Born in the French town of Sedan on 18 May 1960, Yannick Noah grew up with a rich mixed African and European culture at home, living with his Cameroonian father, Simon, and French mother, Marie-Claire. The family returned to Cameroon in Yannick's early childhood after his father, a professional football player, was seriously injured in an accident. The Noahs took up residence in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, in 1963, but retained close links to France throughout their stay.
Listening to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley in his teenage years, Yannick soon developed a real passion for music. But the young teenager also appeared to have inherited his father's sporting talent. Yannick proved to be an absolute wizard on the tennis court and, encouraged by a couple of teachers, he spent hours on the courts training his front and backhand. His long hours of training were soon rewarded, too. Yannick's talent was spotted by legendary American tennis star Arthur Ashe and he won a return ticket to France, where he got the benefit of a professional coaching-and-education programme at the French Tennis Federation in Nice.
Spending long months away from his family and friends back in Cameroon weighed heavily on the 11-year-old's shoulders, but his passion for music helped him overcome these early years of exile and solitude. And the intensive training proved worth it in the end. For Yannick went on to enjoy a brilliant sporting career on the tennis courts, winging his way into the record books and tennis fans' hearts when he won the French Open at Rolland Garros in 1983.
On the courts, in the charts
After establishing himself as one of France's most popular tennis stars, Yannick took early retirement from the courts and turned his attention to music. This was a particularly challenging route to go down, given that other French sports celebrities who had attempted to reinvent themselves as pop stars had ended up failing miserably. In 1990 Yannick kicked his career off in style, however, recording a single called "Saga Africa". His record company took the cunning step of signing a deal with the privately-owned TV channel TF1 and his video ended up being broadcast regularly on the channel in between programmes and adverts.
Needless to say, "Saga Africa" rocketed to the top of the French charts within a few weeks of its release and thousands of French music fans found themselves humming the catchy chorus line on the way to work. And in 1991 when Yannick captained France's national tennis team to victory in the Davis Cup, trainers and players broke into an impromptu performance of "Saga Africa" as they went to receive their trophy!
Yannick's debut album "Black & What", released later that year, certainly benefited from the popularity of "Saga Africa" (not to mention the French team's victory dance at the Davis Cup!) Featuring lyrics in French, English and Cameroon dialect – written by Noah himself – and contributions from a host of leading music stars including Manu Dibango, Kamil Rustam and Idrissa Diop, "Black & What" went on to sell a very respectable 600,000 copies.
Following the release of the album, Yannick turned his attention back to the courts for a while, coaching the French women's team to victory in the Fed Cup in 1996.
The pop star with a big heart
Meanwhile, Yannick put his celebrity status at the service of several French charities, investing a huge amount of time and effort in humanitarian causes such as the "Association des enfants de la terre." This organisation, set up in collaboration with his mother in 1988, provides a temporary home for children in need. Yannick also plays the role of patron and major fund-raiser for "Fête le Mur", an association which gives free use of sports facilities to children and teenagers from under-privileged backgrounds. (Yannick is often to be found on the courts, racket in hand, in fact, giving tennis lessons to the youngsters!) Raising funds for a variety of charities including his own associations and the feed-the-homeless organisation "Restos du cœur" and starring in a number of TV adverts, Yannick rarely seems to be off the screen.
Yannick's frequent appearances on French TV did not appear to help sales of his second album, however. Released in 1993, "Urban Tribu" (inspired by the work of John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix and recorded in English) failed to make any sort of impact on the French charts, despite the massive promotional campaign masterminded by Yannick's record label. Yannick took to the road to promote his new album nevertheless, embarking upon a major national tour with his group Zam Zam. The "Urban Tribu Tour 93" featured some 40 dates and Yannick's on-stage charisma worked just as well on the stage as it did on the courts!
Parallel to his hectic recording and sporting career, Yannick also finds time to spend with his family. He is the proud father of four young children - Yoachim and Yelena from his first marriage with Cécilia Rhode (Miss Sweden 1978) and Elyjah and Jenayé from his current marriage to top model Heather Stewart-White. (All currently live in New York).
