I wanna have a French mustache Posted by Tim Hildreth on Aug 31, 2021 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
One of the reasons I’ve always loved the Eurovision Song Contest is because of just how odd it can be. This year’s competition may already be dans le rétroviseur1in the rear view mirror but I just had to share this little gem from 2014 by the rock-pop-hip-hop French trio Twin Twin.
Moustache2Moustache, while typically associated with men, is actually feminine … une/la moustache. And as per this entry from larousse.fr it can be used in the singular (“Il a une belle moustache”) or plural (“Il a des belles moustaches”).
Earning only 2 points, the song finished a disappointing 26th (out of 26!) and came into the competition under a bit of a cloud (the group was accused of plagiât3plagiarism for similarities between the song’s opening riff and Stomae’s hit Papaoutai as well as a strong resemblance to the early 90’s novelty hit Dur dur d’être baby4Hard hard to be a baby by the young Jordy).
Still, this kind of catchy fun is always good in my book!
| Quelque chose me manque, mais quoi? | I’m missing something, but what? |
| Je veux ci, je veux ça | I want this, I want that |
| Quand j’dors j’fais des rêves en dollars, | When I sleep I dream in dollars |
| tous les jours, j’ai un nouveau costard | Every day I get a new suit |
| Chez moi tout est neuf, tout est beau, | Everything in my home is new, everything is sleek |
| le monde pleure derrière mes rideaux | The world weeps behind my curtains |
| J’m’en fous, j’habite au dernier étage, | I don’t care, I live on the top floor |
| j’connais même pas ma femme de ménage | I don’t even know my housekeeper |
| Il y a du cuir dans ma voiture, | There’s leather in my car |
| l’odeur de mon parfum me rassure | The smell of my perfume reassures me |
| Je n’aime pas montrer mes émotions à la salle de musculation | I don’t like showing emotions at the gym |
| Je soulève quelques poids et haltères, | I lift some weights and dumbbells |
| mon corps est une machine de guerre | My body is a war machine |
| J’ai tout c’qu’on rêverait d’avoir | I have all that I’ve always dreamt of having |
| J’ai peut-être tout, c’est vrai, | I have it all, it’s true |
| mais moi, j’voulais une moustache | But me, I wanted a mustache |
| [Une moustache, une moustache I wanna have a moustache A moustache, a moustache Quería un bigote] |
[A mustache, a mustache
I wanna have a mustache A mustache, a mustache I want a mustache (Spanish)] |
| Je veux ci, je veux ça, y en a jamais assez pour moi | I want this, I want that, there is never enough for me |
| C’est comme ci, c’est comme ça, y a toujours un truc que j’ai pas | It’s like this, it’s like that, there is always something that I don’t have |
| Je veux ci, je veux ça | I want this, I want that |
| C’est comme ci, c’est comme ça | It’s like this, it’s like that |
| x2 | x2 |
| Alors j’en rajoute encore, | So I pile on, |
| des tonnes de choses derrière mes placards | Tons of things in my cupboards |
| J’ai des amis quand même | I have friends, too |
| et même, j’ai des amis qui m’aiment | And even, friends who like me |
| J’me dis, j’ai tout pour plaire, j’ai tout pour, | I tell myself, I’ve got everything to appeal, I’ve got it all |
| j’ai le monde à mes pieds, c’est fou | I have the world at my feet, it’s crazy |
| J’ai tout c’qu’on rêverait d’avoir | I have everything I’ve dreamt of having |
| J’ai peut-être tout, c’est vrai, | And maybe I do have it all, it’s true |
| mais moi, j’voulais une moustache | But me, I wanted a mustache |
| Refrain | Chorus |
| J’donnerais tout ce que j’ai (contre une moustache) | I’d give away everything I have (in exchange for a mustache) |
| Maintenant je sais, c’que j’veux c’est (une moustache) | Now I know, what it is that I want (a mustache) |
| J’pourrais tout laisser, tout donner (pour une moustache) | I could leave it all, give it all (for a mustache) |
| J’ai peut-être tout, c’est vrai, mais pas c’que j’voulais | I might have it all, it’s true, but not what I wanted |
| Refrain | Chorus |
12 Points for France! How Did France do in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest?
- 1in the rear view mirror
- 2Moustache, while typically associated with men, is actually feminine … une/la moustache. And as per this entry from larousse.fr it can be used in the singular (“Il a une belle moustache”) or plural (“Il a des belles moustaches”).
- 3plagiarism
- 4Hard hard to be a baby
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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.