Mike Brant song in English uncovered

Israeli pop singer Mike Brant – who became world-famous singing in French – died at just 28 years old in 1975, at the peak of his career.

On Monday, never-before-heard recordings of Brant, including in English, were revealed for the first time on Israel’s Army Radio.

“Jean Renard, the composer who wrote many of Mike’s most important songs, called my daughter who lives in Paris,” said Tzvika Brand, Mike’s brother, in an interview with Army Radio’s Kobi Mandel. “He told her he was organizing his basement, and they went down there together and there they found a number of recordings – practices, warm-ups – really rare recordings of Mike – and he gave her those recordings.”

One of those songs played for the first time on Army Radio on Monday morning, was an English version of Brant’s most famous tune, “Laisse-moi t’aimer” (“Let Me Love You”).

“Don’t say goodbye/ To me my love/ You know I need you so,” Brant sings in English.

Brant, who was born Moshe Brand in an internment camp in Cyprus and moved to Israel as an infant, began his career as a performer in Israel. In 1969, at age 22, he signed a deal with a French producer and recorded “Laisse-moi t’aimer” in French – despite not speaking the language. The song became an instant success, and Brant went on to record four albums in French, performing in front of thousands of people around Europe.

In 1975, at age 28, Brant took his life by jumping out of the window of an apartment in Paris.

Brand, Mike’s brother, told Army Radio that his songs are still regularly played in Paris, and his fan base remains strong.