Pierre Papadiamandis died at the age of 85. He was the melodist on many hits for his friend, lyricist and singer Eddy Mitchell for nearly fifty-five years.
Pierre Papadiamandis is dead! Last November, during an interview with Eddy Mitchell on the occasion of the release of Country Rock, his thirty-ninth album, we asked him if he had ever wanted to write other songs. Why go for burgers when you have steak at home? He replied, with his usual humor. Before adding: It’s not mine, it’s Pablo New man. Unstoppable.
When we work together, he also told us, we are always like kids, to get excited. While he gives me what I want and I give him what he wants, why change!
More than 150 songs and twenty-five albums
From album to album, only one or two more collaborations are allowed, for the opening. Like with Calogero on the last album.
But Pierre Papadiamandis was the composer of his life. He has been on almost every Eddy record. Mitchell since Alone, their seventh album, in 1966.
Pierre Papadiamandis and Eddy Mitchell
Mayfair Studio, London, 1989
Tony Frank® pic.twitter.com/Pi1It7vm7X— Didier Golemanas (@DidierGolemanas) March 22, 2022
Their collaboration had even preceded that one, since the pianist and composer French of Greek origin had accompanied Eddy on stage for two years before offering him the melody of I forgot to forget it. It was the debut of more than 150 songs together in some twenty-five albums.
Papadiamandis had also composed Que Marianne was pretty for michel delpech. He had also worked with Ray Charles, Francoise HardyCeline Dion and Grace Jones.
We hoped to meet them again in December for a joint interview: the star Eddy Mitchell, the man behind the scenes Pierre Papadiamandis. But the news was no longer good for the singer’s favorite songwriter, who died on Tuesday, March 22 at the age of 85 in a Paris hospital.
No Pierre Papadiamandis, no Eddy, no Papadiamandis notes, no Mitchell songs. Together they wrote about 200 songs and dozens of classics: Water Mint, The Last Seance, Elephant Graveyard, M’man. It is impossible to name them all since 1964.
Their meeting dates back to the solo debut of Eddy Mitchell, who had just left the black socks and was looking for a pianist for his band. It was my saxophone that introduced me to Pierre Papadiamandis, the singer told us a few months ago.
At that time, rock and him were two different things. Pierre Papadiamandis confirms it: I studied classical music and jazz, which were my favorite songs. But, of all the rockers, Eddy was my favorite singer even before I met him, adds the musician of Greek origin, born in Paris and raised in Nogent-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne), who had started playing the piano at the age of 5
Pierre Papadiamandis is my brother
Eddy Mitchell remembers his absolutely sleazy dog. A dachshund that used to eat my shirts. His name was Tito. And also that Pierre Papadiamandis was so discreet that it took him two years to come up with a melody. It was I Forgot to Forget, which was our first hit in 1966 and is still my favorite.
There were many more until the final compositions of Eddy Mitchell’s latest album, Country Rock, released in late 2021, which includes a Tribute to his friend Johnny Hallyday, A bit of love. Pierre Papadiamandis’s ability to renew himself all the time still amazes me, admits Eddy. the song in johnny, for example, has a splendid, simple and moving melody. It took me two years to find the lyrics.
Your common recipe? Music comes first. I create them first and he takes care of the lyrics, summarizes Papadiamandis. We still work the same way today. I need a carrot to write with, adds Mitchell. I never have text messages in advance. The very cinematic music of Pierre Papadiamandis brings me images and emotions. I still work on tape, the old-fashioned way. The sound isn’t terrible, but you can move the tape forward or backward.
A work of craftsmen that has not changed over time like their friendship, intact. Pierre Papadiamandis is my brother, summarizes Eddy. His wife, Anouk, is my godmother. daughter the eldest, Maryline. We have always helped each other in difficult times, like my divorce. We never argue.
Pierre Papadiamandis cheated on Eddy to go work with Michel Delpech (in Que Marianne was pretty), Dick Rivers, Françoise Hardy, celine dion, Grace Jones or Ray Charles, but he was quickly reunited with his old friend. I never thought of an album without him, concluded Mitchell during our last interview. We always want and need to work. It stimulates us, we do not see the time to spend. Without Pierre, he would never have done this race.