She began her musical education at a French conservatory at seven years old. By age 18, she was studying Musicology at the University in Montpellier, France, and then obtained her Master in Musicology at the Sorbonne in Paris. Émilie was intrigued by the idea of combining her traditional musical education with new music technologies and studio experimentations. She developed these interests into unique skills at the cutting edge new technology music school, the IRCAM in Paris, which to this day remains the only center in the world dedicated to contemporary musical research and production, bringing science and art together in order to widen instrumentation and rejuvenate musical language.
Here she met Cyrille Brissot who she still works with today to develop and build specific instruments adapted to Émilie’s needs, both in the studio and on stage, including the “Brissot” - a breathtaking arm controller that allows her to remotely control, modulate and transform her live voice through a series of controlled effects. Émilie uses a variety of other new technology devices including Yamaha’s “Tenori-on” and a variety of other new hardware and software. Émilie uses this technology to give herself a wide range of versatility on stage, including being able to control everything – from beats to multiple instruments to vocal harmonies and modulation simultaneously while alone on stage.
Shortly after Ircam, Émilie Simon signed a record deal with Barclay/Universal France. Since then, she has written, arranged, performed and produced her two records and the original music for the French (original) version of March of the Penguins. There, Émilie used many diverse and inventive techniques including rubbing pieces of ice together to produce beats and sounds, and blended them with her electronic machinery and inviting lyrics.
Despite garnering best album honors in the electronic category at France’s
“Victoires de la Musique” Awards for her debut, and being touted as one of the most promising female artists, the Montpellier-bred chanteuse is quick to champion her independence as an artist over such acclaim. “[Awards] are nice, but it’s like a cherry on top, really,” the singer/songwriter insists. “It’s great when you have the feeling you are doing something important or that you’re understood. But it doesn’t alter the way I work in any way. I’m always thinking back on what I have done, because I don’t want to be redundant. I want to make music without rules, without anybody telling me what I have to do.”
Émilie Simon first made her mark on the U.S. in the fall of 2006 with her debut U.S. release, The Flower Book on Nov. 7, 2006. Her plush, artful soundscapes had already yielded her significant praise and awards in her French homeland, as well as acclaim across the rest of Europe and Japan. Singing in both French and English, Émilie allows her music to flow naturally, rewarding her with devoted fans worldwide. A year and a half after The Flower Book’s release, Émilie is currently residing in New York City and writing her next record. She will be performing shows in NYC this Fall to preview her new material. Having always begun the creative process in the recording studio, and then following with live performances, Émilie is trying a new approach. For the new record, she will let the songs breathe and evolve in a live environment before heading into the studio.
Bel Amour
Émilie Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
un soleil, un empire
pour toi,
sans hésiter
cent milles fois,
je le ferais
si je pouvais tout changer
la mort, j'irais te chercher
plus jamais je ne te quitterais
si les lumières du matin pouvaient ramener tes mains, ton corps et ta chaleur,
mon amour
non, je n'aurais plus peur
quand je ferme les paupières
j'entends ta voix et j'espère
pouvoir enfin, retrouver
mon bel amour pour l'éternité
The lyrics of Emilie Simon’s song “Bel Amour” depict a love that is both ardent and enduring. The singer expresses her willingness to do anything and everything for her beloved – she would build him a sun or even an empire, without hesitation, a hundred thousand times over. The depth of her affection is further revealed when she declares that she would defy death for him, and that once she finds him, she would never leave him again. Despite the pain of separation, she remains hopeful, imagining a world where the morning light could bring back her lover’s hands, body, and warmth, banishing all her fears forever.
Throughout the song, Emilie Simon masterfully captures the intensity and fervor of love, as well as the longing and ache of being apart from one’s beloved. Her lyrics are imbued with a sense of tender vulnerability, reflecting the raw emotions that come with loving someone deeply. The song speaks to the power of love to inspire and motivate us, and to the hope that, even when circumstances seem dire, we can find a way to be reunited with those we hold most dear.
