Étienne Daho (born January 14, 1956 in Oran, Algeria) is a French singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴Étienne Daho (born January 14, 1956 in Oran, Algeria) is a French singer-songwriter and musician. Since the early 1980s, he has had an extensive and successful career in the French-speaking world, with a synth-driven and rock-influenced pop sound. He is known for his low, whispery singing style, similar to Leonard Cohen and Benjamin Biolay, and for his innovative and creative music videos. His main influence is Francoise Hardy.

Daho is best known in Britain for his appearence on the number 11 Saint Etienne hit single "He's On The Phone", which is an English-language adaptation of his 1984 French-language hit "Weekend à Rome". He also collaborated with Saint Etienne on the Resurrection EP, his album Eden, and his single "Le Premier Jour", itself based on the track "Ready or Not" from Sarah Cracknell's 1997 solo album "Lipslide".

He has worked with many other artists, such as Chris Isaak, Marianne Faithfull, Elli Medeiros, Astrud Gilberto, Vanessa Daou, the Swingle Singers, and more. His duet with Charlotte Gainsbourg, titled "If", was released in 2004.

His 1996 album Eden featured a mix of electronic-oriented songs, ranging from downtempo ballads to drum 'n' bass-influenced tracks, and HiNRG dance. Corps & armes (2000) saw Daho return to a more orchestral sound fuelled by traditional instruments, such as piano, acoustic guitar, and horns. In 2004, he released Réévolution, which featured a guitar-heavy rock sound.

In 2012, he produced and composed songs for French comedian/singer Lou Doillon for her first album Places.

Étienne Daho is one of the most influential French pop singers of the last four decades. His extensive work has seen him collaborate with many artists, and explore a wide range of musical styles.

Après le blitz
Étienne Daho Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nous danserons dessous les bombes
Derniers adieux à l'autre monde
Dans un ultime bras d'honneur
Sans les médailles et sans les fleurs
Les chanteurs ont les yeux rougis
Par la fumée et les débris
En l'espace d'un court instant
Dans un fracas assourdissant

Cet éclair blanc

Soudain l'ombre qui nous drape dans ses sombres plis
Pleuvent les bombes dans ce ciel qui rougeoie et rugit
Sous les bombes, dans les rues, le carnage et les cris
L'armée des ombres, un éclair puis tout s'est obscurci

Toi et moi
Toi et moi
Nous resterons légers face au danger
Légers face au danger
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Nous resterons dressés face au danger
Dressés face au danger

Sous les bombes, dans le ciel qui rougeoie et rugit
Régresse l'ombre quand le glaive est battu par l'esprit
Sous les bombes, dans le ciel qui rougeoie et rugit
Nos chants illuminent la nuit

Soudain l'ombre qui nous drape dans ses sombres plis
Pleuvent les bombes dans ce ciel qui rougeoie et rugit

Sous les bombes, dans les rues, le carnage et les cris
L'armée des ombres, un éclair puis tout s'est obscurci

Toi et moi
Toi et moi
Nous resterons légers face au danger
Légers face au danger
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Nous resterons dressés face au danger
Dressés face au danger

Sous les bombes, dans le ciel qui rougeoie et rugit
Régresse l'ombre quand le glaive est battu par l'esprit
Sous les bombes, dans le ciel qui rougeoie et rugit
Nos chants illuminent la nuit

Nous danserons dessous les bombes
Derniers adieux à l'autre monde
Dans un ultime bras d'honneur
Sans les médailles et sans les fleurs
Nous chanterons les yeux rougis
Par la fumée et les débris
Dans nos uniformes noir et or
Sur le dancefloor

Nous danserons dessous les bombes
Derniers adieux à l'autre monde

Dans nos uniformes noir et or
Sur le dancefloor

Overall Meaning

The song "Après le blitz" by Étienne Daho is a poignant and evocative portrayal of life during wartime, specifically during the Blitz, which was a prolonged period of heavy bombing during World War II in London. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of chaos, destruction, and resilience in the face of danger.

The opening line "Nous danserons dessous les bombes" (We will dance beneath the bombs) immediately sets the tone for the song. It speaks to the idea that even in the midst of unimaginable destruction, life goes on, and people find ways to keep going. The song goes on to describe the devastation caused by the bombing, with "les rues, le carnage et les cris" (the streets, the carnage, and the screams) and "la fumée et les débris" (the smoke and debris) creating a harrowing image of the aftermath of an attack.

However, rather than despair or resignation, the song is filled with a sense of determination and defiance. The chorus repeats the line "Nous resterons légers/dressés face au danger" (We will remain light/standing in the face of danger), emphasizing the power of the human spirit to endure even the most difficult circumstances. The final verse even includes a vision of people dancing in their "uniformes noir et or" (black and gold uniforms) on the dancefloor, celebrating life and finding joy in the midst of chaos.

Overall, "Après le blitz" is a powerful and moving depiction of wartime life and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Nous danserons dessous les bombes
We will dance under the bombs

Derniers adieux à l'autre monde
Last goodbyes to the other world

Dans un ultime bras d'honneur
In a final act of honor

Sans les médailles et sans les fleurs
Without medals and without flowers

Les chanteurs ont les yeux rougis
The singers have red eyes

Par la fumée et les débris
From the smoke and debris

En l'espace d'un court instant
In the space of a short moment

Dans un fracas assourdissant
In a deafening crash

Cet éclair blanc
This white flash

Soudain l'ombre qui nous drape dans ses sombres plis
Suddenly the shadow that drapes us in its dark folds