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.
Nuits halloween
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loin des nuits d’Halloween
Des sourires dissimulés
Derrière le chef de file
Garde le bateau
J’rentre à pied
Destination virile
On finit par être jaloux
Réveillez-moi sur les filles qui plaisent
Filles qui plaisent
Dans la rosée
A toute heure j’écoute aux portugaises
Portugaises
Sous mon ciré
Attention travaux
Passage d’animaux
Nous soignons la clientèle
Rendez-vous à l’évidence
Loin des nuits d’Halloween
Dans le plus simple appareil
Même si la coupe est fine
Bouleversées toutes les merveilles
Du trèfle à l’orchidée
Il est dix-sept heures vingt cinq
C’est là qu’on applaudit
The lyrics of "Nuits Halloween" by Alain Bashung are open to interpretation, but they seem to convey a sense of longing for a different, more exciting and mysterious world than the one the singer currently inhabits. The song begins with the lines "Au départ touche touche nombril, Loin des nuits d'Halloween," which can be understood as the singer reminiscing about a time when they were closer to the adventurous and enigmatic spirit of Halloween. These lines also hint at a connection to childhood, where the "touching of belly buttons" could symbolize a certain innocence or naivety.
The next lines, "Des sourires dissimulés, Derrière le chef de file, Garde le bateau, J'rentre à pied, Destination virile," suggest a certain deception or hiddenness behind societal norms and expectations. The singer feels compelled to conform and follow the established order, but they long for something more authentic, represented by the phrase "Destination virile." This can be interpreted as a desire for a more adventurous and genuine experience of life.
The following lines introduce the theme of desire and attraction, with the lyrics "Réveillez-moi sur les filles qui plaisent, Filles qui plaisent, Dans la rosée, A toute heure j'écoute aux portugaises, Portugaises, Sous mon ciré." Here, the singer yearns for encounters with alluring women, describing them as "awakening in the dew" and listening to them secretly through the "Portuguese" doors (which may be metaphorical or literal). This suggests a craving for sensuality and mystery in relationships.
The final lines of the song, "Attention travaux, Passage d'animaux, Nous soignons la clientèle, Rendez-vous à l'évidence, Loin des nuits d'Halloween, Dans le plus simple appareil, Même si la coupe est fine, Bouleversées toutes les merveilles, Du trèfle à l'orchidée, Il est dix-sept heures vingt-cinq, C'est là qu'on applaudit," present a juxtaposition between mundane reality and the desire for something extraordinary. The references to construction work, animal crossings, and caring for clients highlight the singer's everyday routines and responsibilities. However, they long for a revelation or acknowledgment that will take them away from the normalcy, symbolized by the line "Loin des nuits d'Halloween" (Far from Halloween nights). The mention of "trèfle à l'orchidée" (clover to the orchid) and the applause at 17:25 signify the disruptive impact of extraordinary experiences and the desire for applause or recognition.
Line by Line Meaning
Au départ touche touche nombril
At the beginning, we were focused on ourselves and our own desires
Loin des nuits d’Halloween
Far away from the chaotic and unsettling nights of Halloween
Des sourires dissimulés
Hidden smiles, not showing our true emotions
Derrière le chef de file
Following someone, acting as a follower
Garde le bateau
Keep the situation steady and under control
J’rentre à pied
I go back home on foot
Destination virile
Heading towards a place that represents masculinity and strength
On finit par être jaloux
Eventually, we become envious of others
Des mat’lots andalous
Of the Andalusian sailors
Réveillez-moi sur les filles qui plaisent
Wake me up to the presence of attractive girls
Filles qui plaisent
Girls who are appealing and captivating
Dans la rosée
In the fresh and delicate morning dew
A toute heure j’écoute aux portugaises
At any time, I listen to the sweet whisperings
Portugaises
Whispers that originate from Portugal
Sous mon ciré
Underneath my raincoat
Attention travaux
Attention, there's work to be done
Passage d’animaux
Animals crossing
Nous soignons la clientèle
We take care of the customers
Rendez-vous à l’évidence
Let's face the truth
Loin des nuits d’Halloween
Away from the chaotic and unsettling nights of Halloween
Dans le plus simple appareil
In the most basic and natural state
Même si la coupe est fine
Even if the situation is delicate
Bouleversées toutes les merveilles
All the wonders have been disrupted
Du trèfle à l’orchidée
From something simple and ordinary to something extraordinary
Il est dix-sept heures vingt cinq
It is seventeen twenty-five
C’est là qu’on applaudit
That's when we applaud
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alain Baschung, Pascal Jacquemin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alain B.
on La fille de la maison des dunes
Elle verra la vie qu’il me faut
Dans du marc de thé chaud
Car elle sait tous les secrets du tarot
Je me noie dans ses cheveux noirs
(je) Suis enfin au pouvoir
Car elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
Elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
Je me vois comme un bout d’étoile
Dans sa boule de cristal
Et je ne vois pas bien ou est le mal
Où est le mal
D’accord elle est un peu sorcière
La fille aux mains de pierre
Mais elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
Elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
Plus je me la mets dans la tête
Plus j’deviens une sorte de mouette
Plus je vole dans son monde de flou
Plus je m’éloigne de vous
Je me brûle à son soleil noir
Terriens, bonsoir…
Oui elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
Elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
…