His father was a UNESCO employee and his mother is from Guadeloupe. Many of the chansons he sings were written by Étienne Roda-Gil, a long time collaborator. His brother, Gérard Leclerc, is a political commentator on France 2.
For a time he was involved with French actress Miou-Miou, who in 1978 bore him a daughter, Jeanne Herry. Like her father, Jeanne has pursued a career in show business, albeit as an actress and comedian rather than as a singer.
Julien Clerc owes his fame in France to his leading role in the 1969 French language adaptation of the musical Hair. Since then he has sung a great many popular songs, and is generally considered one of the greatest francophone musicians of his generation. In 2003, he was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after transferring the rights to his hugely popular song, Partir, to the UN.
Ma préférence
Julien Clerc Lyrics
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Sa façon d'être moi parfois vous déplaît
Autour d'elle et moi le silence se fait
Mais elle est
Ma préférence à moi
Oui je sais
Cet air d'indifférence qui est sa défense
Vous fait souvent offense
Mais quand elle est parmi mes amis de faïence, de faïence
Je sais sa défaillance
Je le sais
On ne me croit pas fidèle ce qu'elle est
Et déjà vous parlez d'elle l'imparfait
Mais elle est
Ma préférence à moi
Il faut le croire
Moi seul je sais quand elle a froid
Ses regards ne regardent que moi
Par hasard elle aime mon incertitude
Par hasard j'aime sa solitude
Il faut le croire
Moi seul je sais quand elle a froid
Ses regards ne regardent que moi
Par hasard elle aime mon incertitude
Par hasard j'aime sa solitude
Je le sais
Sa façon d'être à moi parfois vous déplaît
Autour d'elle et moi le silence se fait
Mais elle est
Ma préférence à moi
Elle est ma chance à moi
Ma préférence à moi
Elle est ma chance à moi
Ma préférence à moi
Elle est ma chance à moi
Ma préférence à moi
The lyrics to Julien Clerc's song Ma préférence can be interpreted as a declaration of love for someone who the singer knows is not commonly accepted by those around him. Despite the disapproval of others, the singer is confident in his feelings and expresses his unwavering loyalty to this special person, who he refers to as "Ma préférence", or "My preference".
The beginning of the song acknowledges that this person's behavior may not be appreciated by others, but the singer is not concerned with that because of the strong connection they share. The next verse asserts that the person's guardedness is often mistaken for indifference, which causes others to be offended. However, the singer understands that her mask of aloofness is simply her way of protecting herself, and he knows her true vulnerability.
The song climaxes in the bridge, where the singer declares that only he can truly understand and appreciate this person. He is the one who can sense when she is cold, and the only one whom she looks at with any sense of depth. He finds comfort in her appreciation of his indecisiveness and admires her for her ability to be alone. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, re-emphasizing the significance of this unconventional pairing to the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of Ma préférence communicate the idea that love should not be judged by the opinions of others. The singer values his relationship with this special person more than any judgmental criticism that could come his way.
Line by Line Meaning
Je le sais
I know it
Sa façon d'être moi parfois vous déplaît
Sometimes you don't like it when she acts like me
Autour d'elle et moi le silence se fait
A silence falls around her and me
Mais elle est
But she is
Ma préférence à moi
My preference, mine alone
Oui je sais
Yes I know
Cet air d'indifférence qui est sa défense
That air of indifference which is her defence
Vous fait souvent offense
Often annoys you
Mais quand elle est parmi mes amis de faïence, de faïence
But when she's amongst my china friends
Je sais sa défaillance
I know her weakness
On ne me croit pas fidèle ce qu'elle est
They don't believe that she's faithful to me
Et déjà vous parlez d'elle l'imparfait
And already you talk about her in the past tense
Il faut le croire
You have to believe
Moi seul je sais quand elle a froid
Only I know when she's cold
Ses regards ne regardent que moi
Her looks are only for me
Par hasard elle aime mon incertitude
Perhaps she likes my uncertainty
Par hasard j'aime sa solitude
Perhaps I love her loneliness
Je le sais
I know it
Sa façon d'être à moi parfois vous déplaît
Sometimes you don't like it when she acts like she's mine
Autour d'elle et moi le silence se fait
A silence falls around her and me
Mais elle est
But she is
Ma préférence à moi
My preference, mine alone
Elle est ma chance à moi
She's my chance
Ma préférence à moi
My preference, mine alone
Elle est ma chance à moi
She's my chance
Ma préférence à moi
My preference, mine alone
Lyrics © EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, SIDONIE
Written by: Julien Clerc, Jean-Loup Dabadie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind