French songs, analyzed

This is some new format I’m experimenting: instead of talking about a single interpretation of song, let’s talk about a song and how it has been differently performed. Today, we’ll talk about Nougaro’s first hit Je suis sous. Here are the translated lyrics: I am under, under, under, under your balcony Like Romeo Oh ! Oh ! Marie-Christine! I come back like a murderer at the crime scene But our love isn’t dead, tell me it’s not Since we’ve parted ways I swear to you I’ve changed You won’t recognize me Also I don’t drink anymore I am round, round, round, rounded by remorse I’m a jerk Oh! Oh! Marie-Christine! Please, one more time, be forgiving Give me another chance, say, let’s try again There’s also good in me Don’t make me blacker than I am I’m full, full, full of good intentions I’ve found a job Oh! Marie-Christine! It’s serious, I threw away my rhyme dictionary I don’t write songs anymore, no, I work for good My friends you didn’t like Now they laugh without me By the way, I brought them to you You can ask them We are under, under, under, under your balcony Like Romeo Oh! Oh! Marie-Christine! Don’t be deaf to this unanimous cry Please, my dear, answer, answer Marie Christine! Don’t leave me alone Alright… In that case, I’ll go get wasted Je Suis Sous is penned by Claude Nougaro while the music is made by Jacques Datin. You might say that the music is similar to Screaming Jay Hawkins’ hit I Put a Spell on You and it might be a case of over-influence. French music in the 60s occasionally had some hits which were either covers of english/american hits (Johnny Hallyday started his career this way) or sneaky rip-offs. An inverse example would be Frank Sinatra’s My Way which sounds very similar to Claude François’ Comme D’habitude. One could also say that some producers didn’t want to spend money in order to buy the rights to the original songs and tried to make some sort of rearranged version instead. Anyway, in the case of Je Suis Sous, the song is indeed similar to I put a Spell on You in the intro, but it manages to be a song of its own for the rest of the track. It’s still possible that Datin was influenced though.

Let’s dive into the lyrics. Je suis Sous is a particular song, due to the fact that it has a romantic setting and a drunk protagonist trying to convince her lover Marie-Christine to come back after their relationship probably ended badly. The fact that the protagonist is drunk plays a big part in the lyrics and the interpretation of those lyrics. The term Sous can translate to Under in french (as in under the influence AKA drunk), but Sous can also be written Saoul, which directly means Drunk in french, and this is how the protagonist plays with words in this song: they’re about to say that they’re drunk but they end up saying something else. The second verse has the term I’m round, rounded by remorse. Being round doesn’t specifically mean anything in english but the expression Être rond comme une queue de pelle (Being round like a shovel handle) is synonymous to being completely drunk. The protagonist then goes from Rond to Rongé de remords (Bitten by remorse). In the third verse, the protagonist says that they’re bourré (full). Full can mean a lot of thing, but in french, bourré usually means being drunk. Thus, in order to save their dignity, the protagonist says that they’re full of good intentions (bourré de bonne intentions). The specific line about throwing away a rhyme dictionary could be a mockery towards the use of rhymes in romantic poetry. The protagonist tries to be serious to Marie-Christine, which means they won’t even bother rhyming in order to win her heart. Ironically, the very next line (Je n’écris plus de chansons, non / Je travaille pour de bon) is a rhyme. Speaking of this line, it could be another mockery to songwriting and how songwriters aren’t taken seriously in their job. The song ends with the protagonist deciding to go drink, since Marie-Christine doesn’t seem to react. But since it’s assumed that they’re already drunk, it doesn’t seem to be a bad thing for them. Nougaro’s version Let’s talk about Claude Nougaro’s version from 1964. He is the writer of the song so he already had in mind the concept of the drunkard trying to get their love back. Thus, he perfectly acts as a drunkard, especially in this TV performance where he’s joined by Jean Yanne and Sacha Distel and the “drunk experience” is enhanced:

The music is also akin to a post-bop band, with the organs playing in a frenetic and chaotic way, which represents the state of the protagonist. Philippe Clay’s version We move to one year later in 1965. Philippe Clay, a singer-songwriter who will become much more popular after the protests of May 1968, reprised a lot of 50s and 60s standards during his debut, including Je suis sous.

This version is way more tame than Nougaro’s. Clay sings in a sober, elegant manner, as if his version of the protagonist isn’t drunk yet. One notable change is the end of the song where Clay exclaims: “Come on, Marie-Christine, answer me! It’s been 2 hours since we’re under your balcony, it’s bitterly cold outside, we’re freezing!” which adds way more comedic value to the song. Clay also ends the song abruptly after saying “I’ll go get wasted”. Sonically, this version relies more on the use of brass instruments and also removes the instrumental solos from the original version. One detail I love about this version is how Clay's voice is reverbed when he sings Marie-Christine. Nougaro’s second version That’s right. Based Nougaro had to do a second version of his own song.

In 1981, Nougaro released his Jazz/Funk album Chansons Nettes which includes a funk rendition of Je suis Sous. But even though the instrumentation is different, the lyrics remain the same, so there’s not much to say about this version. Arno’s version In case you thought Nougaro’s version was already drunk, the belgian singer Arno tries to go even deeper under the influence in this cover from 1999.

Hoshi - Comment je vais faire Lyrics: First I’ve lost friends I’ve lost time Then, I’ve lost you But God knows that you bring rain and good weather in my life I don’t know how to catch them anymore The hands lended to me Of course I’d like to get out of the arms of solitude which held me for too long If my heart’s made of glass How could we see through Really, I don’t know how I feel myself [Chorus] I don’t know how I’ll do it, no I am at my own funeral I don’t need flowers I want to be given better days Nothing’s in front or in the back, no I don’t know how I’ll do it, no To escape, I make the vow I’d rather laugh about the pain Anyway, there’s nothing to say So I carry it proudly Soon I’ll get out of my bed For a little walk Farewell, nice melancholy I don’t want you anymore You stayed too long before my eyes My eyes, marked by all-nighters Are closing for you Memories as avalanches And the snowball effect brings me back to your arms My heart’s living winter I lost spring for a while I don’t know what awaits me [Chorus] I’m sorry if I dropped you I’m sorry I was spread out I heal my wounds one by one And this time I’ve lost And all those words wich rang to me I come harmed but no remorse [Chorus] I don’t know how I’ll do it, no I don’t know how I’ll do it  I don’t know how I’ll do it, no I don’t know how I’ll do it The Artist:

Translation: Come closer kid, listen to me boy I’m going to tell you the tale of the human being At the beginning there was nothing, at the beginning it was nice Nature was moving, there was no road Then mankind arrived with its big shoes Kicks in the face in order to get respect One-way roads, he traced Arrows in the fields have multiplied And all the elements seemed mastered In the blink of an eye, the case was closed Going back won’t happen tomorrow We even started to pollute the desert [Chorus] You need to breath, saying it isn’t nothing You won’t die of laughter, and saying it isn’t nothing In a few years, we will miss our chances And your grandchildren will have one eye Placed on the forehead, they’ll ask you why you have two, you’ll feel like an idiot They’ll ask you how you could have let that happen You might defend yourself, telling them quietly “It’s not my fault, blame it on the elders” But nobody will be there to wash your hands You’ll tell them the time where you could Eat fruits on the grass, laying down in the fields There were animals everywhere in the woods When spring came, birds were coming back [Chorus] The worst in this story is that we’re slaves Partially assassins, yet incapable to watch trees cut down without feeling guilty Half-defrocked, 100% miserable So there you go kid, the story of the human being It’s not pretty and I don’t know the end You were not born in a cabbage, but rather a hole Which we fill every day like a manure pit [Chorus]

Urbanisme – Vald (traduction) Translation: Dear, those youngsters, you should see them See them and hear them Seeing how they shout every night And then eat some shit You should see them at the lane For Kebab or at the square For drugs or some shit They smoke weed, what’s that ? Back in my days, they were blocks Because there were already blocks But these blocks were clean There were flowers, there were doors Now, it’s gloomy, there are only halls Halls with youngsters Who do nothing but trash Then drink, then stink What do they talk about ? Besides guns, life and dogs ? With the world’s misery on their shoulders Getting up early is too hard ? Well then, let them run away forever Let them go far, yeah, far away I live upstairs Back in my days, there were teachers Kids who enjoyed work Great police forces and underground punks We were funny, but not vulgar We were young and careless But them, they scream Leaning on the walls of the building They’re unemployed, drugged They’re worth nothing, let me tell you They’re stealers, marginals They’re worthless, I know them They graffiti, they tag They trash the stairs They piss in the elevator For god’s sake, you gotta be crazy For these youngster, there’s no censor No, they’re worth shit. They whine about the streets When it’s actually them who ruined it Me, I watch TV I heartily insult them I hate their jeering looks And I mostly hate it When I wake up in the neighborhood Dear, if only I was rich, sitting down on my barge Yeah, I hate my neighborhood Everything’s ugly and grey Everything nods, it’s horrible Dear, if only I was rich (Chorus) Dear, if only I was rich (dear, if only I was rich) Sitting down on my barge Dear, if only I was rich (dear, if only I was rich) Dear, if only I was rich Dear, if only I was rich (dear, if only I was rich) Sitting down on my barge Sitting down (Dear, if only I was rich) Sitting down on my barge, there was V on the playlist When I was born, there were towers Towers and then towers I had friends who were crazy They jumped classes and travelled Down the towers, I didn’t get it I told him “Buddy, you’re crazy ?” We see towers all day You get out, only to come back next Make detours, I don’t know Go around, see something else “V, you’re deaf or what ? I told you, down the towers I make cash Between classes and towers I prefer cash for my groceries” Yeah, there are courses and then groceries And then cash down the towers And the red eyes, everything’s pretty It’s pretty when you’re drunk Or else it’s crazy how it’s dirty Yeah, it’s blurred Clean up, it’s a mess Excuse me ladies But these damages are not ours These old hags, I know them Bitches avoiding death From above, they watch us and mock us One day born, then gone Everybody reads the news It’s legendary to be such a… (slut, slut, slut) Dear, if only I was rich Sitting down on my barge I’d like to leave Beriz Live the dream of being a peasant In the ranks, I feel the danger I only care about eating Avenge ? Avenge what ? I’d like to think I don’t have a plan B It’s not me, it’s what’s around I don’t care, I raise my voice But you don’t know what’s going on Down the towers Crazies making a scene Nutcases making a fuss Rooftops getting full So much, I lose my head So each night, with weed I think that if I was rich I’d be on my barge With V in the playlist So each night, with weed I think that if I was rich I’d be on my barge With V in the playlist But I’d need weed for that. Dear, if only I was rich (dear, if only I was rich) Sitting down on my barge Dear, if only I was rich (dear, if only I was rich) Dear, if only I was rich Dear, if only I was rich (dear, if only I was rich) Sitting down on my barge Sitting down (Dear, if only I was rich) Sitting down on my barge, there was V on the playlist

The artist: Vald (a pseudonym based on his first name Valentin) is a rapper originating from Ausnay-Sous-Bois. Lyrically, his universe is based on a heavy use of dark, absurd humor which mixes social commentary, egotrips and conspiracy theories. Throughout his projects, he has developed an inconsistent style which is mostly influenced by American rappers of his kind such as Young Thug or Future, as well as French rappers such as Booba and Alkpote. Songs such as Bonjour and Eurotrap are one of his most recognizable bangers and efficiently present Vald’s humor. The song: Outside of the usual trashy humor Vald is known for, Urbanisme is a song telling the story of two characters living in the same neighborhood. One is old, the other is young. Comprised of two major verses, each character has a verse where they talk about their daily lives. The first one presents the old character as an irritated grump who blames society’s current state on the current youth while second one presents the young character who is struggling with selling drugs. We start off with the complains of the old character about the modern days he lives in. Even though he was also a punk in his old days, he was doing it in his own right way, thinking that the new thugs are just plain vulgar and trashy. While the old character criticizes the youth, he’s also complaining about the current society, its modern architectures and how the authorities have become more permissive towards vandalism (a fact which is debated between young and old people in urban cities). In the chorus, he wishes he could become rich, own a barge (which is known as a luxury type of housing in France) and listen to V (one of Vald’s pseudonyms). The fact that the old man listens to Vald’s music might come off as odd, but it could mean two things: either he enjoys modern music while hating the young people which are affiliated to it, or Vald just makes a boastful statement about how his music could be listened by everyone. The old man also asserts the fact that everybody nods to what’s currently happening in his society, thinking that it has become passive to what’s going on. The second verse shows us the young character, who is most likely based on Vald himself. His main complaint is about his friends who make money by selling drugs. Vald makes alliterations around the words Tower, Course and Groceries (Tour, cours, courses). Vald’s friends ditch class and go out, strolling around towers (which is a way of calling HLMs which are common public housings in the Parisian region). Obviously, these towers are spots for them to sell drugs, hence the line “Between courses and towers, I prefer cash for my groceries”. The other line “Yeah, it’s blurred / Clean up, it’s a mess” is a reference to the states of consuming drugs (taking the drug, having a trip, and regretting it). After our young character’s daily life is presented, the second verse ends with him (probably) talking to the old character. He defends himself about the fact that he isn’t causing the trouble mentioned in the first verse, by blaming other youngsters (“But these damages are not ours“). There’s also a nice double meaning with the term “These damages”. It could simply translate to “ces dégâts” in french which, misheard, gives us “C’est des gars” (It’s those guys). No matter how it’s written, it still stays in context. The young character also defends himself about how he’s easily blamed for being part of a generation which is disliked by the previous ones. It’s all a matter of perspectives and the young character just tries his best to live his life, besides living in a troubled neighborhood. This is heavily asserted in the line “But you don’t know what’s going on / Down the towers / Crazies making a scene /Nutcases making a fuss /Rooftops getting full / So much, I lose my head” Just like the old character, he also wishes to become rich, own a barge, and listen to V (but also wishes to smoke weed along with that) before the song ends. Besides their differences of age and background, the two characters are connected by the ideal life they want and also have their own problems. The instrumental also portrays the two different times that the characters are from: the violins are reminiscent of Yann Tiersen’s works, which were inspired by popular music during the first half of the 20th century. Meanwhile, the hip-hop influenced drumloop marks the tempo and is common in modern rap beats.

