Dave

Biography

Wouter Otto Levenbach (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋʌutər ˈɔtoː ˈleːvə(m)bɑx]; born 4 May 1944), known as Dave, is a Dutch Francophone singer who had a string of number one hits in France in the 1970s. A native of Amsterdam, he resides in Paris.

Early life and education

Dave was born in Amsterdam. His father was Jewish and an English teacher by trade; his mother was a classical dancer. He has two brothers, Maarten and Lucas, and a sister, Elsbeth. He learned to play the guitar at age 14. He became a very spiritual person who prayed frequently and even planned to study theology; however, he eventually chose to study law.
Among other things, he was inspired by Jack Kerouac's On the Road , a revolutionary novel which encouraged young people to leave home and learn life "on the road", and to communicate with others. Passionate about the sea and rivers (a love which he owes to his grandfather), he left the Netherlands by boat with 1,000 guilders in his pocket (about two months' living expenses).

1960s: Beginnings

He met Eddie Barclay, the executive for Barclay Records, in Saint-Tropez in 1968; Barclay was responsible for launching Dave's career in show business.

On 26 February 1969, he participated in the Nationaal Songfestival, the Dutch pre-selection contest for that year's Eurovision Song Contest with a song called "Niets gaat zo snel", but did not win. In Summer 1969 he reached the Dutch Top 40 charts for the first time with "Nathalie", peaking at No. 28.

1970s: Peak

From 1971 to 1974, he was one of the actors in the musical Godspell, making friends with actor Daniel Auteuil, who would become his best friend.
In 1974, he released his first hit "Trop Beau", a French adaptation of The Rubettes' hit "Sugar Baby Love"; later that year, he released "Vanina×Vanina1974 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksA1Vanina (Runaway)3:10B1Mille et une vies2:55", his first number one single in France, an adaptation of Del Shannon's "Runaway", adapted into French by Patrick Loiseau. These were followed in 1975 by the three hits "Mon cœur est malade" (based on the melody of The Wombles' "Banana Rock", written by Mike Batt), "Dansez maintenant×Dansez maintenant2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Dansez maintenant3:032Est-ce par hasard2:493Allô Elisa3:544La Décision3:325Lettre à Hélène3:226Mon cœur est malade2:567Hurlement4:428Vanina3:099Raconte-moi des mensonges3:0410Tant qu’il y aura3:1411La Cigarette qui brûle mes doigts2:1412Pour que tu me comprennes2:5513Comment ne pas être amoureux de vous3:2014Du côté de chez Swann3:1515Jezebel3:09" (based on Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade") and "Du côté de chez Swann×Du côté de chez Swann1975 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksA1Du côté de chez Swann2:58B1Fais-moi l'amour (Cette nuit c'est toi qui m'aimes)3:17".
His self-titled first album was released at the end of 1975. By that time, he did not only have great success in France and Belgium, but also in his country of origin the Netherlands, where "Dansez maintenant" was a number 1 hit in the top 40 and "Du côté de chez Swann" made the top 10 too.
His later hits included "Lettre à Hélène×Lettre à Hélène1992 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Mon cœur est malade2Par pudeur3Lettre à Hélène4Amoureux5Ophélie6Après tout7Trop beau8Fais‐moi l’amour (Cette nuit c’est toi qui m’aimes)9Le Dernier Slow10Le Marchand de rêves11Je t’offre une chanson12Heureux ou malheureux13La Cigarette14Plus ça va, plus je t’aime15Chanson d’un vieux fan16Contre vents et marées" (1978), "Comment ne pas être amoureux de vous" (1978) and "Allo Elisa×Allo Elisa1979 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAAllo Elisa4:00BIl était... Il y a longtemps3:43" (1979).

