The Singing Nun
(Sœur Sourire - The Singing Nun.)
Born: Jeanne-Paule Marie "Jeannine" Deckers on October
17, 1933 in Brussels, Belgium she was known as “Sœur Sourire” in French or 'Zuster
Glimlach' in Dutch/Flemish – which means “Smiling Sister” – but in English
Speaking Countries she was known as “The Singing Nun.”
She became a Member of the Dominican Order (The Missionary
Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Fichermont) in 1959 in Belgium and known as
Sister Luc Gabriel. Having always enjoyed singing she would sing around the
Convent and she was asked to record an Album to raise money for the Convent’s
Missions.
She recorded the album in 1962 and her single "Dominique"
(in French) became an international hit selling nearly 2 Million copies.
She became an International Celebrity and took the stage name
of Sœur Sourire. She gave several live concerts and appeared on “The Ed
Sullivan Show” on television on January 5, 1964.
"Dominique" was the first song by a Belgian Artist
to be a number one hit Single in the United States. The song is about Saint
Dominic, a Spanish-Born Priest and Founder of the Dominican Order, of which she
was a Member.
The Song's chorus refrain "Dominique, nique, nique"
was the source of some unintended amusement amongst French Listeners as the
word "niquer" is short for "fornicate", with
"nique" the equivalent of "fuck"; Sœur Sourire was unaware
of the connotation, as were the other Nuns.
The English-Version Lyrics of the song were written by Noël
Regney. In addition to French and English, Sœur Sourire recorded versions in
Dutch, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese. It was a top selling
record in 11 countries in late 1963 and early 1964.
“Dominique” was also a nominee for Grammy Award for Record of
the Year, and Sœur Sourire was a Nominee for Best Female Vocal Performance.
Sœur Sourire found it difficult, however, having to live up
to her publicity as "a true girl scout," always happy and in a good
mood. Pulled between two worlds (the Religious and the Musical) and
increasingly in disagreement with the Catholic Church, she left her Convent in
1966 and returned to being called Jeanne-Paule Deckers as her Record Company
refused to let her continue on as Sœur Sourire.
After her Music Career ended she went on to teach Disabled
Children in Wavre, Belgium.
In the 1970s the Belgian Finance Department said she owed $63,000
Dollars ($493,000 in today’s Dollars.) She countered that her Former Convent
and the Philips Recording Studio received all her money as Sœur Sourire. She
also reconnected with a Childhood Friend, Annie Pécher, and it is believed they
became lovers. Deckers was forced to pay the whole amount herself.
Her School for the Disabled was forced to close in 1982 due
to Financial Problems.
(Jeanne-Paule Deckers and Annie Pécher’s grave.)
Citing their Financial difficulties, Deckers and Annie Pécher
died by Suicide by taking overdoses of Barbiturates and Alcohol on March 29, 1985.
In their suicide note, they wrote that they had not given up
their faith and wished to be buried together with the Funeral Rite of the
Catholic Church.
A 1966 American Movie loosely based on Deckers/ Sœur Sourire called “The Singing Nun”
was made staring Debbie Reynolds as The Singing Nun and with Ricardo Montalbán,
Greer Garson, Agnes Moorehead, Chad Everett and Ed Sullivan.
In 2009 a French-Belgian Movie Biopic called “Sœur Sourire” starring Belgian actress Cécile de France as Deckers, was released.
Sœur Sourire singing“Dominique” in French with English
Subtitles:
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