Finding de la nouvelle musique (new music) to add to your French playlist is a lifelong process for anyone learning la langue (the language). Heureusement (luckily), there is no shortage of music from all over la francophonie, making it easy to find des chansons (songs) that match your taste and help with learning le français!

Aujourd’hui (today), I want to introduce you all to Cœur de Pirate (Pirate Heart), une chanteuse (a singer) from le Québec. Sa carrière (her career) started in 2008, and like la musicienne (the musician), Joyce Jonathan, she began by posting her music sur internet (on the internet) before becoming a super star.

Cœur de Pirate is obviously not her real name. The artist’s name is Beatrice Martin and she originally used une version (a version) of her stage name en anglais (in English), Her Pirate Heart, but decided to change it when she began writing songs en français.

Le choix (the choice) of using a stage name was a conscious one. She wanted to build up la marque (the brand) of her music and not limit herself to being known as a solo musician.

La musique de Cœur de Pirate (Coeur de Pirate‘s music) often touches on love and relationships and there is a lot of heart in her unique voice. Sa musique makes it easy to feel the emotions of her songs even if you don’t understand all of les paroles (the lyrics).

L’une de mes chansons préférées (on of my favorite songs) is from her second album, Blonde (Blonde is slang for girlfriend in Québec), Place de la République (Republic Square).

La place de la République is also a real place! It’s a large square à Paris located between les 3e, 10e et 11e arrondissements (the 3rd, 10th, and 11th districts). I can only guess it has a personal meaning to Cœur de Pirate, but it does provide a very romantic view of the city, helping set the lovesick setting of la chanson.

Place de la République was the third single for Blonde, but it was actually the first song she wrote for the album. La chanson began as an untitled piece she would perform while on tour for her first album.

The album is centered around Cœur de Pirate‘s vocals and piano playing and Place de la République exemplifies that style, driving home the emotional feel la chanteuse is known for.

Take a moment to listen to la chanson and enjoy the wonderful music of Cœur de Pirate. While she is from le Québec, there should be no issues understanding l’accent (the accent) and an easy addition to any French learners playlist.

Voici Place de la Republique avec les paroles et une traduction anglaise :

https://youtu.be/br_plcL-GCU

Place de la République
Republic Square

On s’est connu le temps de plaire
Aux exigences qu’on s’est créées mais on s’y perd
Tu n’es qu’à quelques kilomètres
Et nos cœurs, nos cœurs sont restés dans cette mer

We knew each other long enough to please
The demands we created, but we got lost within them
You’re not more than a few kilometres away
And our hearts, our hearts stayed in this sea

J’ai couru en longeant la seine
En espérant te retrouver, l’âme sereine
J’ai couru sans savoir comment
Ni pourquoi on s’emballe
On s’est connu qu’un moment

I ran along the length of the Seine
In the hopes of finding you, serene soul
I ran without knowing how
Nor why we get ahead of ourselves,
we only knew each other for a moment

Et je ne sais plus si tu en vaux la peine
C’est plutôt dur d’en être certaine
Et quand tu seras à Pearson
Ce soir ne m’oublie pas

And I don’t know if you’re worth the pain
It’s rather hard to be certain
And when you’re at Pearson
This evening, don’t forget me

Je t’attendrai au moins le temps de dire
Que j’ai voulu prendre le plus grand risque
Un soir qui m’a rendue bien triste
Un soir Place de la République

I’ll wait for you at least long enough to say
That I wanted to take the greatest risk
An evening that breaks my heart
An evening, at Republic Square

Et comme tu vois c’est bien la fin
Je dois traverser l’océan demain matin
De tes bras, je m’arracherai tout doucement
Et c’est la réalité qui m’attend

And as you can see, it’s the end
I have to cross the ocean tomorrow morning
From your arms, I’ll tear myself away so softly
And that’s the reality that awaits me

Je sais ton cœur est habité
Par une ou d’autre fille qui t’ont marquées
Moi je suis moins forte que les autres
Mais j’espère tant te manquer
Tant me démarquer

I know, your heart is inhabited
By one of the other girl’s you’ve left your mark on
Me, I’m less incredible than the others
But I hope so badly that you miss me,
so badly that I made myself stand out

Et je sais plus si tu en vaux la peine
C’est plutôt dur d’en être certaine
Et quand tu seras à Pearson
Ce soir ne m’oublie pas

And I don’t know if you’re worth the pain
It’s rather hard to be certain
And when you’re at Pearson
This evening, don’t forget me

Je t’attendrais au moins le temps de dire
Que j’ai voulu prendre le plus grand risque
Un soir qui m’a rendue bien triste
Un soir Place de la République

I’ll wait for you at least long enough to say
That I wanted to take the greatest risk
An evening that breaks my heart
An evening, at Republic Square

Translation from LyricsTranslate.