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.
Poppy Gene Tierney
Étienne Daho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for your ship, swimming
Ellen, Laura, Poppy
Laura, Poppy Gene TIERNEY
Other side of the word
Walking, walking, walking
Looking for your smile, walking
Ellen, Laura, Poppy
And the screen filled with cold blue eyes
Where you take everything that's yours
From icy deserts to frozen palaces
From toxic loves in the Shanghaï hell
Never do I tire of your travel
And then you close your lovely blue eyes
I think of other places and skies
And then you close your lovely blue eyes
And your cold blue eyes
On the screen, there're your cold blue eyes, cold blue eyes
Ellen, Laura, Poppy, Laura Poppy Gene TIERNEY
And the screen filled with cold blue eyes
And the screen with cold red lips
From icy deserts to frozen palaces
From toxic loves in the Shanghaï hell
Never do I tire of your travel
And then you close your lovely blue eyes
I'm in love, I'm in love with Gene TIERNEY's eye.
The lyrics of Étienne Daho's song "Poppy Gene Tierney" convey a sense of longing and admiration towards the American actress Gene Tierney. The first verse describes the singer's search for something or someone, perhaps a metaphor for searching for a connection with Tierney herself. The repetition of "swimming, swimming, swimming" and "walking, walking, walking" creates a sense of restlessness and persistence in the quest for Tierney.
The second verse reflects upon Tierney's screen presence, particularly her striking blue eyes. The singer mentions various settings and plotlines from Tierney's filmography, such as "icy deserts" and "toxic loves in the Shanghai hell," suggesting that Tierney's characters had a sense of danger and allure that captivated audiences. Despite the ups and downs of these stories, the singer professes a continued fascination with Tierney's travels.
The final lines of the song reveal the depth of the singer's affection, declaring a love for Tierney's eyes in particular. Overall, the song is a tribute to Gene Tierney's enduring legacy as a Hollywood icon and the enchanting qualities she possessed on-screen.
Line by Line Meaning
Swimming, swimming, swimming
Repetitive action of swimming signifies searching for something desperately
Looking for your ship, swimming
Searching for a person or a thing like a lost ship while swimming
Ellen, Laura, Poppy
Referring to people associated with Poppy Gene Tierney
Laura, Poppy Gene TIERNEY
Mentioning the name of the person who the singer is fascinated with
Other side of the word
Referring to a distant place where Poppy Gene Tierney might be found
Walking, walking, walking
Repetitive action of walking signifies searching for something intensely
Looking for your smile, walking
Searching for the reason behind the person's smile while walking
And the screen filled with cold blue eyes
Describing the close-up shot of the actress's blue eyes on the screen
Where you take everything that's yours
Describing Poppy Gene Tierney's approach to life as she owns everything she wants
From icy deserts to frozen palaces
Referring to the different places and experiences in Poppy Gene Tierney's life
From toxic loves in the Shanghaï hell
Describing the actress's love life using a metaphorical reference to a place (Shanghai) with a bad reputation
Never do I tire of your travel
Expressing the singer's fascination and admiration for Poppy Gene Tierney's life journey
And then you close your lovely blue eyes
Referring to the actress's stunning blue eyes when she closes them
I think of other places and skies
Mentioning the feeling of wonder inspired by Poppy Gene Tierney's stories and experiences
And your cold blue eyes
Describing the actress's blue eyes using an adjective that adds to their mesmerizing effect
On the screen, there're your cold blue eyes, cold blue eyes
Repeating the reference to the actress's blue eyes on the screen
And the screen filled with cold blue eyes
Repeating the earlier reference to the close-up shot of the actress's blue eyes on the screen
And the screen with cold red lips
Describing the actress's red lips using an adjective that adds to their stunning effect when seen on the screen
I'm in love, I'm in love with Gene TIERNEY's eye.
Expressing the singer's deep fascination and admiration for Poppy Gene Tierney's eyes specifically, as a symbol of the actress's overall stunning persona
Writer(s): Etienne Daho Copyright: Satori Songs
Contributed by Jasmine M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.