Line by Line Meaning
Si je pouvais bâtir, un soleil, un empire pour toi, sans hésiter cent milles fois, je le ferais
If I could construct a sun or an empire for you, I would not hesitate to do so a hundred thousand times
si je pouvais tout changer et si je pouvais braver la mort, j'irais te chercher plus jamais je ne te quitterais
If I could change everything and act fearlessly towards death, I would go find you and never leave you again
si les lumières du matin pouvaient ramener tes mains, ton corps et ta chaleur, mon amour non, je n'aurais plus peur
If the morning lights could bring back your hands, your body, and your warmth, my love, I would not be scared anymore
quand je ferme les paupières j'entends ta voix et j'espère pouvoir enfin retrouver mon bel amour pour l'éternité
When I close my eyelids I hear your voice and hope to finally be able to find my beautiful love for eternity
Contributed by Miles S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
nadja tan
Si je pouvais bâtir,
un soleil, un empire
pour toi,
sans hésiter
cent milles fois,
je le ferais
si je pouvais tout changer
et si je pouvais braver
la mort, j'irais te chercher
plus jamais je ne te quitterais
si les lumières du matin pouvaient ramener tes mains, ton corps et ta chaleur,
mon amour
non, je n'aurais plus peur
quand je ferme les paupières
j'entends ta voix et j'espère
pouvoir enfin, retrouver
mon bel amour pour l'éternité
марічка
Красивая любовь
Если бы я могла построить
Солнце, империю
Для тебя,
Без колебаний,
Сто тысяч раз
Я бы сделала это.
Если бы я могла всё изменить,
Если бы я могла быть храброй
Перед смертью, я отправилась бы искать тебя.
Я никогда больше не покинула бы тебя.
Если бы утренний свет мог принести с собой твои руки, твоё тело и тепло,
Моя любовь,
Нет, я бы больше не боялась.
Когда я закрываю глаза,
Я слышу твой голос и я надеюсь,
Наконец, вновь обрести
Мою прекрасную любовь навеки.
https://lyricstranslate.com эта песня звучит в прекрасном кинофильме "Нежность"
doggyMatt1
She talks about her lover. She lost him 10 years ago. Pure love song beyond life & death.
If I could build,
a sun, an empire
for you,
without hesitation
a hundred thousand times,
I will do it
if i could change everything
and if i could brave
death, I'll go get you
I will never leave you again
if the morning lights could bring back your hands, your body and your warmth,
my love
no i would no longer be afraid
when i close my eyes
I hear your voice and I hope
finally be able to find
my beautiful love for eternity
Greenandmusicaddict
Magnifique.. Et en effet elle tombe à pique dans "la délicatesse" => LA musique qui fait monter les larmes. Ma préféré de son album avec "Sous les étoiles" qui est superbe aussi, conseil à ceux qui ne la connaissent pas encore ;D
Zorgoon
she is a musical genius. this is incredible. everything she does is amazing.
Lesly Henriquez
Emilie Simon never fails to satisfy my musical needs. Forever a fan 3
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Je m'en lasse pas, quelle douceur !
Thomas.R
All of her album was dedicated to his love who died few years ago... Terrible, but amazing album... She gave all of her spirit and soul in this album, for me ! Sorry for my bad english
Ninettezinha
The song somehow reveals the melancholic feel that made think of sb's loss and then i learnt this story and it all fell into right place. poor woman, wonderful voice.
Mathieu Dauphin
Quand je ferme les paupières j'entend ta voie et j'espère pouvoir enfin retrouver mon bel amour pour l'éternité
nadja tan
Si je pouvais bâtir,
un soleil, un empire
pour toi,
sans hésiter
cent milles fois,
je le ferais
si je pouvais tout changer
et si je pouvais braver
la mort, j'irais te chercher
plus jamais je ne te quitterais
si les lumières du matin pouvaient ramener tes mains, ton corps et ta chaleur,
mon amour
non, je n'aurais plus peur
quand je ferme les paupières
j'entends ta voix et j'espère
pouvoir enfin, retrouver
mon bel amour pour l'éternité
Océane pikachu
merci bcp
SilkyChrysanthemum
This is my FAVOURITE song from this album! Emilie Simon ftw! <3