French Music – Bénabar Posted by Tim Hildreth on May 8, 2018 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
I discovered a new French singer this week who I’m excited to share with you. I had never heard of Bénabar despite the fact that his career spans more than 20 years! Le début de la suite (The beginning of the next phase)* is his eighth studio album and features songs that are almost little short stories providing glimpses into the lives of everyday French people.
Bénabar himself said in an interview with the French television show C à Vous: “Moi, je me suis toujours intéressé plutôt aux deuxièmes roles, aux figurants; comme si on faisait un film en retirant les heroes.” (Me, I am always interested in the background characters, the bit parts; as if you were making a movie taking out the heroes.) The video below takes us into the world of une vendeuse (a sales associate or shop girl) at the Parisian department store Les Galleries Lafayette.
| Une vendeuse en pause | A sales girl on break |
| Allume, morose, sa deuxième cigarette | Lights, bleak-ly, her second cigarette |
| Sur le trottoir arrière | On the rear sidewalk |
| de la rue derrière Les Galeries Lafayette | Of the street behind the Galeries Lafayette |
| Elle est pas malheureuse la petite vendeuse | She isn’t sad, the little salesgirl |
| et de loin on dirait | And from here (from far) one would say |
| Presque du bonheur | Almost happy |
| quand l’antidépresseur fait enfin de l’effet | When the antidepressant kicks in |
| Une vendeuse en pause | A sales girl on break |
| vêtue comme impose le grand magasin | Dressed in the manner required by the store |
| Du côté livraison réservé camion qui déchargent au matin | Out at the loading dock reserved for the trucks that unload in the morning |
| Refrain | Chorus |
| Rayon maroquinerie | The leathergoods department |
| elle attise l’envie de clientes aisées | She stirs the comfortable clients desire |
| Vend des jolis sacs à la mode | Sells pretty, fashionable bags |
| et de marque qu’elle ne peut pas acheter | And brands that she cannot buy |
| Refrain | Chorus |
| Elle joue son rôle | She plays her role |
| et bien je la regarde de loin un peu dissimulé | And I watch her from afar a little hidden |
| Comme j’ai l’air d’un pervers | Almost like a pervert |
| le vigile me repère je préfère m’en aller | The security guard spots me and I opt to leave |
| Refrain | Chorus |
| Je laisse ma vendeuse à ses babioles coûteuse | I leave my sales girl to her expensive knick-knacks |
| à mes souvenirs | To my memories |
| Je l’espère heureuse | I hope for her happiness |
| rien ne s’y oppose ça s’appelle l’avenir | Nothing really should stop it that’s called the future |
| Adieu ma vendeuse | Farewell my sales girl |
| ne sois pas malheureuse je te l’interdis | Don’t be sad, I forbid it |
| Je voudrais te le dire mais je dois m’enfuir | I would like to tell you, but I must flee |
| le vigile me poursuit | The security guard is after me |
| Revenu en cachette bonnet et lunettes | Returned in disguise cap and glasses |
| mais tu n’étais plus là | But you weren’t there |
| Côté livraison côté rayon pas de trace de toi | Loading dock non sales counter there was no trace of you |
| Maintenant où es-tu | Now where are you |
| je ne le saurai plus | I won’t ever know |
| salaud de Cupidon | Stupid Cupid [Note: Salaud is actually quite a bit stronger than stupid.] |
| Pour te garder près de moi je t’ai mise m’en veux pas dans cette chanson (x2) | To keep you close, don’t be mad at me, I put you in this song (x2) |
À suivre… dans la suite! (To be continued… in the next part!)
Tune in again next week to find out où elle est allée, la petite vendeuse.
* The album title is a play on words. Le début can mean the beginning, the start, or the first part. La suite is the part that comes after, and often refers to part 2 or a continuation of something.
Photo of Bénabar in concert By Monsoleiiil – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8355542
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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.