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.
ReplyDeleteThe song had been playing in my head for a few days so that's when I researched The Singing Nun and found out stuff that I also did not know.
DeleteI remember the singing nun and her one popular song.
ReplyDeleteYes. It was the only hit she ever had - like a novelty song really.
DeleteI always liked that song. The Catholic Church really does a number on gay people who are unfortunate enough to also be Catholic. I've known a couple of them who went through life as walking train wrecks thanks to their Catholic indoctrination.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think that in today's world, The Singing Nun and Annie could have "come out" with confidence - happy to be themselves.
DeleteShe had such a lovely voice. It's disgusting how she was treated, both by the church and by Philips.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to homosexuality, I like to think that there's a lot more acceptance in the current world than there used to be.
DeleteThis is a new one on me ....
ReplyDeleteWhen were you born Bob? You are probably too young to have ever heard the first iteration.
DeleteLike Deb above, I remember the song well, but didn't know of her tragic end. I never liked the song; far too sickly sweet for my taste.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny. I can easily imagine you skipping round your swimming pool to the tune of "Dominique".
DeleteI remember the song which is nice enough, but I always disliked it because it was French and I have disliked the French language since I was made to learn it at school, mostly because of the teacher who loved everything French and changed our winter uniforms and made us all wear thick stockings and berets. She was very particular about pronunciation and I never did "get it". The only thing I got from the french lessons was a big fat F on my report card.
ReplyDeleteWhat did the "F" stand for? I can think of a few words.
DeleteI knew both the song and the sad life. And now I am probably going to hear "Dominique-nique-nique" in my head all day.
ReplyDeleteSo many artists have been ripped off by their managers and/or record/film companies and ended up forgotten and in poverty in their later years. Tragic.
Could your sister film a video of you dressed up as a nun singing, "Dominique" and then post it on your blog? I am sure that it would score many "hits"!
DeleteThat song is now going round in. my head, and I didn't even watch the video!!
ReplyDeleteI suppose you prefer the Franciscan order.
DeleteI remember the song but not sure I ever heard the full story of the Singing Nun before.
ReplyDeleteA simple, happy song but a tragic goodbye.
DeleteI remember that one, but didn't know the story behind it. I learn something new everyday.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day you will learn how to tie your shoelaces properly David.
DeleteI wonder how many gay women tried to escape by joining the nuns. I'm glad the couple left this earth on their own terms
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the sexuality of many nuns may have driven them into convents.
DeleteI remember singing this in French with two others for some concert or other. I didn't know the story behind it. How sad that she had to live a shuttered life and needed to kill herself. 51! No age at all.
ReplyDeleteShe and her girlfriend cited financial matters in their joint suicide note.
DeleteI remember the singing nun, but was not familiar with the song or her life. When I listened to the video, the song did sound familiar though.
ReplyDeleteWell that was the song that made her quite famous across the world.
DeleteI remember the song, and thanks for all the background information. I didn't know.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that being in the closet added to her suffering.
DeleteF**k religion.
ReplyDeleteNow that's the kind of religion I could get interested in.
DeleteI remember the song but didn't know her history.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know it either till I started researching the song.
DeleteI remember the song very well, but did not know the story.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Wavre! I had no idea the singing nun died and was buried there.
ReplyDeleteLike many of your readers I knew the song but had absolutely no idea (or no remembrance) of the singer. I consider myself educated.
ReplyDelete