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.
RAINBOW
Émilie Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And live to fight another day
When I see the devil running free
I'm holding on to you and me
And the sun goes down when he's around
He just sets us up to put us down
Well I know we're not the only two
Take my hand now
I'm not sure I can deal with it
Take my hand now
I'm not sure I can deal with it
Take my hand now
Are you gonna be the same
When they make you change your name
They just break us day by day
Into million of small pieces of rainbow
When do,you think it will rain?
I really wish it could rain now
Take my hand and see
We're still part of the rainbow
Well you hate yourself when you feel so weak
You hurt yourself and then you bleed
Well I know that you could change it all
If you really would
Are you gonna be the same
When they make you change your name
They just break us day by day
Into million of small pieces of rainbow
When do,you think it will rain?
I really wish it could rain now
Take my hand and see
We're still part of the rainbow
Are you gonna be the same
When they make you change your name
Are you gonna be the same
When they make you change your name
When people get strange I just run
You should know it, you should know
When people get strange all around
You should know it, you should know
When people get strange I just hide
You should know it, you should know
You should know it, you should know
Émilie Simon's song "Rainbow" explores themes of societal conformity, oppression, and finding solace in each other during difficult times. The opening lines, "Well I said that we should run away / And live to fight another day," suggest a desire to escape the oppressive forces at play. The "devil" that "sets us up to put us down" could represent any oppressive system, such as the government, the media, or societal expectations. Through the lyrics, the singer is reaching out to the listener, urging them to hold on to each other despite the hardships they face.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Take my hand now" as a plea for support and the need for a ally in difficult times. The lines "Are you gonna be the same / When they make you change your name" highlight the pressure to conform to societal norms and abandon one's true identity. The pain and frustration of this loss are described through the metaphor of being broken "into million of small pieces of rainbow." The rainbow could represent the beauty and diversity of humanity, shattered by oppressive forces.
The final verse suggests a call to action to resist the forces at play. The singer notes that change is possible if we truly want it, and urges the listener to not become victim to the oppressive systems. The repetition of "Are you gonna be the same / When they make you change your name" highlights the importance of maintaining one's individuality amidst societal pressure.
Overall, "Rainbow" is a powerful call to resist conformity and oppression, to hold on tight to those we love, and to seek out allies in times of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I said that we should run away
I suggested that we escape from the troubles we face
And live to fight another day
We can overcome our challenges later when we're stronger
When I see the devil running free
When I witness evil prevailing
I'm holding on to you and me
I cling onto us as a source of hope and strength
And the sun goes down when he's around
Describing the negative influence of evil's presence
He just sets us up to put us down
Evil intentionally harms us after luring us into a trap
Well I know we're not the only two
We aren't the only ones suffering under evil's influence
I'm just like you
I'm also struggling like you
Take my hand now
I offer you comfort and support
I'm not sure I can deal with it
I don't know if I can handle this situation
Are you gonna be the same
Will you still be yourself
When they make you change your name
When society imposes an identity on you
They just break us day by day
Society wears us down gradually
Into million of small pieces of rainbow
Our individuality is shattered into many colorful fragments
When do,you think it will rain?
The rain symbolizes hope and restoration
I really wish it could rain now
I wish for a change in our circumstances
Take my hand and see
I want you to trust in me
We're still part of the rainbow
Our fragmented individuality still forms a beautiful whole
Well you hate yourself when you feel so weak
Feeling powerless and inferior leads to self-hatred
You hurt yourself and then you bleed
This self-destructive behavior causes physical and emotional pain
Well I know that you could change it all
I believe in your ability to overcome your struggles
If you really would
If you actively choose to make a change
When people get strange I just run
I escape from those who act in alarming ways
You should know it, you should know
I want you to be aware of this survival tactic
Contributed by Anna H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.