His music being so eclectic, it is hard to label him. However, the influence of Serge Gainsbourg can be traced in the way he uses the structures of Anglo-Saxon pop and funk, but blends them with the French tradition of complex lyrical wordplay and an emphasis on storytelling.
He his known for his unique hairstyle in the shape of an M, and praised for his amazing guitar playing abilities , and his grandiose live performances à la David Bowie (documented in the live album Le Tour de -M-).
He is Louis Chédid's son. Some of his texts (among which Bonobo) have been written by the writer Andrée Chédid, who happens to be his grandmother.
Le Complexe Du Corn Flakes
-M- Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dès le matin ça me vexe
J'ai le complexe du Pop-Corn
Basie et Chicago Horn
J'ai le complexe du Corn Flakes
Dès le matin ça me vexe
J'ai le complexe du Pop-Corn
Basie et Chicago Horn
J'ai le complexe
Corn Flakes
J'ai le complexe
J'ai le complexe
Corn Flakes
J'ai le complexe
Ça sera toujours moins bien
Toujours moins bien qu'les ricains
Ça sera toujours moins bien
Toujours moins bien qu'les ricains
J'ai le complexe
Corn Flakes
J'ai le complexe
J'ai le complexe
Corn Flakes
J'ai le complexe
Sans se défaire
D'cette affaire
Ça m'affaire
On s'en fout de tout
Mais j'ai le complexe
J'ai le complexe
Tout dépend du contexte
Si tu veux je te teste
Tout dépend du contexte
Si tu veux je te teste
Toujours moins bien qu'les ricains
Toujours moins bien qu'un ricain
Toujours moins bien qu'un ricain
Toujours moins bien qu'un ricain
Tout dépend du... conteste!
J'ai le complexe
Corn Flakes
Tout dépend du... conteste!
J'ai le complexe
Corn Flakes
J'ai le complexe
Corn Flakes
J'ai le complexe (Corn Flakes)
J'ai pas d'complexe (Corn Flakes)
The lyrics of -M-'s song "Le Complexe Du Corn Flakes" are about the feeling of inferiority and self-doubt that comes from not being as good as the Americans. The singer confesses that he has a complex and feels vexed from the very morning, comparing himself to the American breakfast cereal Corn Flakes and to other American cultural products such as Pop-Corn, Basie and Chicago Horn. He repeats the phrase "J'ai le complexe" (I have the complex) several times as if to emphasize the depth of his insecurity. He acknowledges that this inferiority complex is irrational and that it does not make sense to compare everything to what is going on in the United States. Still, he feels trapped in this thought pattern and cannot help but feel like he is always coming up short.
The lyrics of "Le Complexe Du Corn Flakes" reflect a common theme in contemporary French culture; the influence of Americanization on French identity. France has experienced a process of globalization and cultural exchange, and as a result, feelings of cultural loss, and anxiety have emerged. The song speaks to these feelings and captures the mood of many French people who feel the danger of losing their cultural identity to globalization.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai le complexe du Corn Flakes
I feel inferiority due to my lack of American culture and success
Dès le matin ça me vexe
Even in the morning, it bothers me
J'ai le complexe du Pop-Corn
I feel inferiority due to my lack of entertainment and pop culture knowledge
Basie et Chicago Horn
Referencing two well-known American musicians
Ça sera toujours moins bien
It will always be less good
Toujours moins bien qu'les ricains
Always less good than the Americans
Sans se défaire
Without getting rid of it
D'cette affaire
Of this problem
Ça m'affaire
It concerns me
On s'en fout de tout
We don't care about anything
Mais j'ai le complexe
But I still have this inferiority complex
Tout dépend du contexte
It all depends on the situation
Si tu veux je te teste
If you want, I can test you
Toujours moins bien qu'un ricain
Always less good than an American
Tout dépend du... conteste!
It all depends on the... context!
J'ai pas d'complexe (Corn Flakes)
I don't have an inferiority complex (Corn Flakes)
Contributed by Anthony L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.