The End

Another one of my favourite songs from Emilie Jolie aside from La Chanson du Herisson. It is originally interpreted by Henri Salvador.

Chanson Finale ("Final Song" with my translation)


C'est un peu la fin de notre histoire
Mais surtout ne sors pas ton mouchoir
Dors petite fille dans ton grand lit
Nom Jolie et prénom Emilie
Dors, petite amie dans ton grand lit
Puisqu'il faut bien vivre sa vie

It's slighty the end of our story
But whatever you do, do not pull out your handkerchief
Sleep little girl in your big bed
Surname Jolie and Name, Emilie
Sleep little friend in your big bed
Since one must live one's life.

Nous on reviendra si tu le veux
On est là pour rendre les gens heureux
Même si on existe pas vraiment
Tu peux compter sur nous tout le temps
Dors petite amie dans ton grand lit
Puisqu'il faut bien vivre sa vie...

As for us, we will return if you want it
We are here to make people happy
Even if we do not really exist
You can count on us all the time
Sleep little friend in your big bed
Since one must live one's life...

Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie,
Afin que la vie ne décore pas votre rêve...

Let your dream consume your life,
Such that life may not consume your dream...

Je te Rends ton Amour - English Translation

This is my English translation of one of my favourite Mylène Farmer songs.
Laurent Boutonnat's video is also a masterpiece, as usual. I have added some notes about my personal interpretation of this song based on the lyrics/video combination.


M'extraire du cadre
Ma vie suspendue
Je rêvais mieux
Je voyais l'âtre
Tous ces inconnus
Toi parmi eux

Extracting myself from the frame,
My life, suspended
I dreamt of better.
I saw the hearth
All those unknowns,
You among them.

Toile,
Fibre qui suinte
Des meurtrissures
Tu voyais l'âme
Mais j'ai vu ta main
Choisir Gauguin

Canvas,
Fibre that oozes
Bruises
You saw the soul,
But I saw your hand
Choosing Gaugin


Et je te rends ton amour
Redeviens les contours
Je te rends ton amour
C'est mon dernier recours
Je te rends ton amour
Au moins pour toujours
Redeviens les contours
" la femme nue debout "

And I return your love,
Become once more the contours,
I return your love
It's my last resort
I return your love
At least, forever
Become once more the contours
"The naked woman standing"

M'extraire du cadre
La vie étriquée
D'une écorchée
J'ai cru la fable
D'un mortel aimé
Tu m'as trompé

Extracting myself from the frame,
The skewed life
Of a butchered woman
I believed the fable,
Of a beloved mortal
[But] you betrayed me

Toi
Tu m'as laissé
Me compromettre
Je serai " l'Unique "
Pour des milliers d'yeux
Un nu de maître

You,
You allowed me
To compromise myself.
I will be the "unique"
For thousands of eyes
A master's nude

Et je te rends ton amour
Au moins pour toujours
Je te rends ton amour
Le miens est trop lourd
Et je te rends ton amour
C'est plus flagrant le jour
Ses couleurs se sont diluées
Et je reprends mon amour
Redeviens le contour
De mon seul maître : EGON SHIELE et...

And I return your love,
At least forever
I return your love
Mine is too heavy
And I return your love
It is more obvious in the day,
[that] it's colors are diluted
And I return your love,
Become once more the frame
Of my only master: egon shiele and ....

And I return your love,
At least forever
I return your love
Mine is too heavy
And I return your love
It is more obvious in the day,
[that] it's colors are diluted
And I return your love,
Become once more the frame
Of my only master: egon shiele and ....


Video Clip




This is my literal interpretation of the video clip:

A blind woman is betrayed by a priest who murders her.

This is my critical analysis of the video clip:

I think the fact that she is blind is a signifier for naive, misplaced trust. Her blindness seems to represent vulnerability... or anyone easily taken advantage of and/or blissfully unaware of reality, often to her own peril.