Translation:   My hamster is named Cunnilingus And believe it or not But this guy really thinks he is a man I wonder how he does it But he always fall for women who come whispering to him “Cunnlingus, my love!” They fall for him (It doesn’t surprise him) He wakes up at night to perfume himself between their pretty fingers Ooh how he loves to hang on his bars to show how he thinks he really is The great king of abs The problem is that he wants to be loved As if he was really a man To whom we’d whisper “Cunnilingus, my love!” They mess around with him (it doesn’t surprise him) When he dances at night As if his life depended on it between their pretty fingers One night, I overdosed the amount of perfume for Cunnilingus Who thinks he is looking more and more like a man! He began licking all around himself To wash himself cause you know We are never too pretty He began dancing (it doesn’t surprise us) Like a possessed man (with wings on his ankles) His body alcoholised broke itself against the bars of his cage A lot of blood pours from his eyes And his sweet fur still nicely perfumed An unequalled performance Not even by Elvis Presley Michael Jackson can go home (go home, Michael!) My hamster was called Cunnilingus And believe it or not but this guy really thought he was a man.

Translation: Pampers, Cadum Fisher Price and Vertbaudet Guigoz, Bledina Jacadi, Mixa Bébé Babar, Baby Nike Sophie the Giraffe Chicco, Bébé Confort Maclaren and Kleenex P’tit Dop, Petit Bateau Petits Filous and Nintendo Mattel, Playmobil Ravensburger and Lego MB, Panini Oxford, Tann’s and Kickers Running (Ouch!) Merchurochrome Hansaplast and Kleenex [Chorus] And with each day passing We need to get used to it Our ways are the same Within our bodies Identical emblems Floating on the masses Mennen, Biactol iPod and Nokia Macdonalds, Coke No Pepsi ? Fanta then… Reebook, no, Reebok Levi’s, Converse and Vivelle DOP Freedent, Labello No ? Then… Playboy and Kleenex Twingo, moving out alone Panzani, Conforama Ebay, Sony Orange, Cofinoga Malibu, Heineken, Manzana Woo! Jack Daniel’s And.... Get27, oh boy Smecta… Doliprane… Oh… Jacob Delafon! And Kleenex [Chorus] Meetic, Clio Bistro Romain and Veuve Clicquot Bultex, Durex Yes! (crack) Shit, quick! Kleenex Lenôtre, Pronuptia Guy Hoquet and Mobalpa Ikea, Cetelem Sofinco and Kleenex Juvamine, so you Juvamine So you Juvamine! Then you Juvabien! Pétrole Hahn, Nespresso One more room and Demeco Carrefour, Buffalo Grill JouéClub, TF1 Scénic, Disneyland Lexomil and Kleenex [Chorus] Postal service, Télé Poche Damart and Audika Caisse d’Epargne Cologne France Loisirs and France 3 Werther’s, Sheba Pampers and Bledina Jardiland, Interflora PFG and Kleenex The Artist:  Oldelaf is a french Chanson singer-songwriter who remains known for his simple comedic songs which involve everyday life’s problems and sometimes critiques towards society. Songs such as Le Café and La Tristitude are the most popular from his discography. Outside of his solo career he was part of a duo with Monsieur D and was also a temporary guitarist for the band Fatal Picards.

