Although Bruel aspired to be a football star as a youth, he decided to pursue singing after seeing Michel Sardou in 1975. His first success came as an actor, however, in 1979's Le Coup de sirocco. He continued acting in films, on television and in the theater while pursuing his singing career. His first single, "Vide" ("Empty"), released in 1982, was not a success, but the follow up, "Marre de cette nana-là" ("Fed up with that chick"), was a hit.
In 2003, he had his last name officially changed to Bruel-Benguigui, his stage name with his birthname, before his partner Amanda Maruani gave birth to his first child, Oscar, on August 19. On September 21, 2004, he wed the 24-year-old Maruani; it is his first marriage. His second child, Léon Bruel was born on the 28th September, 2005.
As of 2004 Bruel has acted in more than 40 different television and film productions and made five studio albums and several live albums. His last album to date is Entre Deux (2002), a double CD of classic chanson that features duets with Charles Aznavour, Jean-Louis Aubert, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Alain Souchon and Renaud, among others. It sold two million copies and made Bruel France's best paid singer of the year. At the beginning of 2005, in response to the South Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004, Bruel wrote the song "Et puis la terre" to benefit the Red Cross.
Tout recommencer
Patrick Bruel Lyrics
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Mais qu'est ce que tu ferais que je n'ferais pas?
De surface en surface
J'en ai loupé des buts mais j'ai marqué parfois
Ça dépend, ça dépasse
Et puis ça disparaît un peu comme toi et moi
De guerre lasse en guerre lasse
Quand est-ce que tu reviens? J'ai oublié, je crois
Oh j'aimerais tout recommencer
Je me sens nu même tout habillé
Les jours s'allongent et moi je disparais
À ta place, à ta place
J'essaierais de comprendre pourquoi l'amour est là
De Charybde en Scylla
J'ai perdu les syllabes et je m'ennuie de toi
Il n'y a plus que l'espace
Entre toi et le monde, entre le monde et moi
J'ai troqué tous mes as
J'ai prié le bon dieu pour qu'il ne m'oublie pas
Oh j'aimerais tant tout recommencer
Je me sens seul même accompagné
Dans mes souliers parfois je disparais
On est là face à face
Planté dans un décor que plus rien ne menace
Ou ça passe ou ça casse
On essaie de courir alors qu'il ne faudrait pas
On efface, on efface
Les voyages, les sourires, ce qu'on a fait de nous
Un coup d'poing dans la glace
On regrettera je crois, on en est où, dis moi?
Oh j'aimerais tant tout recommencer
Je me sens flou même bien éclairé
Dans la lumière parfois je disparais
Parfois je disparais
Oh j'aimerais tout recommencer
Je me sens nu même tout habillé
Tu te retournes et moi je disparais
The song "Tout recommencer" by Patrick Bruel is a reflection on lost love and missed opportunities. The lyrics contemplate what the singer and the one he loves (or loved) might do if they were in each other's shoes. He wonders about the chances he missed, the goals he scored and his own disappearing presence as he tries to hold on to the memory of what he had with his beloved. The singer addresses his lover in the second verse, suggesting that perhaps if he were in their position, he would try to understand why love exists in the first place. The song is an expression of regret and desire to start again, to erase the past and begin anew.
The choice of words in this song is eloquent and poetic, and the anaphora of "à ma place, à ta place" adds a powerful layer of introspection and wondering. The contrast between the personal ("Je me sens nu même tout habillé" - "I feel naked even when dressed up") and the collective ("Between you and the world, between the world and me") highlights the distance and isolation felt by the singer as well as the universal experience of loss and longing. The repetition of "Oh j'aimerais tout recommencer" reflects a hopeless wish to turn back time and fix past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
À ma place, à ma place
If you were in my shoes, what would you do that I wouldn't? Like you know all the answers.
Mais qu'est ce que tu ferais que je n'ferais pas?
What could you possibly do that I haven't already done?
De surface en surface
I've been moving from one thing to the next without real depth or meaning.
J'en ai loupé des buts mais j'ai marqué parfois
I've missed some opportunities, but I've also made some accomplishments.
Ça dépend, ça dépasse
It's all relative, and sometimes it goes beyond what we can control.
Et puis ça disparaît un peu comme toi et moi
And then it disappears, like you and me.
De guerre lasse en guerre lasse
From one tiresome battle to the next.
Quand est-ce que tu reviens? J'ai oublié, je crois
When are you coming back? I've forgotten, I think.
Oh j'aimerais tout recommencer
Oh, I wish I could start all over again.
Je me sens nu même tout habillé
I feel exposed, even with my clothes on.
Les jours s'allongent et moi je disparais
The days get longer, and I feel myself slipping away.
À ta place, à ta place
If I were in your shoes...
J'essaierais de comprendre pourquoi l'amour est là
I would try to understand why love exists.
De Charybde en Scylla
I've been going from one difficult situation to the next.
J'ai perdu les syllabes et je m'ennuie de toi
I've lost my words, and I miss you.
Il n'y a plus que l'espace
There's nothing left but space.
Entre toi et le monde, entre le monde et moi
Between you and the world, between the world and me.
J'ai troqué tous mes as
I've traded all my winning cards.
J'ai prié le bon dieu pour qu'il ne m'oublie pas
I've prayed to God not to forget me.
On est là face à face
We're here face to face.
Planté dans un décor que plus rien ne menace
Stuck in a setting where nothing threatens us anymore.
Ou ça passe ou ça casse
Either it works out, or it falls apart.
On essaie de courir alors qu'il ne faudrait pas
We try to run when we shouldn't.
On efface, on efface
We erase, we erase.
Les voyages, les sourires, ce qu'on a fait de nous
The trips, the smiles, what we've become.
Un coup d'poing dans la glace
A punch in the mirror.
On regrettera je crois, on en est où, dis moi?
I think we will regret it, where are we, tell me?
Je me sens seul même accompagné
I feel alone even when I'm with someone.
Dans mes souliers parfois je disparais
Sometimes I disappear into my own shoes.
Oh j'aimerais tant tout recommencer
Oh, I wish I could start all over again.
Je me sens flou même bien éclairé
I feel blurry even when I'm clearly seen.
Dans la lumière parfois je disparais
In the light, sometimes I disappear.
Tu te retournes et moi je disparais
You turn around and I disappear.
Parfois je disparais
Sometimes I disappear.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Patrick Bruel, Mickael Furnon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind