Folk-type Donovan has been given a prestigious honour by the French government.
Receiving the 'cultural medal' at MIDEM from French culture minister Christine Albanel, the singer said he was "very pleased", and added: "I take it for all the work I've done over the years to bring poetry back to popular culture".
"To get an honour like this confirmed to me that it was successful, that my work was accepted on my terms, rather than becoming an entertainer. I wanted to be entertaining, but to bring to the world a sense of meaning again".