The Fool

Album: The Fool (1971)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • French artist Gilbert Montagné is best known for "The Fool," which topped the charts across Europe and South America in 1971. A singer, pianist, and organist, he was born in the Ménilmontant neighborhood of Paris and grew up in the Bourbonnais region of France. Montagné has been blind since shortly after his birth.
  • Here, Montagné implores his lover to understand and trust his feelings, and not take him for a fool by attempting to control him. He wants to express his love freely, believing it will bring them closer together. He asks for his partner's empathy and support and assures her he loves her deeply.
  • The song originated in Saint-Léon, France, in 1967. Montagné heard a bird whistling a tune that gave him the first notes of the melody.

    Montagné moved to Miami, where he joined his sister, a French teacher. The French musician played blues and rock in New York and Miami clubs and piano bars, and one day he met the music publisher Nicole Damy. During their meeting, Montagné played Damy the song "The Fool," which she was immediately drawn to. However, Montagné did not want to record it at that time.

    Belgian-Italian musician, singer and composer Salvatore Adamo became interested in the song and wanted to produce it. He asked Gilbert Montagné to record it, but Montagné initially refused. However, the two eventually agreed to meet and discuss the matter further. Montagné finally agreed to record "The Fool" at the Trident studio in London, supported by Elton John's technical team and Joe Cocker's backing singers. A worldwide success, it reached #1 in 12 countries.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."