Alain Morisod

Alain Morisod (born 23 June 1949) is a Swiss musician and television producer, known for forming Sweet People who had a UK number 4 hit in 1980 with "Et Les Oiseaux Chantaient (And the Birds Were Singing)".[1]

Alain Morisod
Morisod in 1996, by Erling Mandelmann
Background information
Birth nameAlain Morisod
Also known as
  • Alain Patrick
  • Alain More
Born (1949-06-23) 23 June 1949
Geneva, Switzerland
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • composer
  • record producer
  • conductor
  • television producer
InstrumentsPiano
Years active1967–present
Labels
Associated acts
  • Alain Morisod and His Orchestra
  • Sweet People
Websitewww.morisod.com

Early life

Morisod grew up with an older brother, Maurice, born 3 April 1946. He did also have another brother, Jean-Claude, born 23 October 1947, but he died only 4 days after being born.[2] At the age of 9, Morisod lost his father, Jean, who was a butcher in the Geneva district, Saint-Gervais. Following the encouragement of his mother, Maguerite, he then learned to play the piano. He studied at the Institut Florimont between 1958 and 1968 and then went on to study in the Faculty of Law at the University of Geneva, from 1968 to 1970. He then went on to study at the Conservatoire de Musique and the Conservatoire Populaire, both in Geneva.[3]

Music career

From 1967, Morisod was a piano accompanist for artists such as Arlette Zola, Henri Dès and Fernand Raynaud.[3] His first single, "Concerto pour un été", was released in Switzerland on 27 April 1971, which Morisod also composed and produced.[4][5] Then, soon after, producer Henri Belolo called Morisod saying that he wanted to release the song in France. The only problem was that the name Morisod sounded too 'Swiss', so Belolo proposed replacing it with Alain Patrick, which Morisod accepted. The single was then released in France in June.[6] The song was a hit, selling over 2 million copies, becoming a Top 40 hit in France and also reaching number 46 in Wallonia. The following year, it once again reached the Top 40 in France.[7][8] However, the song became a bigger hit in 1973 in Brazil where it was number 1 for 9 weeks.[9] The album of the same name also reached at least number 10 in France.[7] A remix of song, with seagull cries and the noise of waves, was also released at the request of radio station RTL, as it sounded more 'new age'.[6]

In 1977, Morisod formed Sweet People to participate in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest. Their song "Hey, le musicien" came second in the national finals, losing out to "Vivre" by Carole Vinci, which Morisod had also composed.[10][11][12] In February 1978, "Le Lac de Côme" was released and was a number 1 in Canada and the album of the same name was certified platinum.[3][13] The song had originally been released as the B-side to "Crystal Tears" the previous year, but to his astonishment, Morisod got a call from Quebecois producer Gerry Plamondon, to say that the song could work in Canada and so it was then released there.[14]

After its success, Morisod's brother, Maurice, came up with the idea of removing the piano part from the song and adding in birdsong. This became "Et Les Oiseaux Chantaient", which was quickly included on their album Percé.[15] The song was released in the UK in 1980 with the parenthesised "And the Birds Were Singing", where it peaked at number 4 in the charts.[16][1] It was also a Top Ten hit in Flanders and the Netherlands and a Top 40 hit in Germany.[17] The song charted again in the UK in 1987, reaching number 73.[1] Sweet People achieved further success with "Adieu et Bonne Chance", which reached number 25 in France in 1985.[18]

For the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, Morisod composed the Swiss entry "Amour on t'aime", sung by Arlette Zola, and also provided backing vocals as part of Sweet People.[19]

Morisod has lived in Canada since around 1980[20] and over the years has achieved great success there with Sweet People; numerous albums have been certified platinum and gold by the CRIA, including Le Petit Garcon au Piano, Nos Plus Belles Melodies, Noël Sans Toi, Prend le Temps and Madawaska in the 1980s and many more in the 1990s.[21][22][23][24]

Many albums by Sweet People have charted on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. More recently these include La dernière séance (peaking at number 20) in 2015,[25] La route m'a donné rendez-vous (peaking at number 40) and Noël (peaking at number 57) in 2017,[26][27] and Ainsi soit-il (peaking at number 43) in 2019.[28] Also recently, several albums have charted on the Swiss Hitparade. The include, Buona sera (at number 89) in 2009, Jour de chance (at number 78) in 2010, La dernière séance (at number 90) in 2013 and Qu'est-ce qu'on a dansé sur cette chanson... (at number 91) in 2015.[29]

Other work

In 1979, he took over the Casino-Théâtre Revue in Geneva and managed to revive its success.[30] He had previously accompanied Ferdinand Raynaud on piano there in 1971.[31] The Casino-Théâtre was then closed in 1987 due to renovation work and once reopened in 1990, management was entrusted to Pierre Naftule.[30]

From 1980 to 1985, Morisod was a producer on the television network Télévision suisse romande where Christian Morin presented and from 1998 to 2019, he had his own variety show Les coups de cœur d'Alain Morisod, alongside presenters Jean-Marc Richard and Lolita Morena.[3][32]

From 1986 to 1991, he was the president of the football club Urania Genève Sport, and managed in 2 years to be promoted from the 2. Liga to the Nationalliga B.[33]

After being engaged for 31 years, Morisod married fellow Sweet People singer Mady Rudaz in 2001.[3]

For the 2003, 2004 and 2006 Eurovsion Song Contests, Morisod was the co-commentator with Jean-Marc Richard for the French-language Swiss television station RTS.

In 2011, he was the ambassador for the 24th telethon in Switzerland (Téléthon Action Suisse) for French-speaking Switzerland, alongside journalist Malick Touré-Reinhard.[34]

Album discography

As Alain Patrick / Alain Morisod and His Orchestra

  • Concerto pour un été (1971)
  • Nocturne pour un amour (1973)
  • Adagio Romantique (1973)
  • Concerto d'amour / Nabucco (1974)
  • Alain Patrick (1976)
  • Les plus beaux noëls de notre enfance (1976)
  • Hommage à... (1977)
  • Mélodie pour deux trompettes (1977)
  • Fetes des Vignerons "mélodies eternelles" (1977)
  • Mélodies pour rèver (1978)
  • Par un matin d'amour (1980)

As Alan More and His Orchestra

  • Vol. 2 (1974)

As Alain Morisod

  • Il était une fois... (1980)
  • Les plus belles mélodies de Romandie (1984)
  • Pianissimo (2007)

With Sweet People

  • Lake Como (Le lac de Côme) (1977)
  • Percé (1979)
  • Belinda... Belle de nuit (1980)
  • Sweet People (1980)
  • Le p'tit garcon au piano (1980)
  • C'était une belle journée (1981)
  • A Wonderful Day (1981)
  • Libertad Au Revoir (1982)
  • Je t'attendrai my love (1983)
  • Swiss concerto (1983)
  • Noël sans toi (1983)
  • Daydream (1983)
  • Une chanson italienne (1984)
  • Prends le Temps (1984)
  • Voilà pourquoi on chante des chansons / Vivre (1985)
  • Et j'ai le mal de toi (1986)
  • Madawaska (1987)
  • Photographies (1988)
  • C'est Noël (1989)
  • Les violons d'acadie (1989)
  • Silver bird / Un jour, on se reverra (1991)
  • Couleur mélancolie (1992)
  • Toujours là! (1993)
  • ...Natures (1995)
  • Ecoute encore (1999)
  • Comme si demain n'existait pas (2002)
  • L'amour ne meurt jamais (2003)
  • Pour tous ceux qui vont s'aimer (2004)
  • Coleur country (2005)
  • Un vrai Noël (2006)
  • A chacun son étoile (2007)
  • Passionnément... (2008)
  • On chante toujours pour quelqu'un (2009)
  • Buona sera (2009)
  • Jour de chance (2010)
  • Super sympa (2011)
  • Quand on s'aime (2012)
  • Fiesta! (2012)
  • Si c'était à refaire... (2013)
  • La dernière séance (2014)
  • Qu'est-ce qu'on a dansé sur cette chanson... (2015)[35]
  • La route m'a donné rendez-vous (2017)
  • Noël (2017)
  • Ainsi soit-il (2019)

Charting singles
Year Single Peak chart positions
BE (FLA)[36] BE (WA)[8] BRA FRA[37] GER[38] QUE[39] NL[40] UK[1]
1971 "Concerto pour un été" - 46 1 - - - - -
1978 "Le Lac de Côme" - - - - - 1 - -
"Élodie" - - - - - 12 - -
1979 "Et les oiseaux chantaient" (released in Europe in 1980) 5 - - - 26 9 4 4
"Percé" - - - - - 3 - -
"Barcarolle" - - - - - 36 - -
1980 "Belinda" - - - - - 18 - -
"Crépuscule" - - - - - 19 - -
"Le petit garçon au piano" - - - - - 7 - -
1981 "La plage abandonnée" - - - - - 21 - -
"Neige (81)" - - - - - 8 - -
1982 "Au revoir" - - - - - 2 - -
"Libertad" - - - - - 46 - -
1983 "Je t'attendrai my love" - - - - - 1 - -
"Noël sans toi" - - - - - 8 - -
1984 "Une chanson italienne" - - - - - 2 - -
"La belle vie" - - - - - 14 - -
"Adieu et bonne chance" - - - 25 - 3 - -
1985 "Prends le temps" - - - - - 3 - -
"Hasta mañana mon amour" - - - - - 10 - -
"Voilà pourquoi on chante des chansons" - - - - - 34 - -
"Tant qu'il nous restera des chansons" - - - - - 10 - -
1986 "L'arbre et l'enfant" - - - - - 10 - -
"River blue" - - - - - 8 - -
"Et j'ai le mal de toi" - - - - - 20 - -
1987 "Et les oiseaux chantaient" (re-release) - - - - - - - 73
"Ce n'est qu'un rêve" - - - - - 4 - -
1988 "Je pense à toi" - - - - - 5 - -
"À demain nous deux" - - - - - 25 - -
1989 "Les violons d'Acadie" - - - - - 27 - -
1991 "Un jour on se reverra" - - - - - 37 - -
"Salut Jo" - - - - - 41 - -
1993 "Couleur mélancolie" - - - - - 36 - -
1994 "Toujours là" - - - - - 47 - -
1996 "Amoureux" - - - - - 46 - -

References
  1. "SWEET PEOPLE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  2. Morisod 2009, p. 25.
  3. "Alain Morisod | Alain Morisod & Sweet People". Alain Morisod (in French). Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  4. Morisod 2009, p. 16.
  5. Morisod, Alain (2009). La vie, c'est comme une boîte de chocolat (in French). Saint-Paul. ISBN 978-2-88355-133-6.
  6. Morisod 2009, p. 17.
  7. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1972-09-23). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  8. "Alain Patrick et son orchestre - Concerto pour un été". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  9. Morisod 2009, p. 18.
  10. "L'Eurovision de la Chanson, entre amis". rts.ch (in French). 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  11. "SWISS NATIONAL FINAL 1978". natfinals.50webs.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  12. "Vivre (Switzerland, 1978) | Six on Stage - Who's who at the Eurovision Song Contest". sixonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  13. Morisod 2009, p. 131.
  14. Bélanger, Cédric. "Alain Morisod: "J'ai passé cinq ans de ma vie sur scène au Québec"". Le Journal de Québec. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  15. Morisod 2009, pp. 133–134.
  16. "Sweet People - Et Les Oiseaux Chantaient (... And The Birds Were Singing)". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  17. Hung, Steffen. "Sweet People - Et les oiseaux chantaient". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  18. "lescharts.com - Sweet People - Adieu et bonne chance". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  19. "Amour On T'aime (Switzerland, 1982) | Six on Stage - Who's who at the Eurovision Song Contest". sixonstage.com. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  20. "Chartfile" (PDF). Record Mirror. 18 October 1980. p. 46. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  21. "Canada" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 96 no. 16. 21 April 1984. p. 56. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  22. "Canada" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 97 no. 12. 23 March 1985. p. 65. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  23. "Canada" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100 no. 5. 30 January 1988. p. 72. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  24. "Canada" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100 no. 22. 28 May 1988. p. 75. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  25. "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  26. "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  27. "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  28. "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  29. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community". www.swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  30. "Casino-Théâtre" (PDF). Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  31. "Raynaud et Morisod". rts.ch (in French). 1972-03-14. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  32. "Clap de fin pour les "Coups de cœur" d'Alain Morisod". www.illustre.ch (in French). 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  33. "Histoire | FC UGS Genève" (in French). Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  34. "TELETHON". Asrimm. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  35. Morisod, Alain; People, Sweet. "Qu'Est-Ce Qu'On A Dansé Sur Cette Chanson de Alain Morisod & Sweet People". www.cede.ch (in French). Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  36. "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  37. "lescharts.com - Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  38. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  39. "Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes" (PDF). banq.qc.ca. pp. 559–560. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  40. "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
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