1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, his popularity waned following the advent of FM radio in France. He still had an audience due to live performances and his classic hits. However, he himself likened the ebb to a "crossing of a very pretty desert". In 1993, he released a new album, then in 1994, he made a comeback following the release of a greatest hits album, which sold more than 200,000 copies. He later recorded a new album entitled Toujours le même bleu×Toujours le même bleu1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Boulevard des sans amour3:042Toujours le même bleu3:353Nomade3:304La main de l'ange4:315Pardonne à l'homme qui t'aime3:356Les amours blessés3:207Ave eva3:328Soudain l'été dernier2:599Tom n'est pas fou3:3910Song for Charles4:0311Mon talisman3:4812Je voulais te dire que je t'attends4:30, which included a title single from which enables him to hit the charts once again. It is also around this time that he came out as homosexual.
In 1996, he appeared in a commercial for Dutch cheese. He later became a co-presenter with Sheila of the TF1 television program Salut les Chouchous; after a year, he assumed the presenter duties alone. In 1997, publisher Lattès Editions published Dave's autobiography, Du côté de chez moi ("Around where I live"). An album, Dave classique×Classique1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1C'est l'heure ("Rêve" n°3)4:282Quel que soit le coin de Terre (Symphonie n°9 "Hymne à la Joie")2:443Marie, mon rêve ("Ave Maria" d'après Prélude N°1)2:474L'Amant d'un seul soir ("Aria" suite n°3 BWV1068)4:435Nos accords (Concerto n°21 K467)3:396Ma Terre Dolorosa (Choral n°10 / Cantate BWV147)3:497Ils s'en vont (Sonate n°8 Op.13)4:318L'Aveu d'un homme amoureux ("Sérénade")3:329Lutèce et le Nouveau Monde ("Symphonie du Nouveau Monde" n°9 Op.95)2:4710Splendeur des jours ("Ouverture de Tannhaüser")3:3511Ave Maria5:55, was released, fulfilling his dream to record some classical compositions.

2000s and 2010s

From 2001 to 2005 Dave presented together with Flavie Flament and Denis Brogniart the TV event Domino Day on TF1.
In 2003, he released another autobiographical book, Soit dit en passant... mes années paillettes, which dealt with his life as a showbiz celebrity in the 1970s. The book also revealed the love story which has united Dave with his lyricist and companion Patrick Loiseau for more than thirty years. The latter also participated in the work to share his version of the events.
In 2006, he released a new album under the name of "Dave Levenbach", Tout le plaisir a été pour moi×Tout le plaisir a été pour moi27 March 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Calme4:232Tout le plaisir a été pour moi3:483Sous les cyprès3:214Chair inconnue2:275Portrait de vous3:356Fou de l'Italie3:367Pas un jour ne passe3:488Les Petits bonheurs2:249Tout seul comme un grand5:0210Exil idéal3:2011Copain ami amour2:4112Mlle Lucy2:5313Le Meilleur de mes souvenirs4:48. In September 2006, he played four special concerts at the Théâtre de l'Européen in Paris.
He was awarded Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau on 17 April 2015.

Albums

1976: Tant qu'il y aura (# 1/FR)
1979: Pour que tu me comprennes (# 1/FR)
1996: Toujours le même bleu
2004: Doux Tam Tam
2006: Tout le plaisir a été pour moi
2011: Blue-Eyed Soul !

Film

1981: Dickie-roi as Dickie-roi
1994: La Cité de la peur as himself
2006: Poltergay as himself
2013: Une chanson pour ma mère as himself

Television

Usually as a TV presenter

1996–1997: Salut les Chouchous (TF1)
2001–2002: Eurovision Song Contest (France 3), with Marc-Olivier Fogiel
2001–2005: Domino Day (TF1), with Flavie Flament and Denis Brogniart
2010–2013, 2015–2016: La France a un incroyable talent (M6), as a judge (2010–2013) and a guest judge (2015–2016)
2011–2012: Les années 1980 : le retour and Les années 1990 : le retour et Les années 2000 : le retour (M6), with Sandrine Corman
2014–2016: Du côté de chez Dave (France 3 and TV5Monde international)
2015: Téléthon (France 3), with Sophie Davant and Nagui
since 2016: Même le dimanche (France 3), with Wendy Bouchard