Alain Bashung (born Alain Baschung on 1 December 1947 in Paris and died on … Read Full Bio ↴Alain Bashung (born Alain Baschung on 1 December 1947 in Paris and died on 14 March 2009) was a French singer, songwriter, and actor; he was the son of a Brittany born mother and a Kabyle father he never knew.

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.

Pas Question Que J'Perde Le Feeling
Alain Bashung Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je tapote nerveusement sur le volant
Je m'étire les jambes sur le siège avant
Je m'arrange un peu les valseuses
Dans le rétro, j'ai la raie douteuse

Une petite lapine dans son Austin
Me glisse en douce des regards de fouine
Encore une fille que j'épate

J'aurais dû mettre une cravate

Pas question que j'perde le feeling
Je me la prends et je la roule dans la farine
Suppose qu'un lascar veuille me doubler
J'arrive au poteau toujours bien coiffé

Je pianote dans mes bottes à bouts pointus
Sur la radio, je mets plus d'aigus
Encore un jet qui s'enflamme
C'est fou ce que j'ai la banane

Pas question que j'perde le feeling
Je me la prends et je la roule dans la farine
Suppose qu'un lascar veuille me doubler
J'arrive au poteau toujours bien coiffé

Entre la queue du tigre qui s'en balance
Et le Saint-Christophe pour la prudence
Y'a la photo de mes marmots
J'aurais dû rentrer plus tôt

Pas question que j'perde le feeling
Je me la prends et je la roule dans la farine
Suppose qu'un lascar veuille me doubler
J'arrive au poteau toujours bien coiffé

Une petite lapine dans son Austin
Me glisse en douce des regards de fouine

Encore une fille que j'épate
J'aurais dû mettre une cravate

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Pas Question Que J'Perde Le Feeling" by Alain Bashung describe a man driving his car, tapping nervously on the steering wheel and adjusting himself. He notices a woman in an Austin car glancing at him and feels a need to impress her, regretting not wearing a tie. Throughout the song, he keeps repeating the phrase "Pas question que j'perde le feeling," which roughly translates to "No way am I losing the feeling."

As the song progresses, the man becomes more and more focused on maintaining his cool and commanding presence on the road. He adjusts the radio, imagines racing against other drivers, and even checks a photo of his children in his car for motivation. The song ends with the man seeing the same woman from the beginning and realizing that he has only been trying to impress a stranger.

The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on masculinity and the pressure to constantly perform and impress others. The man's obsession with maintaining his "feeling" and image shows the lengths he is willing to go to fit into traditional gender roles and societal expectations.

Line by Line Meaning

Je tapote nerveusement sur le volant
I'm feeling restless and anxious, so I drum my fingers on the steering wheel

Je m'étire les jambes sur le siège avant
I stretch out my legs on the front seat to relieve some tension

Je m'arrange un peu les valseuses
I adjust my package for comfort

Dans le rétro, j'ai la raie douteuse
I notice my hair is a bit messy in the rearview mirror

Une petite lapine dans son Austin
A cute girl in her small car catches my eye

Me glisse en douce des regards de fouine
She gives me sneaky glances

Encore une fille que j'épate
Another girl that I'm impressing

J'aurais dû mettre une cravate
Maybe I should have dressed up more

Pas question que j'perde le feeling
I can't lose my confidence now

Je me la prends et je la roule dans la farine
I charm her and deceive her with smooth talk

Suppose qu'un lascar veuille me doubler
In case someone wants to challenge me