Visibly moved, Véronique Sanson confided her regrets about leaving Michel Berger in an interview with Laurent Delahousse.

Broadcast yesterday in 20:30 p.m. Sunday On France 2, the interview between Laurent Delahousse and Véronique Sanson accompanied the release of the documentary Véronique, directed by Tom Volf. During this exchange, Véronique Sanson looked back on her personal and artistic journey, notably mentioning her first great love story with Michel Berger, her departure to join Stephen Stills, her American life and the regrets that remain attached to this period.

The emotion remained undiminished when speaking about Michel Berger.

During the broadcast of footage dedicated to Michel Berger, Véronique Sanson appeared deeply moved as she spoke with Laurent Delahousse. The singer described a relationship based on love, humor, and a rare artistic affinity, explaining that she and Michel Berger felt they shared the same sensibilities and the same writing style. The interview confirmed that this story remains, more than 50 years later, one of the most significant chapters of her life.

Véronique Sanson hinted that her biggest regret about Michel Berger wasn't just leaving him, but especially the way she did it: she recalled telling him she was going out to buy cigarettes and matches, before not returning, referring to a "call of the open sea", while acknowledging today that she had been " coward " and that she regrets not having had the courage to tell Michel Berger clearly that she loved another man; this guilt is all the stronger because she described their relationship as an almost symbiotic bond, saying that with Michel Berger, they were "twins"united by an exceptional emotional and artistic closeness, which gives this breakup an even more painful dimension. What she confided to Laurent Delahousse extends what she had already told Audrey Crespo-Mara in Seven to Eight in September 2025, when she explained that leaving Michel Berger remained "the greatest regret" of her life, that this "was not done"that it was "not good" from her, and that they then spent their lives, according to her, writing songs for each other.

A decisive encounter in the late 1960s

As a reminder, the story between Véronique Sanson and Michel Berger dates back to the late 1960s, with several biographies placing their meeting in 1967. Very quickly, the relationship became both romantic and creative. Michel Berger supported Véronique Sanson's rise to fame and played a decisive role in shaping her first major recording projects, which gave their partnership a unique place in French music of the early 1970s.

In love, the album that launched Véronique Sanson

Released on March 20, 1972, the album In love, first published under the title Véronique SansonThis album is Véronique Sanson's first studio album. The songs were written and composed by Véronique Sanson, while Michel Berger handled the artistic production. It includes tracks like In love et Need no oneThis album firmly established Véronique Sanson in the forefront and helped to make her one of the major figures of the new French song of the 1970s.

The departure towards Stephen Stills and the weight of remorse

The turning point occurred between the end of 1972 and the beginning of 1973, with a final departure in February 1973 for the United States, followed by Véronique Sanson's marriage to Stephen Stills on March 14, 1973 in Guildford, England. Something she regrets today.

This separation left an indelible mark on the work of both Véronique Sanson and Michel Berger. Véronique Sanson herself explained that she and Michel Berger had, in essence, continued to respond to each other through their songs over the years. At the same time, Michel Berger opened another major chapter of his life in 1974 with France Gall. Michel Berger wrote The Declaration of Love for France Gall, then produced her albums, then married France Gall on June 22, 1976. The couple formed by Michel Berger and France Gall then established themselves as one of the great artistic alliances of French pop.