French Culture – Fireworks Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jul 14, 2020 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
Happy Bastille Day! Or as they say in France Joyeux quatorze juillet. This year because of Covid-19 the annual celebrations of the birth of the French republic will look a little different, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate.
Un défilé, des bals, et des feux d’artifices
A typical quatorze juillet (July 14th) in France would involve un défilé (a parade) on the Champs-Elysées, des bals populaires (local dances), and des feux d’artifices (fireworks).
This year il n’y aura pas de défilés sur les Champs (there won’t be any parade on the Champs-Elysées) and many towns have cancelled their bals et les feux d’artifices, but the song below, from Calogero, celebrates fireworks … and our shared humanity.
| J’étais hissé sur des épaules | I was hoisted on some shoulders |
| Sous ces galaxies gigantesques | Underneath these enormous galaxies |
| Je rêvais en tendant les paumes | I dreamed stretching out my palms |
| De pouvoir les effleurer1While I’ve translated effleurer as touch, it is gentler than that. Having its roots in the word fleur/flower it means more to caress, to brush delicately over presque | Of almost being able to touch them |
| Ça explosait en fleurs superbes | Everything was exploding flowers |
| En arabesques sidérales | Of astronomical arabesques |
| Pour faire des bouquets d’univers | Making bouquets of the universe |
| Moi, je voulais cueillir ces étoiles | Me, I wanted to gather these stars |
| On allait2Note the use of the imparfait here, indicating an event that happened more than once in the past. aux feux d’artifice | We went to the fireworks |
| Voir ces étoiles de pas longtemps | To see these short-term stars |
| Qui naissent, qui brillent et puis qui glissent | That are born, that shine, and then that slide |
| En retombant vers l’océan | Falling towards the ocean |
| Et ça fait des étoiles de mer | And it makes sea stars3Taken literally étoiles de mer would be stars of the sea but like the English translation sea stars it also means starfish |
| Ça met dans les yeux des enfants | Putting in children’s eyes |
| Des constellations éphémères | Ephemeral4a word used for things that don’t last/won’t last, but often specifically as a counterpoint to something that is eternal constellations |
| Et on s’en souvient quand on est grand | And we remember then when we’re grown |
| Dans le ciel vibrant de musique | In the sky full of music |
| Je voyais naître des planètes | I saw planets being born |
| Jaillir des lumières fantastiques | Fantastic lights gushing forth |
| Et tomber des pluies de comètes | And a rain of comets falling down |
| Je m’imaginais amiral | I imagined myself an admiral |
| Regardant voler mes flottilles | Watching my flotilla fly |
| J’ai fait des rêves admirables | I dreamed admirable dreams |
| Sous ces fusées de pacotille5means chintzy, junky, or cheap … | Underneath these dime store rockets |
| Refrain | Chorus |
| Puis sous les cieux incandescents | Then under the incandescent skies |
| Quelqu’un refaisait mes lacets | Someone retied my shoelaces |
| Je voyais des adolescents | I saw teens |
| Au loin, là-bas, qui s’enlaçaient | In the distance, embracing |
| Ça laissait dans mes yeux longtemps | It left for a long time in my eyes |
| Des traînées de rose et de vert | Trailing lights of pink and green |
| Je voyais dans mon lit d’enfant | I saw in my kid bed |
| Des univers sur mes paupières | Universes on my eyelids |
| Nous sommes comme des feux d’artifice | We are like fireworks |
| Vu qu’on est là pour pas longtemps | Seeing how we are not here for long |
| Faisons en sorte, tant qu’on existe, | Let’s make sure, as long as we exist, |
| De briller dans les yeux des gens | To shine in the eyes of people |
| De leur offrir de la lumière | To offer them light |
| Comme un météore en passant | Like a passing meteor |
| Car, même si tout est éphémère, | Because, even if everything is ephemera/ephemeral |
| On s’en souvient pendant longtemps | We remember it for a long time. |
If, after the song, you’re still craving some fireworks, why not check out this amazing son et lumière (sound and light show) from New Year’s Eve at the Arch de Triomphe or last year’s feux d’artifices du quatorze juillet au tour Eiffel.
And depending on when you’re reading this, you might still be able to catch this year’s show at the Tour Eiffel. After much debate, the Marie de Paris has decided to go forward with this year’s show … but without the audience. The show, which will be streamed live on TV, is dedicated “à tous les héros du quotidien qui ont œuvré pendant la durée de l’épidémie” (to the everyday heroes who worked throughout the epidemic).
Photo by Designecologist from Pexels
- 1While I’ve translated effleurer as touch, it is gentler than that. Having its roots in the word fleur/flower it means more to caress, to brush delicately over
- 2Note the use of the imparfait here, indicating an event that happened more than once in the past.
- 3Taken literally étoiles de mer would be stars of the sea but like the English translation sea stars it also means starfish
- 4a word used for things that don’t last/won’t last, but often specifically as a counterpoint to something that is eternal
- 5means chintzy, junky, or cheap …
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About the Author: Tim Hildreth
Since my first trip to France at 16, I have been a passionate francophile. I love the language, food, music, art, people, and more that make France and la Francophonie in general such an amazing part of our global community. Having lived in France and studied the language and culture for over 35 years, it is my great pleasure to be able to share a little bit of my deep love with you through this blog.