Jean-Paul Dréau, lyricist of hit 'Le coup de soleil,' dies at 73

Jean-Paul Dréau, the celebrated lyricist behind Richard Cocciante's iconic 1979 hit "Le coup de soleil," has died at the age of 73. His family announced his passing on Tuesday, confirming he died in his home in Corrèze after a sudden and fatal pulmonary embolism.

Born Jean-Paul Benchetrit in Oran in 1953, Dréau penned and composed a vast catalog of songs that defined French popular music. His notable works include "Je t'aime" for Michel Polnareff, "Viens" for Hervé Vilard, "Tout doucement" for Bibie, and "Un jour de trop qui passe" for Chimène Badi. His songwriting talent even extended internationally, with Elton John covering one of his compositions, "J’veux de la tendresse."

However, "Le coup de soleil" remains his most enduring success, immortalized in the early 1980s by Cocciante's rendition. Valéry Zeitoun, former head of the AZ label, paid tribute to Dréau, calling "Le coup d'soleil" one of France's most popular songs and cementing Dréau's status as an indispensable artist in French music history.