Throughout her lamentations, the distressed female character makes various allusions to painting and artists, in particular, Egon Shiele. My understanding is that she likens her horrendous objectification - whether this be physically, as the blood letting would have us believe or else figuratively, in terms of her ruthless betrayal - to Ego Shiele's pornographic subjects. Perhaps the woman's conservative, innocent background does not allow her to express what has happened to her or to communicate the crime that she has suffered. So I thought maybe she employed the bleeding canvas and rigid frame eupheminism to signify herself as victim under a cruel master. In this case the French term 'master' can actually mean both an authority figure and a great painter.

And maybe those moments where she has "extracted herself from the frame", are those moments where she is able to think objectively, free of her captivity to this rigid frame or murderous love. On the other hand, when she chooses to once again "return love", she is willingly resuming her enslavement, that is, her objectification and her naive beliefs.

Could the poor woman be sadomachistic?

Anyway, perhaps I'm thinking too hard about this video... and it could be that I'm way off the mark!!

In the end, only Farmer knows the meaning of her own complexity and these are not for me to derive. Besides, I'm sure everyone will have their own interpretation.

Ya Rayah - English Translation

I used to love this song 9 years ago. Still do. But now I finally found the lyrics!





Rachid Taha - Oh Emigrant

Oh where are you going?
Eventually you must come back
How many ignorant people have regretted this
Before you and me

How many overpopulated countries and empty lands have you seen?
How much time have you wasted?
How much have you yet to lose?
Oh emigrant in the country of others
Do you even know what's going on?
Destiny and time follow their course but you ignore it

Why is your heart so sad?
And why are you staying there miserable?
Hardship will end and you no longer learn or build anything
The days don't last, just as your youth and mine didn't
Oh poor fellow who missed his chance just as I missed mine

Oh traveler, I give you a piece of advice to follow right away
See what is in your interest before you sell or buy
Oh sleeper, your news reached me
And what happened to you happened to me
Thus, the heart returns to its creator, the Highest (God)

C'est Une Belle Journée, Je vais me Tuer - by Mylène Farmer

In an interview last year, Mylène admitted that this song was originally conceived as "It's a beautiful day, I'm going to kill myself" but became "It's a beautiful day, I'm going to bed" so that it wouldn't be seen as a glorification of, or an invitation to suicide in susceptible individuals. That is, "going to bed", is supposed to be a euphemenism for suicide.

I wouldn't have guessed....
It seems such a light hearted song, and perhaps, now that I reflect on its meaning, a song with an appropriate ethereal, airy quality. Suddenly, the ascent of the balloon makes some sense.
According to the You Tube comments, Mylène created those images too... great song.
I've added my own translation because I wasn't satisfied with those I found online.

Translation of "It's a Beautiful Day"

Laying down, the body is dead,
For Thousands it is a man who sleeps,
Half full, is the amphoria,
Yet half empty, it is seen so effortlessly
To see life, from one angle (literally: the tail side of a coin)
Oh philosophy, speak to me of elegies.
Happiness, it frightens me,
To have so many desires,
And my heart murmurs, so ...

(Chorus)

It's a beautiful day,
I'm going to bed,
Such a beautiful day, that is ending,
Gives one the desire to love, but, I'm going to bed,
To sink my teeth into eternity,
It's a beautiful day,
I'm going to bed,
Such a beautiful day, so regal,
Gives, A desire for peace,
To see angels at my feet, but,
I'm going to bed, to make myself beautiful ...

Laying down, the body is dead,
For Thousands it is a man who sleeps,
Half full is the amphoria,
Yet half empty, is how I still see it,
All is said, since when it comes to love,
When things get heavy,
If the heart is light, the elegies flow, always,
The pleasures, those that last, those that don't,
You see my love,
I'm out of breath, you see...

(Chorus)

Beautiful,
Life is beautiful
Like a wing,
That one should not crease,
Beautiful,
Life is beautiful,
And I go there,
Beautiful,
Life is beautiful,
But mine ...
Her, I enter her,
Mortal one, go... (nuance: be free)

(Chorus)

Chto Ne Hvataet - Lyrics

I love T.a.T.u. And I love this song.

I love Lena's voice here, it's simply amazing.

It was difficult to find English translation, those I found contradict one another. But I don't care.

In fact, I feel more from just listening to the mood and the voice inflections and not understanding anything.

Lyrics to Chto Ne Hvataet - by tatu.


