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.

Les mauvais choix
Étienne Daho Lyrics

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Tu t'endors dans la chambre à côté
Une fois la porte refermée
Le silence est assourdissant
Je l'aime à son corps défendant

Toutes les histoires d'amour se ressemblent
Mêmes profils étranges, seuls les visages changent
Ton rejet a l'impact d'une balle

Appuie là où ca fait le plus mal
L'expérience ne me sert à rien
J'ai failli perdre mon âme dans tes mains

Toutes les histoires d'amour se ressemblent
Mêmes scenarii étranges, seuls les visages changent

Quand on veut offrir ce que l'on a pas
À quelqu'un qui n'en veut vraiment pas
Inconsciemment reproduire chaque fois
La toute première fois
Le premier mauvais choix

Toutes les histoires d'amour sont les memes
Toujours les mêmes problèmes
Toujours les mêmes dilemmes

Quand on veut offrir ce que l'on a pas
À quelqu'un qui n'en veut vraiment pas
Inconsciemment reproduire chaque fois
La toute première fois
Le tout premier mauvais choix

Inconsciemment reproduire chaque fois

La toute première fois
Le tout premier mauvais choix

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Étienne Daho's song "Les mauvais choix" talk about the patterns and struggles that come with love and relationships. The song portrays a situation where the singer is in a relationship with someone who doesn't reciprocate their feelings. The first verse describes the silence that fills the room after the person falls asleep, highlighting the emotional distance between them. Despite this, the singer still loves the person, even if it's against their will or without their full participation.

The chorus emphasizes that all love stories are similar, with strange profiles but different faces. The rejection experienced by the singer feels like a powerful impact, as though it were a gunshot. It hits them where it hurts the most, causing emotional pain. The singer reflects on their past experiences, realizing that they almost lost their soul in the hands of this person. Despite this, they seem to be caught in a repetitive cycle, making the same mistakes and following the same scenarios in love, but with different people.

The second verse further explores the theme of repeating patterns. It suggests that when someone has a desire to offer something they don't have to someone who doesn't truly want it, they unconsciously recreate the first time they made the same mistake. This repetition of choosing the wrong partners becomes a recurring pattern in the singer's love life. The lyrics conclude by acknowledging that all love stories are the same, with the same problems and dilemmas.

Overall, "Les mauvais choix" reflects on the struggles and repetitive patterns in love, showing how people often find themselves making the same mistakes and facing the same challenges in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Tu t'endors dans la chambre à côté
You fall asleep in the next room

Une fois la porte refermée
Once the door is closed

Le silence est assourdissant
The silence is deafening

Je l'aime à son corps défendant
I love him against his will

Toutes les histoires d'amour se ressemblent
All love stories are alike

Mêmes profils étranges, seuls les visages changent
Same strange profiles, only the faces change

Ton rejet a l'impact d'une balle
Your rejection has the impact of a bullet

Appuie là où ca fait le plus mal
Press where it hurts the most

L'expérience ne me sert à rien
Experience is useless to me

J'ai failli perdre mon âme dans tes mains
I almost lost my soul in your hands

Quand on veut offrir ce que l'on a pas
When you want to offer what you don't have