Celebrated Lyricist Jean-Max Rivière Dies at 88
PARIS – Jean-Max Rivière, the prolific lyricist behind some of French music’s most enduring hits - including Brigitte Bardot’s “La Madrague” and Serge Reggiani’s “It Would Be Enough for Almost Nothing” – has died peacefully surrounded by loved ones, his wife Francine Rivière confirmed. He was 88 years old.
Rivière’s words defined a generation, shaping the sound of French chanson and launching the careers of numerous artists. Beyond Bardot and Reggiani, his credits include songs for Juliette Gréco, Dalida, and Françoise Hardy, establishing him as a pivotal figure in post-war French popular music. He was, as one acquaintance put it, “a watercolorist of the French language.”
Born with a passion for both words and visual art, Rivière initially aspired to join the Sacem (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers) in 1957, but was initially rejected due to spelling errors. Undeterred, he found his footing in the early 1960s, collaborating with Gérard Bourgeois to write “La Madrague” for Bardot in 1963 - a song whose evocative lyrics (“On the abandoned beach, shellfish and crustaceans…”) remain instantly recognizable today. He shared a close, fraternal bond with Bardot’s father, Louis (Pilou), a writer who fostered his love of poetry.
Though Rivière briefly attempted a career as a performer himself in the 1960s, he ultimately dedicated his talents to songwriting. His 1965 composition “L’Amitié,” written for Françoise Hardy, became a signature song. ”When he met her, it was on the doorstep, as he was leaving, that he sang it to her. He was sure he wouldn’t like it. For him, Françoise was a rock singer. And she loved it,” Francine Rivière recalled.
Rivière’s influence extended beyond established stars. He was a keen talent scout, discovering and mentoring emerging artists like Barbelivien, Bashung, and Balavoine, often unearthing them in small bars and cabarets. His forward-thinking spirit also led him to participate in the avant-garde musical “The French Revolution” in 1973, years before such productions gained mainstream popularity.
In 2016,Rivière was honored as a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters,a recognition he deeply valued. His legacy endures through the timeless quality of his lyrics, continuing to resonate with audiences today.