Chto ne hvatayet

Isn't this enough.

Chto ne hvatayet tebe
Chto ty prizhalas' ko mne?
Yesli by na lune
Bylo chut'-chut' tepleye

Isn't this enough for you
That you would cuddle with me?
If we were on the moon
It could've been a little warmer

Chto ne hvatayet tebe
Chto ty prilipla k stene?
Yesli by za oknom
Bylo chut'-chut' temneye

Isn't this enough for you
Are you stuck to the wall?
As if outside the window
It could've been a little darker

Ty ne uznayesh'kak menya zovut
Ya ne skazhu tebye chto ne hvatayet
Chto-to tseplyayet
Ya ne skazhu tebe, ne nado
Chto ne hvatayet tebe
Chto-to tseplyayet
Ya ne skazhu tebe, ne nado

It's like you don't know my name
I won't tell you I've had enough
Something to cling to
I won't tell you, I don't need to
Isn't this enough for you
Something to cling to
I won't tell you, I don't need to

Chto prevraschatyet tebya
Ne prevrashcayet menya
V malen'koi komnate
Stanet yescho tesneye

It changes into you
And doesn't turn into me
In a small room
It becomes even tighter

Chto zamerzayet v tebe
Bystro rastayet vo mne
Yesli by ty smogla
Prosto ostat'sya zdes'

What freezes inside you
Quickly thaws in me
If It could have been with you
Simply stays here

Ty ne uznayesh' kak menya zovut
Ya ne skazhu tebye chto ne hvatayet
Chto-to tseplyayet
Ya ne skazhu tebe, ne nado
Chto ne hvatayet tebe
Chto-to tseplyayet
Ya ne skazhu tebe, ne nado

It's like you don't know my name
I won't tell you i've had enough
Something to cling to
I won't tell you, I don't need to
Isn't this enough for you
Something to cling to
I won't tell you, I don't need to

Vremeni net i ne budet
Kriknesh' i ya vse zabudu
Chto b ne sluchilas'
Noch' zazhegayet ogni

There will be no time
And you scream and I forget everything
As if we didn't match
Night ignites with fire

I ne zhaleya davai
Lyazhem s toboi pod tramvai
I pust' vse ostanetsya
Tak kak i tam na lune

Don't give pity
We lay with you on the tramtracks
And let everything remain
As if, here on the moon

Ty ne uznayesh' kak menya zovut
Ya ne skazhu tebye chto ne hvatayet
Chto-to tseplyayet
Ya ne skazhu tebe, ne nado
Chto ne hvatayet tebe
Chto-to tseplyayet
Ya ne skazhu tebe, ne nado

It's like you don't know my name
I won't tell you I've had enough
Something to cling to
I won't tell you, I don't need to
Isn't this enough for you
Something to cling to
I won't tell you, I don't need to.

Tragic Scorpions

Scorpions - Still Loving You

Time, it needs time
To win back your love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, only love
Can bring back your love someday.
I will be there, I will be there.

Fight, babe, I'll fight
To win back your love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, only love
Can break down the walls someday.
I will be there, I will be there.

If we'd go again
All the way from the start,
I would try to change
The things that killed our love.

Your pride has build a wall, so strong
That I can't get through.
Is there really no chance
To start once again?
I'm loving you.

Try, baby try
To trust in my love again.
I will be there, I will be there.

Love, your love
Just shouldn't be thrown away.
I will be there, I will be there.

If we'd go again
All the way from the start,
I would try to change
The things that killed our love.

Your pride has build a wall, so strong
That I can't get through.
Is there really no chance
To start once again?

If we'd go again
All the way from the start,
I would try to change
The things that killed our love.

Yes I've hurt your pride, and I know
What you've been through.
You should give me a chance
This can't be the end.

I'm still loving you.
I'm still loving you,
I need your love.
I'm still loving you.
Still loving you, baby...

Les Mots Bleus (continued)

This is my English translation of "Les Mots Bleus".