Translation: The world was ours, now it belongs to no one It happened quietly, don’t worry, there won’t be Larsen I buried it all in a small part of my heart But it’ll always be here, like a pacemaker Why do I feel like you’re still at my place ? Why does time fly so fast since I don’t feel you in my arms ? I miss you, my heart is heavy like a tank My hopes locked with three locks in a bank I know it’s dead, so why do I still think about it ? I try my best but sometimes I hate you to death It destroyed me, but as we say “C’est la vie” But it still hurts to know that it’s over [Chorus x2] How’s it going ? How’s your life going ? Do you think about me when you’re with him ? It felt so good being next to you It hurts like a pickaxe But I won’t make any reproach Sad story, ugly, really cruel I remember you in this hotel room at Bruxels You said “I never said I wasn’t in love with you” So why are you in his arms now ? If you knew how long a minute passes Listen to the sound of my heart when it explodes like a pressure cooker Now I’m not your friend, nor your lover I’m nothing, just a guy who wanted to be happy You see, I still do Stup but I don’t feel it anymore I’ll still be sad What is the difference between me and you ? It’s that I count the days while I know you clearly don’t [Chorus x2] Nancy… The artist: Stupeflip is a rap/punk/french chanson trio which marked the early 2000s french music scene for being an unexpected band, promoting their music by being vulgar during TV appearances. This kind of behaviour put them into trouble with their record company and their contract got cancelled in 2005 after two albums, until they came back years after, thanks to crowdfunding. Besides their appearance as a trio, the band is mostly handled by Julien Barthélémy (also known as King Ju) who does the writing, producing and also the visual arts for the albums.

Klub des Loosers - Non-Père Translation: You won’t call me daddy because she had you with someone else. A guy who hates me because I entered in where you come from Arriving in life like a kick in a marble game I didn’t plant the seed, but I see you more than him. Every morning I wake up and prepare your schoolbag I Hope that they’ll teach you how to be nice at school Don’t worry it’s the beginning, we’ll tolerate each other the best we can I’m not sure it’s going to last with your mother, because I prefer life as a couple I don’t appear in your drawings, you weren’t in mine either Things would be much easier if you only were a little dog Absent when you got your first rattle, I loved you like a ricochet I only get a smile when we get out of the toy store I didn’t pick your name, nor your presence You’ll give me a hard time during your adolescence In the end, it has no purpose, blood ties will always matter I’ll never be a father to you even though I try my hardest You won’t call me daddy because she’ll have you with someone else The first guy who comes according to her biological clock She said she really loved me but not the point of not becoming a mother Are we civilised if the instincts beat the feelings ? No regrets anyway, I would have seen you only two week-ends per month Love doesn’t last, I’ve read it in the statistics And their teary eyes when they understand that I won’t be a parent But I don’t want to create, especially not mistakes Son, we never know our father anyway We’re all brought to tear in front of a grave with no name No soccer match or afternoon at the zoo Let me go there, I prefer to be with the animals Son, don’t hate me for that, we’ll never know each other A lot of exes would tell you that, it would be for the better They wanted to bring you here, hurried by the clock My son remains in the void, I spare you a round trip

The artist: The Klub Des Loosers is a french alternative hip-hop duo based in Versailles and while the original duo had Fuzati as the MC and Orgasmic as the DJ, the latter quickly left and has been replaced by DJ Detect. Even though we’re talking about a duo, Fuzati is commonly seen as the only frontman and even made solo material under the Klub des Loosers name. Mainly inspired by the underground british rapper MF Doom, Fuzati raps with a nearly non-existent flow in order to highlight his lyrics which deal a lot with problematic relationships, hatred/remorse towards his exes, suicidal thoughts and other dark themes, with sometimes black humor involved. the miswriting of “loser” is intentional in the way that Fuzati’s lyrics are about getting loose off society.

Translation:

Clap, first take, Panoramic shot A camera moves, close-up on Dominique Alone in front of the mirror, she checks her body

Then yells “a few more efforts” mechanically All diets have been tested All the attempts have been complete failures But she perseveres and in order to pleasure her man Dominique has decided to follow the norm She stacks on, magazines In which she thinks she’ll find the best solution Maso, assaulting her curves [Chorus]

She was busy cutting money Cause she got her butt stung A fashion victim, such is her codename A fashion victim, such is her codename Lights on, scene 2, The ace of trifle suggests A brand new deal, and here’s the cause: “So many efforts for what result ? She loses cash instead of weight” Dominique answers fast and quickly she explains She wants to become the same as those creatures in the music videos There goes the small pretty girls They follow a model who makes their head swirl From London, Washington, Kingston, Sharengton or Carcassonne When the phone rings, she always answer that

[Chorus]

So, as a conclusion With the logical analysis of this situation The diet, jogging, or liposuction are to be tested but watch out

Let’s hope that you’ve understand The very clear bases of this code of morality:

Gaining or losing a few kilos What matters is to feel good in its body My tactic attacks any ethic with tact Dominique, don’t panic Listen to this funky beat The quest for image leaves her in stress [Chorus]