Somewhere in the midst of his hectic schedule, Yannick also found time to write his autobiography, "Secrets etc…" (published by Editions Plon in April 1997). In the book he meditates on the nature of fame and what role celebrities can play, defending his decision to reveal something of his personal life sometimes. "I may choose to give people a glimpse into my personal life every now and then, but it's never done in a spirit of immodesty or provocation. I'm simply trying to show how, by accepting yourself as you are and admitting your weaknesses as well as your strengths, you can work towards building your own happiness. And that is always a first step towards contributing to others' happiness as well!"
Yannick returned to the music news in the summer of '97 with a new single entitled "Oh rêve". Needless to say, his audacious adaptation of "La Marseillaise" - originally written by Rouget de Lisle in 1792 and adopted as the French national anthem - was bound to ruffle a few feathers. Yannick's pacifist reworking of "La Marseillaise"'s war-like and ultra-patriotic message was not to everyone's liking. Indeed, several war veterans' associations protested against the tennis hero's new version.
Back in the charts
Three years later Yannick returned to the studio to work on a new album. Recorded between Paris and the Cameroonian town of Kribi and released in September 2000, Yannick's eponymous new album was destined to put him back at the top of the charts. "Yannick Noah" also found the former tennis star paying tribute to his African roots. The first single release from the album, "Simon Papa Tara", was specially dedicated to his late grandfather, a village wiseman whom Yannick claimed appeared to him in a vision one night in 1985 and changed the course of his life.
Yannick's celebration of his African origins on this album was reminiscent of the spirit of "Saga Africa" – and it proved to be every bit as successful with the French public. The famous dreadlock-coiffed pop star invited a host of prestigious songwriters and composers (including Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jean Kapler and Eric Benzi) to work on his new album and the result was a superb fusion of African and European influences. Yannick described his catchy, original sound as 'Afro-reggae'. "Les Lionnes", the second single release from the album, confirmed the album's popularity with the French public, rocketing to the top of the charts shortly after its release.
After taking part in the Ricard Live Music tour in July and August 2000, Yannick hit the live circuit again at the end of the year, supporting David Hallyday at the Olympia on 5 December. The following year he appeared at the "Fête de la musique 2001" and returned to the Olympia on 2 July, this time round as the headlining star. In October 2001 Yannick went on to perform a special fund-raising concert for "Les Enfants de la terre" and then kicked off an autumn tour, bringing the house down at Le Zénith in Paris on 21 November.
In 2002 Yannick Noah continued touring and performed in many summer festivals. Very keen on stage performance, he and his faithful team of musicians try to give their audience—which is often composed of many children—the best of themselves.
2003: "Pokhara"
In June 2003 he performed as curtain raiser at Johnny Hallyday’s tour of the French stadiums. Then at the end of August he released a new album entitled "Pokhara" after a town in Nepal. Penned by Eric Benzi, Jean Kapler and Jacques Veneruso, the tracks were tailored to Yannick Noah’s style, producing a result very similar to that of his former album. The first single was called "Si Tu Savais".
The album went on to sell over a million copies.
2004 was taken up with an extensive tour, which included a concert at the Paris-Bercy Omnisports stadium in October 2. It was also the year his partner Isabelle gave birth to his son Joalukas.
In early June 2005, Yannick Noah released an album entitled "Métisse(s)", which was half live and half new material. It included a duet with Diziz la Peste, another with Jamaican artist Jimmy Cliff, and a cover of Téléphone's "la Bombe humaine". Over the summer, he kicked off an acoustic tour with dates at the Casino de Paris from June 27 to July 2, and the Grand Rex from July 6-7.
In the autumn of 2006, Noah returned to the music spotlight with a new album, "Charango" (named after a traditional string instrument from Bolivia). This album, on which he recruited the services of the same songwriting and composing team as on his previous albums, found the former tennis star looking to Latin America for inspiration and making full use of distinctive Latin American rhythms. "Donne moi une vie", the first single release from the album, was soon followed by "Aux arbres citoyens", a topical environmental wake-up call.
Noah hit the road again in May 2007, embarking upon a major French tour.
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The Yannick Noah story is a lesson in how a famous sports personality has successfully reinvented himself as a singer/musician. Yannick's on-going popularity with the French public is also fuelled by his public commitment to his personal principles. Promoting peace, tolerance and solidarity through his music as well as his charity work, Yannick Noah has proved to be a pop star with a heart of gold.
