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.
La Berlue
Étienne Daho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ses eaux plates, ses tempêtes
Et ses idées reçues
Pour voir l'intérieur de mon coeur
Ses films et ses erreurs
Et son peu d'étendue
Ses minuscules drames
Ses états mal vécus
Pour voir l'intérieur de ma tête
Il te faut des lunettes
Car tu as la berlue
Pour voir l'intérieur de ta tête
Les dangers qui m'y guettent
Et nos malentendus
Pour voir l'intérieur de ton coeur
Ses blocages et ses peurs
Ses battements ambigus
Pour voir l'intérieur de ton âme
Et rompre enfin le charme
Tous mystères confondus
Pour voir l'intérieur de ta tête
Il te faut des lunettes
Tu me donnes la berlue.
In these lyrics, Étienne Daho expresses a desire for someone to see and understand the inner workings of his mind, heart, and soul. He metaphorically refers to these internal realms as "l'intérieur de ma tête" (the inside of my head), "l'intérieur de mon cœur" (the inside of my heart), and "l'intérieur de mon âme" (the inside of my soul).
He first mentions his head, describing it as having "eaux plates, ses tempêtes" (calm waters, storms) and "idées reçues" (preconceived notions). This suggests that his mind is a complex place with both serene moments and turbulent thoughts, as well as a tendency to hold onto preconceived ideas.
Moving on to his heart, Daho speaks of its "films et ses erreurs" (films and mistakes) and "son peu d'étendue" (its limited scope). This reflects a sense of introspection, acknowledging the mistakes and shortcomings that exist within his emotional landscape, perhaps hinting at past relationships or personal struggles.
In discussing his soul, Daho highlights its "minuscules drames" (tiny dramas) and "états mal vécus" (poorly experienced states). These references convey a sense of inner turmoil, suggesting that his soul experiences inner conflicts and struggles that may go unnoticed or unacknowledged by others.
The chorus reinforces the idea of wanting someone else to see into the depths of his mind, stating that "Il te faut des lunettes" (You need glasses) to perceive this internal world. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the person he desires to understand him is suffering from "la berlue" (a form of visual distortion or hallucination), implying that they struggle to grasp the true nature of his thoughts and emotions.
In the latter half of the song, Daho shifts the focus to the other person, suggesting that he also wants to see into their mind, heart, and soul. He highlights the dangers, misunderstandings, and fears that exist within their internal world. By stating that "Il te faut des lunettes" (You need glasses) to see inside their head, he implies that understanding someone else's thoughts and emotions requires effort and a different perspective.
Ultimately, the lyrics convey a longing for mutual understanding and a desire to break the spell of mystery and misunderstanding that often surround human experiences. Daho suggests that true understanding of others can be elusive, but it is an essential aspect of genuine connection and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour voir l'intérieur de ma tête
In order to see the inside of my head
Ses eaux plates, ses tempêtes
Its calm waters, its storms
Et ses idées reçues
And its received ideas
Pour voir l'intérieur de mon coeur
To see the inside of my heart
Ses films et ses erreurs
Its movies and its mistakes
Et son peu d'étendue
And its limited scope
Pour voir l'intérieur de mon âme
To see the inside of my soul
Ses minuscules drames
Its tiny dramas
Ses états mal vécus
Its badly lived states
Pour voir l'intérieur de ma tête
To see the inside of my head
Il te faut des lunettes
You need glasses
Car tu as la berlue
Because you have double vision
Pour voir l'intérieur de ta tête
To see the inside of your head
Les dangers qui m'y guettent
The dangers that await me there
Et nos malentendus
And our misunderstandings
Pour voir l'intérieur de ton coeur
To see the inside of your heart
Ses blocages et ses peurs
Its blockages and its fears
Ses battements ambigus
Its ambiguous beats
Pour voir l'intérieur de ton âme
To see the inside of your soul
Et rompre enfin le charme
And finally break the spell
Tous mystères confondus
All mysteries confused
Pour voir l'intérieur de ta tête
To see the inside of your head
Il te faut des lunettes
You need glasses
Tu me donnes la berlue
You give me double vision
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Francoise Hardy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind