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Learning Through Music – “Rien qu’une fois” by Keen’V Posted by on Mar 3, 2016 in Music, Vocabulary

Elizabeth, John, and I have all written about the benefits of music as a language learning resource. They’re a great source of current vocabulary, expressions, and even pronunciation. The fact that they’re catchy only makes it easier for you to remember words you may otherwise not learn in class or even in most conversations. Regardless of your genre preference, you can find something to learn from.

When you learn about French music, it’s often the classics: Piaf, Gainsbourg, Brel… No doubt they’re wonderful, and there’s certainly a reason they’ve remained relevant to this day, but where can you go to find something a little more…current?

Searching for “French music” on YouTube brings up a lot of classics and standard cafe music, but you’ll also see some more modern music. On the first page of results, there’s Indila, Stromae, Kendji Girac, and Maître Gims. Each of these artists is worth checking out, but each video was uploaded a year or two ago. If you want to see what’s popular today in l’Hexagone, the radio station NRJ is an ideal source.

On their page, if you place your mouse over Radio and select the link Vos Hits NRJ (your NRJ Hits) under Playlists/Classements (rankings), you’ll be taken to a page of the top songs of the moment. You’ll probably recognize a number of the English songs, but French radio stations are required to play a certain percentage of French songs. Be sure to check out the reason here.

Today, I’d like to share the top song listed on NRJ’s page: Rien qu’une fois (Just Once) by Keen’V.

Before I show you the translation, I’m going to share a vocabulary list from the song and the song’s official lyric video.

  1. répandre – to spread
  2. morose – dejected
  3. vouer à quelque chose – to vow something
  4. éprouver –  to experience; to feel
  5. c’est du vent – it’s a bunch of hot air
  6. laisser tomber – to drop something
  7. inavoué – unconfessed; unspoken
  8. le bout – end; tip; point
  9. le bout des doigts – fingertips
  10. pousser quelqu’un à bout – to push someone to the edge/over the limit
  11. la couette – quilt
  12. saccadé – jolting; jerking
  13. aisé – comfortable; easy
  14. insoupçonné – unexpected

*****

What do you understand after the first listen?  Check my translation below to see how you did.

Je suis sûr que tu es celle que j’ai toujours attendue
I am sure you’re the one I’ve always waited for
J’aurai aimé te dire des mots que tu n’as jamais entendus
I’ve wanted to tell you the words you’ve never heard
Car à mes yeux « Je t’aime » est devenu bien trop répandu
Because in my eyes, “I love you” is overused
Te sortir de ta vie morose je saurai le faire
I’ll know how to take you away from your dull life
Je serai voué à ta cause pour te satisfaire
I’ll be commited (to your cause) at satisfying you
Je ferai pousser des roses en plein désert
I’ll make roses grow in the desert
Si cela peut te plaire
If that’ll make you happy

Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
You and me
Rien qu’une nuit
Just one night
Je t’en prie
I beg of of you
Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
Me and you
Peut-être pour la vie
Maybe for life
x2

Je n’ai jamais éprouvé ça auparavant
I’ve never experienced this before
Laisse-moi seulement te prouver que ce n’est pas du vent
Let me show you that it’s not justa bunch of hot air
Personne n’avait levé en moi de tels sentiments
No one’s ever made me feel this way
Dis-moi que j’ai une chance même si tu me mens
Tell me I have a chance, even if you’re lying to me
Je ne te demande pas la lune,
I’m not asking you for the moon
Seulement de me laisser t’aimer
Only to let me love you
Une fille comme toi y’en a qu’une
There’s only one girl like you
Donc je ne compte pas la laisser tomber
So I’m not going to blow it
Et je comblerai chacune
And I’ll fulfill
De tes envies inavouées
Each of your unspoken desires
Si tu nous laissais
If you let us

Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
You and me
Rien qu’une nuit
Just one night
Je t’en prie
I beg of of you
Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
Me and you
Peut-être pour la vie
Maybe for life
x2

Je t’emmènerai là où tu voudras
I’ll take you where you’d like
Je te prouverai que je t’aimerai jusque sous les draps
I’ll show you how much I love you even under the sheets
J’apprendrai chaque partie de ton corps sur le bout des doigts
I’ll learn each part of your body with my fingertips
On réinventera le kamasutra
We’ll reinvent the Kama Sutra
Entre nous, il n’y aura aucun tabou
Between us, nothing will be taboo
Je te ferai des câlins tout doux tout doux
I’ll give you sweet hugs
Tu n’auras pas besoin de me pousser à bout
You won’t have to push me
Pour entendre des mots doux
To hear sweet words
Sortis tout droit de ma bouche
Come out of my mouth

Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
You and me
Rien qu’une nuit
Just one night
Je t’en prie
I beg of of you
Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
Me and you
Peut-être pour la vie
Maybe for life
x2

Tous les deux sous la couette
Both of us under the covers
Tu trouveras ça chouette
You’ll see it’s great
Quand sur le mur la lumière projettera nos silhouettes
When the light projects our silhouettes on the wall
Des petits mouvements saccadés d’un coup je m’arrête
Small jolting movements and suddenly I stop
Toi qui as la parole aisée tu resteras muette
The words will come easy, but you’ll stay silent
Car je vais tellement tellement tant te donner
Because I will give you so so much
Que ton corps va totalement s’abandonner
That your body will totally surrender
Je ferai naître en toi des talents qui jusqu’alors
I will bring out talents that up til now
T’étaient insoupçonnés
Were unexpected

Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
You and me
Rien qu’une nuit
Just one night
Je t’en prie
I beg of of you
Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Toi et moi
Me and you
Peut-être pour la vie
Maybe for life
x2

Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Rien qu’une nuit
Just one night
Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Rien qu’une fois
Just once
Choisis-moi
Choose me

 

Now that you understand the lyrics, you can watch le clip (the music video) here:

 

 

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About the Author: Josh Dougherty

Just your typical francophile. If you have any topics you'd like me to discuss, feel free to let me know!


Comments:

  1. June:

    No questions. Thanks for a great French Lesson.
    I love the French Classics; the lyrics of Brel, for example are terrific and this made a great change of pace.

  2. Francois:

    Thank you for your translation.

    Merci bien.