Unfortunately, there are expressions that remain very French. e.g. "Il faudra bien qu'elle comprenne". In this context, bien has no real English equivalent, I'm afraid. Worse still, I could not find an exact translation for the word "retrouvaille". It does not really exist. Is it a reunion? Or a new encounter? Even in the French lyrics there is a fragile ambiguity about the couple's state of affairs. Do they know each other? Has she/he ever spoken to her? Besides, I've always interpreted the end of the song as narrating a chance meeting which happened after a very long time, and so perhaps this "retrouvaille" should be read as "of us finding each other again."

But to each their own interpretation. The appeal of a well written song is that it reaches out to many and what it may evoke is really up to the listener, as he or she feels and remembers.

Here it is, again, since I'm in a melancholy mood and since so much in life is left unspoken and because I also respect the magic of silence.

The Blue Words

Six o'clock on the church bell-tower
In the town square, the flowers poetise
A girl is about to leave the town hall
Each evening I await for her,
She smiles at me
I will have to speak to her
At all cost

I will tell her the blue words
The words one says with the eyes
Speaking would seem, to me, ridiculous
I spring forward only to retreat
Before a useless sentence
That would break the fragile instant
Of an encounter
Of an encounter

I will tell her the blue words
Those that make people happy
I will call her without naming her
I am perhaps, out of date
The winter wind blows in April
I love the motionless silence
Of an encounter
Of an encounter

There is no more clock, no more bell-tower
In the town square, the trees are at rest
I return by the night train
On the platform, I see her
As she smiles at me
She will have to understand
At all cost (original nuance: She will have no option but to understand)

I will tell her the blue words
The words one says with the eyes
All the excuses that one gives
Are like the kisses that one steals
There remains a subtle rancour
That may compromise the fragile instant
Of us meeting again
Of us meeting again

I will tell her the blue words
Those that make people happy
A wordless love story
Has no need for protocol
And all those long futile speeches
Would somewhat tarnish the style
Of us meeting again
Of us meeting again

I will tell her the blue words
Those that make people happy
I will tell her all the blue words
Those that make people happy
All the blue words...

Les Mots Bleus

Non, ce n'est pas Christophe.
Cependant, Thierry Amiel a une voix si touchante, une voix qui fait facilement pleurer. This extremely moving and sad song, "Les Mots Bleus", was famously written and sung by French artist Christophe of who I am a big fan. Here, it is re-interpreted by Thierry Amiel. That such a voice would originate from one so beautiful is a double blessing. I am in awe.

If you don't appreciate androgenous voices, this is not for you. Otherwise, enjoy.

Thierry Amiel - Les Mots Bleus (Clip) sélectionné dans Musique et Clips

Les Mots Bleus

Il est six heures au clocher de l'église
Dans le square les fleurs poétisent
Une fille va sortir de la mairie
Comme chaque soir je l'attends
Elle me sourit
Il faudrait que je lui parle
A tout prix

Je lui dirai les mots bleus
Les mots qu'on dit avec les yeux
Parler me semble ridicule
Je m'élance et puis je recule
Devant une phrase inutile
Qui briserait l'instant fragile
D'une rencontre
D'une rencontre

Je lui dirai les mots bleus
Ceux qui rendent les gens heureux
Je l'appellerai sans la nommer
Je suis peut-être démodé
Le vent d'hiver souffle en avril
J'aime le silence immobile
D'une rencontre
D'une rencontre

Il n'y a plus d'horloge, plus de clocher
Dans le square les arbres sont couchés
Je reviens par le train de nuit
Sur le quai je la vois
Qui me sourit
Il faudra bien qu'elle comprenne
A tout prix

Je lui dirai les mots bleus
Les mots qu'on dit avec les yeux
Toutes les excuses que l'on donne
Sont comme les baisers que l'on vole
Il reste une rancœur subtile
Qui gâcherait l'instant fragile
De nos retrouvailles
De nos retrouvailles

Je lui dirai les mots bleus
Ceux qui rendent les gens heureux
Une histoire d'amour sans paroles
N'a pas besoin du protocole
Et tous les longs discours futiles
Terniraient quelque peu le style
De nos retrouvailles
De nos retrouvailles

Je lui dirai les mots bleus
Ceux qui rendent les gens heureux
Je lui dirai tous les mots bleus
Tous ceux qui rendent les gens heureux
Tous les mots bleus