Soeur Sourire plays and sings / Dominique (1963)

Filmed fragments of Jeanine Deckers, the musical Belgian nun who became famous as Soeur Sourire (Smiling Sister) or The Singing Nun. Her song Dominique hit number one in many hit charts in 1963, in her own version as well as in other languages. Hollywood made a quasi-biography about her, starring Debbie Reynolds.
"Dominique, -nique, -nique, s'en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux, il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu."
"Dominique, -nique, -nique, over the land he walks along
And sings his little song
Never asking for reward, he just talks about the Lord
He just talks about the Lord."

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sœur
• sourire
• dominique
• jeanine
• deckers
• belgium
• singing
• nun

[jarabaa]

This isn't exactly "Soeur Sourire singing 'Dominique'".  It's part of a (Dutch/Flemish-language) television documentary about the tragic life of Jeanine Deckers, and it shows her singing one verse of "Dominique" starting at 1:43. We also hear some translations of "Dominique", which was a sensational world success in the early 60s, remembered by all of us who were around then. However, this clip also has some other lovely songs by Jeanine Deckers which were not so well known.

[riccardobruero]

@jarabaa I know, that's why I did put the slash in the title.

[Naclement]

How do the non-french people know this song ?

[riccardobruero]

@Naclement: It was famous worldwide, Soeur Sourire was even in the hit charts with 'Dominique'. Besides, we know Edith Piaf, too, and Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, Francoise Hardy...

[multiz007]

@Naclement Im 40 years old now and I can still remember hearing it on television when I was 10 in New York. A Hollywood movie called The Singing Nun with the main actress being Debbie Renyolds was made in 1965 so that caused the song to be played in all easy listening radio stations (and I think I remember Lawrence Welk doing a instrumental of it as well). Its a small world after all...

[riccardobruero]

@multiz007: Another famous version here was by (I think Canadian) singer Lucille Starr - who also sang other french/english songs like 'Quand le soleil' and 'Jolie Jacqueline'.

[galtech]

Nice song... i'm still waiting for de reggeton version, je jee ;)

[gadslca]

Sor Sonrisa, que linda cancion! greeteings from Mexico.

[Tao33316]

Soeur Sourire aura toujours une place dans nos coeurs. Sa contribution ne sera pas oubliée. Elle était auteur de chansons et chanteuse. Son talent a enrichit l'Église catholique qui l'a abandonnée alors qu'elle avait besoin d'elle. Pourquoi donner à une Église qui déborde de richesses et qui opprime certain(e)s (vous savez qui vous êtes) qu'elle juge "en état de péché". Il me semble que c'est elle qui était en état de péché cette fois-ci. Sous le couvert de la religion, le mal règne.

[Roswitha26]

Ein wunder schönes Lied der Text auf Deutsch, Unter all die Sterne schrieb der Herr den Namen von Dir,

unter all die Sterne; nah bei ihm und weit von hier,

unter all die Sterne hat der Herr Dein Leben gestellt,

unter all die Sterne; ihm ganz nah am Himmelszelt.

Die Nacht, als in dem Herrn der Wunsch nach Dir erwacht,

die Nacht, die aus zwei Menschen Dich hervorgebracht,

die Nacht, da Gott zum ersten Mal Dir zugelacht, - gelobt die Nacht.

[hiqoguard]

I remember we bought the album seen at 2:39... I listened to it constantly although I didn't understand a word of French (I was about 9) and practically memorized every song on it. I sent a fan letter to her and eventually got a postcard back telling me nuns could not return private correspondence, but Happy Easter anyway!

[ellen38muziek]

GREAT VIDEO, BRILLANT SONG ,REALLY FUNNY, I'M WAITING FOR ANDRE VAN DUIN'S VERSION (ANDRE VAN DUIN IS A DUTCH STAND-UP COMEDIAN)

[nikki9087654321]

My name is Dominique. My mom saw it on the credit card of some random lady who was checking out items at K-Mart when she worked there.

[deucecoupe71]

lovely!!!

whats that song in the beginning of the clip ??

greetings from Norway

[CuteMcBeauty]

@Naclement Hey I'm not french and I know it!!! It wasa  HUGE hit in its day,

[TheBeaverEh]

Chanter pour que le monde connaît Son nom

[hamsteradorable]

My name is Dominique My mom love the name so much she called me Dominique

[silentfades]

@Naclement was her lover who committed suicide with her also a nun ?