{"id":4659,"date":"2011-03-30T18:17:35","date_gmt":"2011-03-30T18:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/?p=4659"},"modified":"2014-06-12T15:53:11","modified_gmt":"2014-06-12T13:53:11","slug":"jacques-brel-les-filles-et-les-chiens-girls-and-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/jacques-brel-les-filles-et-les-chiens-girls-and-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Les filles et les chiens (girls and dogs)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perhaps Jacques Brel<\/strong>, who’s not particularly noted for having listed in any form of bataille des sexes<\/a> <\/em><\/strong>(battle of the sexes) throughout his songs,\u00a0would not have readily concurred with the famously unconventional French actor and playwright Sacha Guitry<\/strong> who once declared: “les femmes, c’est charmant, mais les chiens, c’est tellement plus fid\u00e8le<\/em><\/em><\/strong>” (“Women are pretty charming, but dogs are way more faithful.”)<\/p>\n

Yet, in this song, which is featured as part of the ongoing “Semaine Brel<\/strong><\/em>” (“Brel Week”) on the French Blog<\/a><\/strong>, the deliberately zestful comparison between la gent f\u00e9<\/em><\/strong>minine<\/strong><\/em> (the so-called “fair sex<\/strong>” in English—or rather “unfair”, according to Brel in this case!) and le meilleur ami de l’homme <\/em><\/strong>(“Men’s best friend”) demonstrates a certain sens de l’humour <\/em><\/strong>that often verges on the sarcastic. A bit “noir<\/a><\/strong><\/em>“, you may say. Not unlike Sasha Guitry’s,\u00a0apr\u00e8<\/em><\/em><\/strong>s tout<\/em><\/strong> (after all)…<\/p>\n

\n

* * *<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kPB8cbu7BDw<\/a><\/p>\n

Jacques Brel: “Les filles et les chiens<\/em>” (“Girls and Dogs”)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme un jeu<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like a game<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme un feu<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like a fire<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beaucoup trop peu<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s way too little<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme un fruit<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like a fruit<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme la nuit<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like the night<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beaucoup d\u2019ennuis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s too much trouble<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme un renard<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like a fox<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme un retard<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like a delay<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beaucoup trop tard<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s way too late<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau tant que \u00e7a peut<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful as long as it lasts<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme l\u2019adieu<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like a goodbye<\/p>\n

Et c\u2019est beaucoup mieux<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And it’s much better<\/p>\n

Mais\u00a0les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But dogs<\/p>\n

C\u2019est beau comme des\u00a0chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s beautiful like dogs<\/p>\n

Et \u00e7a reste l\u00e0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And it stays there<\/p>\n

A nous voir pleurer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Seeing us cry<\/p>\n

Les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dogs<\/p>\n

\u00c7a ne nous dit rien<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They tell us nothing<\/p>\n

C\u2019est peut-\u00eatre pour \u00e7a<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s perhaps for that<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019on croit\u00a0les aimer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That we think we love them<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous pend au nez<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They grab you from the nose<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous prend au th\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They take you for a tea<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous prend\u00a0les d\u00e9s<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They get dicey<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous pend au cou<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They grab you from the neck<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous pend au clou<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They nail shut you<\/p>\n

\u00c7a d\u00e9pend de vous<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It depends on you<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous pend au c\u0153ur<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They grab you from the heart<\/p>\n

\u00c7a se pend aux fleurs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

With flowers they ought to be hanged<\/p>\n

\u00c7a d\u00e9pend des heures<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It depends on the hours<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a d\u00e9pend de tout<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It depends on everything<\/p>\n

\u00c7a d\u00e9pend surtout<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It depends especially<\/p>\n

\u00c7a d\u00e9pend des sous<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It depends on money<\/p>\n

Mais\u00a0les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But dogs<\/p>\n

\u00c7a ne d\u00e9pend de rien<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It depends on nothing<\/p>\n

Et \u00e7a reste l\u00e0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And it stays there<\/p>\n

A nous voir pleurer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Seeing us cry<\/p>\n

