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.
Soudain
Étienne Daho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
de l'autre côté de ma vie, le paradis acquis
c'était un grand jeudi
tous les jours paradis
de l'autre côté de la rue, mon paradis perdu
soudain quel est ce rayon éblouissant
élu parmi ces milliers d'passants sans reves
qui ne savent pas etre heureux
comme si j'étais assis, là haut au paradis
de l'autre côté de ma rue, mon paradis perdu
soudain, je me sens le cœoeur léger léger
presque trop heureux à en crever,
c'est bete, c'est un sentiment merveilleux
comme si j'avais acquis un p'tit bout d'paradis
tous les espoirs me sont permis puisque je suis en vie
tous les espoirs me sont permis
au paradis.
The lyrics of Etienne Daho's song "Soudain" express a yearning for a lost happiness, a paradise that has been left behind. The singer imagines themselves sitting high up in the sky, looking down on the world they used to know. This is a paradise that has been acquired, but it is not the same as the paradise they have lost on the other side of the street. The singer is filled with a sense of longing when they realize that the people they see on the street are all without hope, without dreams, and without any sense of true happiness.
The second verse of the song has a different tone, as the singer suddenly feels a lightness in their heart, almost too happy to contain themselves. This is juxtaposed with the "betrayal" of their dreams, as everything they had hoped for has been lost. However, the singer finds solace in the fact that they are still alive, and all of their hopes are still possible. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer realizing that all of their hopes are still alive, and that they can still find their way to the paradise they once knew.
Overall, "Soudain" is a song that explores the themes of loss, longing, and hope. Its lyrics are filled with rich imagery and poetic language that touches on the human experience, and that is why this song has become such a beloved favorite among fans of French pop music.
Line by Line Meaning
Comme si j'étais assis, là haut au paradis
As if I were sitting up there in paradise
de l'autre côté de ma vie, le paradis acquis
on the other side of my life, paradise acquired
c'était un grand jeudi
it was a great Thursday
tous les jours paradis
every day is paradise
de l'autre côté de la rue, mon paradis perdu
on the other side of the street, my lost paradise
soudain quel est ce rayon éblouissant
suddenly, what is this dazzling ray?
élu parmi ces milliers d'passants sans reves
chosen among those thousands of dreamless passersby
qui ne savent pas etre heureux
who don't know how to be happy
comme si j'étais assis, là haut au paradis
As if I were sitting up there in paradise
de l'autre côté de ma rue, mon paradis perdu
on the other side of my street, my lost paradise
soudain, je me sens le cœoeur léger léger
suddenly, I feel my heart light, light
presque trop heureux à en crever,
almost too happy to die
c'est bete, c'est un sentiment merveilleux
it's silly, it's a wonderful feeling
comme si j'avais acquis un p'tit bout d'paradis
as if I had acquired a little piece of paradise
tous les espoirs me sont permis puisque je suis en vie
all hopes are allowed to me since I am alive
tous les espoirs me sont permis
all hopes are allowed to me
au paradis.
in paradise.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Daho Etienne, Dembling Nicholas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jujube 81
Sublime et d'une grande élégance. Merci M.Daho !👏👏🤓🤓
Ooonerixxx
Merci mr Daho pour cette chanson que je prends plaisir à jouer chaque jour sur mon piano,ça me détends beaucoup
sonia pirard
J'adore son style, son univers, sa sensibilité. Et Soudain, fait partie de mes préférée. I love Mister Daho ♥
Kashaya G.
J'adore Daho et cette chanson représente tellement ce que je vis depuis un Jeudi ❤️ Tous les espoirs vous sont permis puisque vous êtes en vie... Ceux qui me liront. 😉✨
Olive Nys
Une Merveille !!!!! Un bijoux donc un DIAMANT !!! Une des meilleures chanson de Daho !!
Azadorlade
Pour moi, c'est la "masterpiece" d'Etienne Daho. Avec La Baie, deux bijoux dont je ne me lasse pas. Je me souviens avoir entendu Françoise Hardy dire qu'elle avait copié cette chanson 5 fois de suite sur une K7 audio qu'elle se passait dans sa twingo ^^
srkaddict
Une petite merveille! Comme je l'espérais de ce nouvel album pour lequel je compte les jours! Merci :-))))
𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐓 🪬 𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐀 Profetisa
ton meilleur clip, ta meilleure chanson, ton meilleur album, mes meilleurs souvenirs...
Zoé35 zoé35
Magnifique chanson et très belle vidéo
Greg Fourquet
L'une des plus belles chansons que j'ai jamais entendue...