Born on November 4th: Chris Difford (Squeeze), poet of British everyday life

Chris Difford was born in 1954 in Greenwich, just outside London. For more than half a century, he has left his discreet mark on the history of English pop music.

His mother, Isabel, met his father, Sidney, near Belfast during World War II. Chris Gifford is best known as the co-founder and principal lyricist of the band Squeeze, formed in London in 1974. With Glenn Tilbroo, his longtime songwriting partner, he formed one of the most respected songwriting duos in the UK, alongside Lennon-McCartney (The Beatles) and, in a more abrupt style, Jagger-Richards (The Rolling Stones). Unfortunately, they never quite achieved the same level of success. Their approach also evokes that of The Housemartins and the Australian band Crowded House. Chris Gifford is renowned for his meticulously crafted lyrics, filled with both a touch of ironic humor and profoundly humanist social observations. Often with immense tenderness and an innate attention to detail, he captures the everyday lives of his fellow citizens.

While he did record a duo album with his favorite collaborator (in 1984) and even a few solo projects (around ten recordings in total), it's undoubtedly within Squeeze that his star shines brightest. Although their last album together, "The Knowledge," dates back to 2017, Squeeze boasts an impressive discography of some fifteen albums. This includes a collection of gems like "Cool For Cats," "Take Me I'm Yours," "Another Nail In My Heart," and "Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)" that deserve to be rediscovered.

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo : © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Chris Gifford with Squeeze on stage at W Fest in Ostend (Belgium) on August 22, 2022