Aux Arbres Citoyens
Yannick Noah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Poison dans les fontaines, dans nos campagnes
De cyclones en rafales, notre histoire prend l'eau
Reste notre idéal, "Faire les beaux"
S'acheter de l'air en barre, remplir la balance
Quelques pétrodollars, contre l'existence
De l'équateur aux pôles, ce poids sur nos épaules
De squatters éphémères, maintenant c'est plus drôle
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose
Un monde pour demain!
Aux arbres citoyens, quelques baffes à prendre
La veille est pour demain, des baffes à rendre
Faire tenir debout une armée de roseaux
Plus personne à genoux, fait passer le mot
C'est vrai, la terre est ronde mais qui viendra nous dire
Qu'elle l'est pour tout le monde et les autres à venir
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose
Un monde pour demain!
Plus le temps de savoir à qui la faute (ouh-ye-yo)
De compter sur la chance ou les autres
Maintenant on se bat
Avec toi, moi j'y crois
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose
Un monde pour demain!
Avec toi, moi j'y crois
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose
Un monde pour demain!
The lyrics of Yannick Noah's empowering song "Aux Arbres Citoyens" (To Citizen Trees) convey a message of urgency and hope, as the artist highlights the environmental and social issues our planet is facing. The first verse depicts the pollution and devastation of human activity on the natural world, from the cement pouring into the plains to the poison in the water sources, and the calamities caused by climate change. However, despite the grim reality, there is a call to action to preserve our ideals and beauty. The second verse exposes the exploitation and inequality perpetuated by economic interests and warns against the weight of responsibility and the need for collective resistance.
The chorus, "Puisqu'il faut changer les choses, aux arbres citoyens, il est grand temps qu'on propose un monde pour demain (Since we must change things, to citizen trees, it is high time we propose a world for tomorrow)," is a rallying cry that encourages people to stand up for what they believe in and take action to create a better future. The repetition of the phrase "aux arbres citoyens" signifies the idea of nature as an extension of ourselves, and how taking care of it means taking care of us as citizens. The bridge stresses the importance of unity and action, as there is no more time to waste blaming others or relying on luck, but rather join forces to make a difference.
Line by Line Meaning
Le ciment dans les plaines coule jusqu'aux montagnes
Urbanization is rapidly expanding from the plains to the mountains, causing concrete and buildings to replace natural habitats.
Poison dans les fontaines, dans nos campagnes
Toxic chemicals are polluting the water sources in our rural areas.
De cyclones en rafales, notre histoire prend l'eau
Our history is being washed away by severe weather conditions such as cyclones and hurricanes.
Reste notre idéal, "Faire les beaux"
Our remaining ideal is to preserve the beauty of nature.
S'acheter de l'air en barre, remplir la balance
We are buying canned air and prioritizing economic gains over environmental well being.
Quelques pétrodollars, contre l'existence
Money from oil is being prioritized over the survival of the planet.
De l'équateur aux pôles, ce poids sur nos épaules
We carry the burden of environmental destruction that extends from the equator to the poles of the earth.
De squatters éphémères, maintenant c'est plus drôle
People who occupy land illegally for short term gain are now finding it amusing.
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose
Un monde pour demain!
Since change is necessary, citizens must unite to protect the trees and suggest ideas for a better world!
Aux arbres citoyens, quelques baffes à prendre
La veille est pour demain, des baffes à rendre
Citizens must be prepared to face and overcome difficulties, while holding those responsible for environmental damage accountable.
Faire tenir debout une armée de roseaux
Plus personne à genoux, fait passer le mot
We must encourage and empower those working to preserve nature, and spread the message to everyone.
C'est vrai, la terre est ronde mais qui viendra nous dire
Qu'elle l'est pour tout le monde et les autres à venir
The truth is, the earth is round, but who will make sure it is that way for everyone, and future generations.
Plus le temps de savoir à qui la faute (ouh-ye-yo)
De compter sur la chance ou les autres
Maintenant on se bat
Avec toi, moi j'y crois
We can no longer afford to blame others or rely on luck, it is time to fight for our planet, and with you, I believe we can succeed.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (FRANCE), BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christophe Battaglia, Cyril Tarquiny
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind