Who is that? Why, it's the Belgian recording artist Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers - frequently remembered as The Singing Nun. She had a self-penned worldwide hit single in late 1963. It was titled "Dominique" and it was sung in French in honour of Saint Dominic who founded the Dominican Order of Catholicism in The Middle Ages.
Mme Deckers was indeed a nun but not for very long. In 1966 she left her convent and her holy orders but continued to live a pious life, opening a school for autistic children in her home town in Belgium. Financially, she was ripped off both by the Catholic church and by her recording company - Philips. That led to overwhelming financial worries that played a big part in her early death.
Though at one time she vehemently denied it, she was probably homosexual for she lived with her friend Annie Pécher in a shared apartment for many years. Tragically, on March 29th 1985, they committed suicide together in Wavre, Belgium where they were later buried together. The Singing Nun was only fifty one years old. The inscription on their shared headstone might be translated thus: "I saw her soul fly through the clouds".
People of my generation will recall the haunting simplicity of "Dominique" in a musical landscape that in 1963 was becoming increasingly populated by wannabe stars and electric guitars. Please listen:-
Domi-nic-nic-nic went about simply,
a poor singing traveller.
On every road, in every place,
He talks only of the Good Lord,
He talks only of the Good Lord.
I remember that song well, and the fact it was in French (which I do not speak) never stopped me from singing along. I never knew about her later life. How fitting they were buried together.
ReplyDeleteMaybe in 2025 they would be much happier to declare their love in public.
DeleteP.S. I'm glad this song has replaced the tragic "Shannon" going through my head after visiting Steve's blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope you wake up singing "Dominique" before dancing around your kitchen.
Deletewe are watching Gogglebox soi can't easily listen to the track but i'll try later....... i did watch a film recently that included Dudley Moore as a lesbian nun....perhaps they got the idea from somewhere
ReplyDeleteMulti-tasking on a Friday night. Keep it simple Jason!
DeleteNow it's going round and round in my head. I haven't heard it in years. It wasn't one of my favourites, to be honest.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever consider becoming a nun yourself Addy?
DeleteI remember this song but never knew about her sad life.
ReplyDelete