"Comme d’habitude" (French for As usual) is a French song written in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibaut.
Originally titled "For Me" with lyrics in English, the song was initially refused by numerous artists (most notably Michel Sardou), until Hervé Vilard finally agreed to record it. However, Revaux was not satisfied with Vilard's version of the song and approached Claude François to record it. François accepted but asked that an underlying theme of a couple in a strained relationship be included, in reference to his recent breakup with fellow French singer France Gall. Revaux agreed and with some rewriting from Gilles Thibaut the song became "Comme d'habitude" and was released by François in 1968.
Paul Anka, after hearing the song while watching French television in Paris, got the rights to it for free[1] for his American production company. After rewriting with English lyrics – unrelated to the original – Frank Sinatra recorded a cross-Atlantic version of it in 1969 under the title "My Way". "Comme d'habitude" has reputedly been recorded in more languages, by more artists than any other song in contemporary music history.
The tune of "Comme d'habitude" is also the musical basis for a song David Bowie wrote in 1968, but never recorded, called "Even a Fool Learns to Love". Bowie had previously been asked to write English lyrics to "Comme d'habitude" by his manager Tony Defries – the year before Paul Anka acquired the French song – but declined, believing there was no commercial or artistic merit in the project.
"Comme d'habitude" was also covered by Florent Pagny in 1989 and released as a single in France.