber: brief overview...

Georges Aber, stage name of Georges Poubennec, was a French songwriter and singer. After a brief career as singer between 1959 - 1963, Georges Aber became exclusively a lyricist. He has adapted in French a lot of lyrics of many American successes and English popular songs of the 60s.

Georges Aber was sung by several stars of the era, well known in France as « Yéyé »:
Claude François, Sheila, Sylvie Vartan, Richard Anthony, Dick Rivers, Frank Alamo, Les Chaussettes noires, Petula Clark, Nicoletta, Michèle Arnaud and specially for Johnny Hallyday, during this decade, becoming one of his successful lyricists.

Georges Aber has adapted over 300 songs and in particular 60 titles for Johnny Hallyday, including:

Noir c’est noir Noir c’est noir French adaptation of the song Black is Black by the Spanish group Los Bravos, it was realised in 1966 and performed by the french singer Johnny Hallyday. “Noir c’est noir” is one of the great successes of this artist.
Da Dou Ron Ron Da Dou Ron Ron French adaptation of the title Da Doo Ron Ron written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. It was released in 1963, under the title Da dou ron ron, and its main performers were the French singers Frank Alamo and Johnny Hallyday. For the latter, it is one of his great successes.
Tu parles trop Tu parles trop “Tu parles trop” is a French adaptation of the title You Talk Too Much by Joe Jones in 1960. There are many versions of this title, published almost simultaneously, by different artists, including Richard Anthony, Johnny Hallyday, Frankie Jordan and the group Les Chaussettes noires. It was for the latter at the beginning of 1961 one of the main titles of their first record.
A plein cœur A plein cœur Original song, lyrics by Georges Aber and music by Johnny Hallyday and Eddie Vartan. It's part of the French movie soundtrack D’où viens-tu Johnny ? released on October 24, 1963.
Quand revient la nuit Quand revient la nuit French adaptation of the song Mr. Lonely recorded by the American singer Bobby Vinton. Broadcast in EP record in May 1965. It is with “Mes yeux sont fous”, the main title of the Hallelujah album which is released two months latter.
Les coups Les coups French adaptation of the song Uptight (Everything's alright) by H. Cosby - S. Moy and Judkins, released in 1966 on the EP record Les cheveux longs et les idées courtes.
San Francisco San Francisco French adaptation of the song San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair), recorded by Scott McKenzie, written by John Phillips, group member of The Mamas & the Papas. adaptated for the French singer Johnny Hallyday, it is the main title of an EP record released in 1967.
A tout casser A tout casser Original soundtrack of the opening credits of the movie of the same name, written by Georges Aber and composed by Johnny Hallyday and Tommy Brown. It was released in 1968 and was ranked number one single sales in France for two weeks.

We talked about it...

Georges Aber made the cover of JUKEBOX MAGAZINE #321 released in September 2013.

The author of the report, Jacques LEBLANC painted the portrait of Georges Aber in these terms:

“After being one of the first singers of rock in France, Georges Aber becomes as early as 1960, a lyricist to success. He has the meaning of words, formulas shocks, knowing adapt the Anglo-American hits with a direct, specific, touching the hearts of the audience.”

“For Johnny Hallyday he carves a successful songs directory with Ralph Bernet and Gilles Thibaut, without forgetting Manou Roblin and Long Chris.”

See original article by Jukebox Magazine (FR) (archive)

Georges Aber is quoted in the French show : La vie secrète des chansons (The secret life of songs) on France Télévision.

In the show “La vie secrète des chansons” entitled l’Originale et la reprise (The original and the cover), presented by André Manoukian and broadcast on the French TV France 3 on October 12, 2018, André Manoukian explains how the music producer, Claude Carrère who had booked the song Bang Bang of Sonny Bono, interpreted by Cher in 1966, appealed to the lyricist Georges Aber to adapt this title for the French singer Sheila by sweetening the original lyrics so that the text can match the image represented by the singer Sheila at this time, “the sweet little girl”.