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.
Un Merveilleux Été
Étienne Daho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ce merveilleux été
La maison est grande ouverte et aérée
J'ai réparé
La toiture et repeint les murs
J'ai pansé mes blessures
Et refait ma vie
Ici
De fleurs éclatées
Comme un je-ne-sais-quoi de sacré
Dans le ciel d'été
L'azur est aveuglant et pur
Comme une éclaboussure
Dans ce cadre idéal
Et toi, toi
Tu veux savoir pourquoi aujourd'hui je ne t'aime plus
Pourquoi depuis un moment, on ne se capte plus
Et tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
Comme si j'étais mort
Il règne une si oppressante chaleur
Comme une torpeur
Alors que monte très haut le mercure
Tu rases les mures
L'odeur de soufre de ton cœur noir
Envahit le soir
D'une sexuelle tension
Les effluves lourdes de la glycine
Près de la piscine
Enivrent mes sens comme la fêlure
Qui te défigure
À pleine bouche, je lèche tes larmes et le sang, qui perle lentement
De tes poignets blancs
Et toi, oui toi
Tu veux savoir pourquoi aujourd'hui je ne t'aime plus
Pourquoi depuis un moment
Je ne te désire plus
Et tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
Comme si j'étais mort
Piètres mensonges, fuites, sentiments confus
Comment as-tu-pu?
Quelle désespérance
Que sont devenues ta droiture et ton innocence?
Désormais, en toi, désolé, mais j'ai perdu confiance
Tu veux savoir pourquoi aujourd'hui je ne t'aime plus
Pourquoi depuis un moment, on ne se comprend plus
Et tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
Comme si j'étais mort
Tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
Fais comme si j'étais mort
The lyrics to Étienne Daho's song "Un merveilleux été" depict a summer filled with tranquility and renewal. The singer reflects on the blissful atmosphere of the season, noting that nothing seems to be able to disturb the peacefulness. The house is open and airy, symbolizing a fresh start. The singer has repaired the roof and repainted the walls, which can be seen as metaphorical acts of healing and rebuilding. They have tended to their wounds and started their life anew in this idyllic setting.
The song describes the enchanting scent of blooming flowers, creating an atmosphere that is both heavenly and sacred. The summer sky is described as dazzling and pure. However, amidst this beauty, there is a sense of sadness and distance in the relationship between the singer and the recipient of the song's words. The recipient wants to understand why the singer no longer loves them and why they have grown apart. They cry in secret, as if mourning the loss of love, creating an air of melancholy.
As the song progresses, the lyrics describe an oppressive heat, likened to a torpor. The words suggest that the recipient of the song's words exudes a sulfuric odor, symbolizing a dark and troubled heart. The heavy scent of the blooming wisteria near the pool intoxicates the senses, much like the emotional turmoil that disfigures the recipient. The imagery becomes more intense and provocative as it describes the singer licking the recipient's tears and blood that slowly trickle from their pale wrists. It signifies an intense and perhaps destructive form of connection between them.
The final verse reveals the singer's disillusionment and loss of trust in the recipient. There is a sense of betrayal and confusion, as the recipient's honesty and innocence have seemingly vanished. The singer expresses their lack of faith in the recipient and questions how they could have resorted to lies and confusion. The song concludes with the recipient crying all the tears of their body, as if mourning the death of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Rien ne semble pouvoir venir troubler
Nothing seems to be able to disturb
Ce merveilleux été
This marvelous summer
La maison est grande ouverte et aérée
The house is wide open and airy
J'ai réparé
I have repaired
La toiture et repeint les murs
The roof and repainted the walls
J'ai pansé mes blessures
I have healed my wounds
Et refait ma vie
And rebuilt my life
Ici
Here
Il flotte un si merveilleux parfum sucré
There is such a wonderful sweet fragrance
De fleurs éclatées
Of blossoming flowers
Comme un je-ne-sais-quoi de sacré
Like a certain sacredness
Dans le ciel d'été
In the summer sky
L'azur est aveuglant et pur
The azure is dazzling and pure
Comme une éclaboussure
Like a splash
Dans ce cadre idéal
In this ideal setting
Et toi, toi
And you, you
Tu veux savoir pourquoi aujourd'hui je ne t'aime plus
You want to know why I don't love you anymore today
Pourquoi depuis un moment, on ne se capte plus
Why for a while, we no longer connect
Et tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
And you cry secretly all the tears of your body
Comme si j'étais mort
As if I were dead
Il règne une si oppressante chaleur
There is such an oppressive heat
Comme une torpeur
Like a stupor
Alors que monte très haut le mercure
While the mercury rises very high
Tu rases les mures
You scrape the walls
L'odeur de soufre de ton cœur noir
The smell of sulfur from your black heart
Envahit le soir
Invades the evening
D'une sexuelle tension
With a sexual tension
Les effluves lourdes de la glycine
The heavy fragrances of the wisteria
Près de la piscine
Near the pool
Enivrent mes sens comme la fêlure
Intoxicate my senses like the fissure
Qui te défigure
That disfigures you
À pleine bouche, je lèche tes larmes et le sang, qui perle lentement
With full mouth, I lick your tears and the blood, which slowly pearls
De tes poignets blancs
From your white wrists
Et toi, oui toi
And you, yes you
Tu veux savoir pourquoi aujourd'hui je ne t'aime plus
You want to know why I don't love you anymore today
Pourquoi depuis un moment
Why for a while
Je ne te désire plus
I no longer desire you
Et tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
And you cry secretly all the tears of your body
Comme si j'étais mort
As if I were dead
Piètres mensonges, fuites, sentiments confus
Poor lies, escapes, confused feelings
Comment as-tu-pu?
How could you?
Quelle désespérance
What despair
Que sont devenues ta droiture et ton innocence?
What has become of your righteousness and innocence?
Désormais, en toi, désolé, mais j'ai perdu confiance
Now, within you, sorry, but I have lost trust
Tu veux savoir pourquoi aujourd'hui je ne t'aime plus
You want to know why I don't love you anymore today
Pourquoi depuis un moment, on ne se comprend plus
Why for a while, we no longer understand each other
Et tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
And you cry secretly all the tears of your body
Comme si j'étais mort
As if I were dead
Tu pleures en secret toutes les larmes de ton corps
You cry secretly all the tears of your body
Fais comme si j'étais mort
Act as if I were dead
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Etienne Daho, Nicolas Dubosc
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind