I did it my way - Comme d'habitude: when popular songs go abroad
Peter Prowse
- Regions:
- South East, London, Wiltshire, Dorset
- Notice Period:
- Regular (more than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Hobby
- Fee:
- Paid: £75 + travel expenses
- Category:
- Entertainment
- Updated:
- 23rd February 2026
- Tagged:
- French Songs | ; Translation; Music | ; Languages
What happens when someone decides to move a popular song from one language and culture to another. French singer Claude Francois had limited success with his original song 'Comme d'habitude', but when it crossed the Atlantic, it was completely rewritten and 'I did it my way' was a big hit for Frank Sinatra.
This talk includes other examples of songs that have started life in either English or French and what happened why they were tranposed to the other culture.
Views: 6 | Enquiries: 0About Peter Prowse
I am a songwriter, singer and guitarist and a qualified translator (from French). SInce 2020, I have been combining these interests by giving talks - mainly to French clubs in the UK and groups of professional translators in France - about French singers and songwriters (eg Georges Brassens, Charles Trenet, Yves Montand). I also give talks about the differences between French and English songs, and what happens when a song moves from one language and culture to another.
During the talks, I perform songs in both English and French. I can project the words on to a screen and many audiences enjoy a singalong.
I also give talks about:
- Cycling the Canal du Midi (with lots of information about the canal and the towns along the route)
- The history of magic, with special refernce to the French magician Robert-Houdin.
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