When Alain Bashung was one year old he was sent to the Strasbourg area, in Wingersheim, to stay with his grandparents. He spent his childhood in the country in a conservative environment. When he was five years old he discovered Music most notably Kurt Weill, as he played harmonica. He was also a Choirboy in the church at Wingersheim and played basket-ball. At School he was regarded serious child.
He returned to Paris in 1959, where he discovered the great names of Chanson Française, the radio, American Rock with Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Whilst studying to become an accountant, he started a short lived Band with friends “les Dunces” whose style swong between Folk and Rockabilly. He quickly dropped his studies.
Bashung started a band with musicians met in Royan, a new band playing in Restaurants, Hotels and most of all the American bases. his career started with some difficulties with the release of his first single at 19 years of age “Pourquoi rêvez-vous des États-Unis ?” in 1966. He released a dozen singles, one using the pseudonym David Bergen, and two others. In 1971/1972 under the pseudonym "Hendrick Darmen" compositor and singer of the band “Monkey Bizness”. He wrote a number of songs for stars of the time like Noël Deschamps, but doesn't appear to have reached success.
In 1973, he played Robespierre in the Musical “La Révolution française” written by Claude-Michel Schönberg. He met Dick Rivers the singer of Les Chats Sauvages, for whom he composed and produced music.
He met musician Andy Scott and the songwriter Boris Bergman, and in 1977 wrote his first innovative LP “Romans photos”, though it was a Commercial failure in the context of Punk storming music.
In 1979, he released “Roulette russe”, a very dark and more Rock orientated album.
He confirmed his talent with critical acclaim and public success in 1981, with the rock influenced album “pizza”, mainly with one single from the album “Gaby, oh Gaby” that finally got Bashung success in the charts in 1981 followed by the single “Vertige de l'amour”, and started touring the bigger venues Notably “l'Olympia” in Paris.
In 1982, Bashung collaborated with Serge Gainsbourg on the complex album “Play blessures”, that did not achieve commercial success.
In 1983, he confused his fan base with an album deviating from the previous rock style, “Figure imposée”. In 1985, he came back with a number of titles written for “SOS Racisme” (anti-racism organisation).
In 1986, he released “Passé le Rio Grande”, which won him a “Victoire de la Musique”. Two singles achieved some success over the airwaves: “Malédiction” and “L'arrivée du tour”. However the album itself did not sell much.
In 1992, he started a long partnership with writer Jean Fauque, for “Osez Joséphine”, an album which also contains some cover of classic Rock such as “Night in White Satin”. His fan base grew and the album sold 350 000 copies. In 1994, he followed up with “Chatterton,” collaborating with Sonny Landreth, Ally McErlaine, Link Wray, Marc Ribot and Stéphane Belmondo. The key single extracted from this album is “Ma petite entreprise.” He started a two-year tour that results in the 1995 live album, “Confessions publiques.”
After recording a duet with Brigitte Fontaine "City" for her album "Les Palaces", Bashung returned to the musical world following a stint acting and in 1998 with “Fantaisie militaire”. While making this album in collaboration with Rodolphe Burger, Les Valentins and Jean-Marc Lederman. He will receive three Victoires de la Musique for the Album in 1999.
In 2002, he released the “L'imprudence” album to further critical acclaim. During the same year, he recorded with his wife, actress and comedian Chloé Mons “le Cantique des cantiques”. They created this title for their wedding in 2001, on a music written by Rodolphe Burger and on the basis a a new translation of the “Cantique des cantiques” from the Bible by the Author Olivier Cadiot.
In 2004, he released live double album “La tournée des grands espaces."
In 2005, for the twentieth Victoires de la Musique, he received an award for the best album of the last 20 years for “Fantaisie militaire.”
In the beginning of 2007, he participates in the tour “Les Aventuriers d'un autre Monde” with Jean-Louis Aubert (Téléphone), Cali, Daniel Darc, Richard Kolinka (Téléphone) and Raphaeël.
In March 2009, he recieved three Victoires de la Musique for his last album "Bleu Pétrol".
He passed away on March 14th, 2009 of complications of metastatic lung cancer.
