Pierre Leroyer was born in
Paris. For his professional career, he adopted his grandmother's
maiden name Delanoë. After obtaining a law degree, he began a career as a tax collector, and later a tax inspector. After
World War II, he met
Gilbert Bécaud and began working as a lyricist. For a period, he even performed alongside Bécaud in clubs. They penned some of France's best loved songs, including "Et maintenant", translated into English as "
What Now My Love", which was covered by artists including
Agnetha Fältskog,
Elvis Presley,
Frank Sinatra,
Barbra Streisand,
the Supremes,
Sonny & Cher,
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and
the Temptations. "Je t'appartiens" ("
Let It Be Me") was covered by
the Everly Brothers,
Tom Jones,
Bob Dylan,
Willie Nelson,
Nina Simone and
Nofx. "
Crois-moi ça durera" was covered as "You'll See" by
Nat King Cole. In addition to Bécaud, Delanoë wrote for
Édith Piaf ("La Goualante du pauvre Jean"),
Tino Rossi,
Hugues Aufray,
Michel Fugain ("Je n'aurai pas le temps", "
Une belle histoire"),
Nicoletta,
Nana Mouskouri,
Michel Polnareff,
Gérard Lenorman ("
La Ballade des gens heureux"),
Joe Dassin ("
L'Été indien", "
Les Champs-Élysées", "
Et si tu n'existais pas"),
Nicole Rieu ("Et bonjour à toi l'artiste") and
Michel Sardou ("Les Vieux Mariés", "Le France"). He wrote a passionate song about
Joan of Arc in "La demoiselle d'Orléans" for
Mireille Mathieu. The final lyric: "When I think of all I have given France... and she has forgotten me" was truly how the singer felt as she was made a caricature by Communists. The song "
Dors, mon amour", performed by
André Claveau, for which Delanoë only wrote the music, and went on to win the
Eurovision Song Contest 1958. He created some controversy in July 2006 after expressing dislike for
rap music, saying that it is "a form of expression for people incapable of making music" and "not music but
vociferations,
eructations (belching)". ==Death==