Les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dogs<\/p>\n

\u00c7a ne nous dit rien<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They tell us nothing<\/p>\n

C\u2019est peut-\u00eatre pour \u00e7a<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s perhaps why<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019on croit\u00a0les aimer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We think we love them<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a joue au cerceau<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They play hula hoop<\/p>\n

\u00c7a joue du cerveau<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They play with the brain<\/p>\n

\u00c7a se joue tango<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They’re played tango-style<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a joue l\u2019amadou<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They pretend to be made of tinder<\/p>\n

\u00c7a joue contre joue<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Their game is rather cheeky<\/p>\n

\u00c7a se joue de vous<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

You are their fair game<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a joue \u00e0 jouer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They play the game of playing<\/p>\n

\u00c7a joue \u00e0 aimer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They play the game of love<\/p>\n

\u00c7a joue pour gagner<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They play to win<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019elles jouent\u00a0les petites femmes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether they pretend to be young ladies<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019elles jouent\u00a0les grandes dames<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Or pretend to be great ladies<\/p>\n

\u00c7a se joue en drames<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s always a drama play<\/p>\n

Mais\u00a0les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But dogs<\/p>\n

\u00c7a ne joue \u00e0 rien<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They play no game<\/p>\n

Parce que \u00e7a ne sait pas<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Because they don’t know<\/p>\n

Comment faut tricher<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

How to cheat<\/p>\n

Les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dogs<\/p>\n

\u00c7a ne joue \u00e0 rien<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They play no game<\/p>\n

C\u2019est peut-\u00eatre pour \u00e7a<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s perhaps why<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019on croit\u00a0les aimer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We think we love them<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a donne \u00e0 r\u00eaver<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Make you dream<\/p>\n

\u00c7a donne \u00e0 penser<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cause you to think<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous donne cong\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They offer you a leave<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a se donne pourtant<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Are nevertheless given<\/p>\n

\u00c7a se donne un temps<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They are given for a time<\/p>\n

C\u2019est donnant donnant<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s a give and take matter<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a donne de l\u2019amour<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Give you love<\/p>\n

A chacun son tour<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone gets a turn<\/p>\n

\u00c7a donne sur la cour<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They lead you to court…(-ship!)<\/p>\n

Les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Girls<\/p>\n

\u00c7a vous donne son corps<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Give you their body<\/p>\n

\u00c7a se donne si fort<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They give it so strong<\/p>\n

Que \u00e7a donne des remords<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That you end up filled with remorse<\/p>\n

Mais\u00a0les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But dogs<\/p>\n

\u00c7a ne vous donne rien<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

They give you nothing<\/p>\n

Parce que \u00e7a ne sait pas<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Because they don’t know<\/p>\n

Faire semblant de donner<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

How to pretend that they are giving<\/p>\n

Les chiens<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dogs<\/p>\n

\u00c7a ne vous donne rien<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Give nothing<\/p>\n

C\u2019est peut-\u00eatre pour \u00e7a<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Maybe that’s why<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019on doit\u00a0les aimer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We ought to love them<\/p>\n

Et c\u2019est pourtant pour\u00a0les filles<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

And yet it is for the sake of girls<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019au moindre matin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

That at any morning<\/p>\n

Qu\u2019au moindre chagrin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

At the smallest grief<\/p>\n

On renie ses\u00a0chiens…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We disavow our dogs…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Perhaps Jacques Brel, who’s not particularly noted for having listed in any form of bataille des sexes (battle of the sexes) throughout his songs,\u00a0would not have readily concurred with the famously unconventional French actor and playwright Sacha Guitry who once declared: “les femmes, c’est charmant, mais les chiens, c’est tellement plus fid\u00e8le” (“Women are pretty…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,108,13],"tags":[24520,24581,24582,24580],"class_list":["post-4659","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-culture","category-music","category-vocabulary","tag-jacques-brel","tag-les-chiens","tag-les-filles","tag-sacha-guitry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4659"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20605,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4659\/revisions\/20605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}