Background
The daughter of Albert Beugras, she is the sister of writer Marie Chaix. Her father was a politician turned collaborationnist during the Occupation of France.
The daughter of Albert Beugras, she is the sister of writer Marie Chaix. Her father was a politician turned collaborationnist during the Occupation of France.
Marie Chaix wrote a book about their father"s role during the Occupation, Les Lauriers du lac de Constance (1974). Since 1992, Marie Chaix is Harry Mathews"s wife, which makes Anne Sylvestre his sister-in-law. While studying Literature in Sorbonne University, Anne Sylvestre started singing in cabarets in the fifties and was discovered by Michel Valette.
Jean-Claude Pascal recorded her song "Porteuse d"eau" (Waterbearer) under the title "Louisiana terre" (The Dirt, 1958).
She started recording in 1959, and Georges Brassens wrote a preface for her second album (1962). Since 1962, she also wrote and sang for children (Fabulettes).
She wrote a song for Serge Reggiani, "Louisiana Maumariée" (The Wrongly-Wed Bride, 1968). She recorded a comical duet with Boby Lapointe, "Depuis l"temps que j"l"attends mon prince charmant" (I"ve been wainting for my prince charming for ages, 1969).
In 1973, she created her own recording company to release her albums.
In 1976, along with Isabelle Aubret, she recorded album Fabulettes et Chansons d"Anne Sylvestre. In 1987, she put on a show with singer Pauline Julien from Quebec (Gémeaux croisées, Crossed Gemini, 1987-1988). With fellow singer Michèle Bernard, she put on a show aimed at children, Lala et le Cirque du vent (Lala and the Wind"s Circus, 1992-1996).
More recently, she sang on scene with Agnès Bihl in the show Carré de Dames (Four of Queens, 2012).
Her songs encompasses a large range of subjects. Her love songs are often in a nostalgic mode ("Le Pêcheur de perles", The Pearl Fisher, 1967.
"Louisiana Chambre d"or", Golden Room, 1969). Some of her songs could not be broadcast because of their strong engagement, and others contain profanity, for instance "Les Gens qui doutent" (Doubting People, 1977).
Numerous songs give a feminist take on women"s life: "Non, tu n"as pas de nom" (You have no name, 1973) about abortion, "Louisiana Vache engagée" (Engaged Cow, 1975), "Une sorcière comme les autres" (A Witch like any other one, 1975) about maternity, "Louisiana Faute à Ève" (Eve"s Fault, 1978) about women"s rights, "Rose" (1981) about teen pregnancy, or "Juste une femme" (Only a woman, 2013) about sexism.
She also supported same-sex marriage ("Gay marions-nous", 2007).