Lou ravi
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sur mon cerveau lent
Quelle faute de goût
Pardonnez-moi ma distraction
Il faisait chaud j’ai joui pas vous
J’garde le sac à mon copain
Il en revient pas
Non il revient pas
Désirez-vous prendre quelque chose
Oui alors juste un doigt merci
Décidément votre femme est de plus en plus ravissante
Vous avez vraiment une veine de …
Babe babe
Suite à notre conversation
C’est vrai qu’j’titube
De tube en tube
D’un naturel optimiste
Je n’sous estime pas vos turpitudes
Quoiqu’en période de canicule
Ça prévient pas ma tôle ondule
Oui ma tôle ondule
A-t-on laissé un message pour moi
A-t-on laissé un message pour moi
A-t-on laissé un message pour moi
Babe babe ça te dit
Tu me veux babe lou ravi
Babe babe lou ravi
Petit flirt dans funiculaire
Incandescent m’emporte au ciel
Avec vous on ne s’ennuie pas
C’est pour le plaisir qu’on coule une bielle
J’ai pour tous les mécanos
Une reconnaissance éternelle
Tell’ment éternelle
Désirez-vous prendre quelque chose
Oui alors juste un doigt merci
Il fait plutôt fluide ce soir c’est c’la oui
Babe ça te dit
Tu me veux babe
Babe babe lou ravi
Babe lou ravi
The lyrics of Alain Bashung's "Lou ravi" seem to consist of scattered thoughts and random conversations, perhaps reflecting the singer's state of mind. The opening lines suggest that the singer's brain is feeling overwhelmed or bombarded by "meteorites", leading to a sluggishness or "lent" feeling. The next line mentions a "faute de goût" or a lapse in judgment, followed by an apology for the singer's "distraction". The tone seems apologetic and disjointed, as if the singer is trying to piece together their thoughts.
The conversation continues with the singer asking if their companion would like something to drink, to which they respond, "just a finger, thanks." The next line seems to comment on the companion's wife, complimenting her beauty and jokingly remarking on the singer's luck. The repetition of "babe babe" turns into a flirtatious tone with the singer asking if their companion wants them, with "Lou ravi" possibly being a nickname or term of endearment.
The last stanza shifts to a more surreal or whimsical tone, with the singer describing a ride on a funicular and feeling like they are being carried to the sky. The mechanical or automotive metaphor continues with the mention of "coule une bielle" or "throwing a rod", which can refer to a defect in an engine. The gratitude towards mechanics suggests a respect for those who can fix these issues. The conversation returns to the offer of a drink, noting that it is "rather fluid" tonight.
Overall, the lyrics to "Lou ravi" seem to explore a stream of consciousness style of lyricism, with fragmented thoughts and nonsensical phrases creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The singer portrays a mix of apology, flirtation, and gratitude towards their companion, possibly reflecting a romantic or intimate connection between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Des météorites s’acharnent
Unexpected and troubling thoughts plague my mind
Sur mon cerveau lent
On my slow and sluggish brain
Quelle faute de goût
What a tasteless mistake
Pardonnez-moi ma distraction
Forgive me for being absent-minded
Il faisait chaud j’ai joui pas vous
It was hot and I enjoyed it, didn't you?
J’garde le sac à mon copain
I'm holding onto my friend's bag
Il en revient pas
He can't believe it
Désirez-vous prendre quelque chose
Would you like something to drink?
Oui alors juste un doigt merci
Yes, just a little bit, thank you
Décidément votre femme est de plus en plus ravissante
Your wife is becoming more and more beautiful
Vous avez vraiment une veine de …
You really have a streak of luck...
Babe babe
Baby, baby
Suite à notre conversation
Following our conversation
C’est vrai qu’j’titube
It's true that I stutter
De tube en tube
From one drink to another
D’un naturel optimiste
By nature, an optimist
Je n’sous estime pas vos turpitudes
I don't underestimate your faults
Quoiqu’en période de canicule
Even during a heatwave
Ça prévient pas ma tôle ondule
That doesn't prevent my car from shaking
Oui ma tôle ondule
Yes, my car shakes
A-t-on laissé un message pour moi
Did someone leave a message for me?
Babe babe ça te dit
Baby, baby, do you want it?
Tu me veux babe lou ravi
Do you want me, lou ravi, baby?
Petit flirt dans funiculaire
A little flirt in the funicular
Incandescent m’emporte au ciel
Passion carries me away
Avec vous on ne s’ennuie pas
With you, I'm never bored
C’est pour le plaisir qu’on coule une bielle
We're breaking down for pleasure
J’ai pour tous les mécanos
I have eternal gratitude for all mechanics
Une reconnaissance éternelle
An eternal acknowledgement
Tell’ment éternelle
So eternal
Il fait plutôt fluide ce soir c’est c’la oui
It's rather smooth tonight, that's for sure
Babe ça te dit
Baby, do you want it?
Tu me veux babe
Do you want me, baby?
Babe babe lou ravi
Baby, baby, lou ravi
Babe lou ravi
Baby, lou ravi
Lyrics © SM PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: Alain BASHUNG, Pascal JACQUEMIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cloudsagain1
Figure imposée, un album oublié, mais tant pis pour eux ! Avec les titres les plus profonds, les plus barrés, les plus drôles, les plus BEAUX.
charles pennequin
oui un album d'avant-garde rock
Meunier frederic
pour moi c est le meilleur album de Bashung
charles pennequin
Oui, c'est vrai, et très sous-estimé. Lui-même Bashung l'a refait en changeant Chaque nuit bébé, (je préfère la première version) en mettant les versions 45t de What's in a bird & Élégance et en virant deux morceaux dont celui-ci, Lou Ravi, qui est un vrai poème-conversation rock, style Apollinaire foutraque!
artheno
Merci !
Dalido Cédric
il reviens pas!.....ça plane!