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.
Mes copains
Étienne Daho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les années passent, je trépasse
C'est pas vrai, je rêve, l'enfance s'achève
L'adolescence, l'insouciance
Faut que je m'cadenasse mais je ne tiens pas en place
Faut que j'me range mais ça me démange
J'aimerais tant retenir le temps
J'aimerais savoir s'il y a un plan
Faut-il dans la vie être un père, un mari
Se séparer de ses amis
S'enliser dans la nuit et vivre à demi
De morale, de confort, d'ennui
Etre un beauf débile, un paumé servile
Et puis un sinistre imbécile
Oh ! vous mes copains vous ma bande
Restez-là, je vous le demande
Le temps passe et je ne vous retiens pas.
In "Mes copains," Etienne Daho reflects on the passing of time and the inevitable transitions that come with growing up. Every year, he struggles with his own birthday, realizing how time is slipping away from him. He laments that childhood is ending and adolescence with its carefree days are gone. He knows that he needs to settle down, but he is restless and cannot stay in one place. He wants to hold onto the past but realizes that he cannot stop time from moving forward. He wonders if there is a master plan and if he is supposed to become a husband, a father, and leave behind his carefree life and his friends. He questions whether he should succumb to conformity, morality, comfort, and boredom or become a foolish buffoon.
Daho pleads with his friends, his "copains," to stay with him even though as time passes, he cannot hold onto them. The lyrics speak to the struggle of growing up - how we mature, evolve, and transform - and how these changes affect our relationships with friends and ourselves. We long for the past, but as we move forward, we have to decide who we want to be and what kind of life we will lead.
Line by Line Meaning
Chaque année, galère, un anniversaire
Every year, dreaded, a birthday
Les années passent, je trépasse
Years go by, I fade away
C'est pas vrai, je rêve, l'enfance s'achève
It's not true, I'm dreaming, childhood is ending
L'adolescence, l'insouciance
Adolescence, carefree days
Faut que je m'cadenasse mais je ne tiens pas en place
I need to restrain myself, but I can't sit still
Faut que j'me range mais ça me démange
I should settle down, but it makes me itch
J'aimerais tant retenir le temps
I wish I could hold onto time
J'aimerais savoir s'il y a un plan
I wish I knew if there's a plan
Le temps passe et je ne le retiens pas
Time flies by and I can't hold onto it
Faut-il dans la vie être un père, un mari
Do we have to be a father, a husband in life
Se séparer de ses amis
To part from our friends
S'enliser dans la nuit et vivre à demi
To get stuck in the night and live half-heartedly
De morale, de confort, d'ennui
With morals, comfort, and boredom
Etre un beauf débile, un paumé servile
To be a stupid jerk or a lost follower
Et puis un sinistre imbécile
And then a dreadful idiot
Oh ! vous mes copains vous ma bande
Oh! You my friends, my gang
Restez-là, je vous le demande
Stay there, I beg of you
Le temps passe et je ne vous retiens pas.
Time flies by and I can't hold onto you.
Contributed by Elliot H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.