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.
Strip Now
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say, it's day for night
If you wanna strip, you strip now
While there's no one watching watching you
She still says
Brother can you spare a spliff
Soon you'll be out and soon you'll be stiff
But if you wanna strip, strip now
While there's no one watching watching you
You you you
With whistling wheels
Who will give a damn
She had nothing to score again
Or doors to ram
But if you wanna strip, strip now
While there's no one watching watching you
You you you
China is all English
What is your picture tell me what makes move
What makes you tick
If you wanna give, you give now
Oh there's no one watching watching you
Party girl leave fingerprints
Want to watch
T he top of the top
Give another chocolate chip
Come in fourteen flavors
Come, there's no one watching watching watching you
Lonely lonely tonight we flirt
There must be a way to shower all the dirt
If you wanna strip, strip now
While there's no one watching watching you
You you you
Lonely lonely
Hold my hands
You got styles
Don't wear no lipstick and
If you wanna strip, strip now
Oh there's no one watching watching you
You wanna strip, only lonely
You wanna strip, only lonely
The lyrics of Alain Bashung's song "Strip Now" revolve around the idea of urgency, of doing something before it's too late, of seizing the moment. The opening lines appear to address a young person, someone at the beginning of their life, telling them that there's no time to waste, that they have to act now, before it's too late. This sense of urgency is then repeated throughout the song, but with a twist; the focus turns to stripping, a metaphor for exposing oneself, for being vulnerable, for letting go of inhibitions and fears.
The lyrics describe a world of partying, of drugs, of fleeting moments and temporary pleasures. There's a sense of restlessness, of searching for something that's always just out of reach. The image of someone asking for a spliff and saying they'll soon be out and soon be stiff suggests a fleeting existence, an awareness of one's own mortality, and a desire to make the most of life while it lasts.
As the song progresses, the urgency becomes more pronounced, the time left seems to be running out faster and faster. The refrain, "If you wanna strip, strip now while there's no one watching you," takes on a more desperate tone, as if the opportunity to do what you want, to be who you want, is slipping away.
Overall, the lyrics of "Strip Now" seem to be about taking chances, about living life to the fullest, about throwing caution to the wind and being true to oneself. It's a call to action, to do what you want before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Not time left for wheeling and dealing, kid
There's no more time for negotiation or bargaining, my friend.
Say, it's day for night
It's dark outside even though it's supposed to be daytime.
If you wanna strip, you strip now
If you want to reveal your true self, do it immediately.
While there's no one watching watching you
Do it while nobody is paying attention.
She still says
She continues to speak even though nobody is listening.
Brother can you spare a spliff
May I please have a smoke?
Got the picture
I understand what you're saying.
Soon you'll be out and soon you'll be stiff
You will be leaving this world soon.
With whistling wheels
The sound of the wheels create a whistling noise.
Who will give a damn
No one will care.
She had nothing to score again
She had nothing to gain.
Or doors to ram
No more doors to break through.
China is all English
Chinese people speak English.
What is your picture tell me what makes move
What is the story behind the image you're portraying? What motivates you?
What makes you tick
What drives you as a person?
If you wanna give, you give now
If you want to be generous, do it immediately.
Party girl leave fingerprints
The party girl left some evidence.
Want to watch
I want to see.
The top of the top
The very best.
Give another chocolate chip
Provide something sweet and enjoyable.
Come in fourteen flavors
There are many options to choose from.
Come, there's no one watching watching watching you
Come along, and do it while nobody is paying attention.
Lonely lonely tonight we flirt
We are alone and flirting tonight.
There must be a way to shower all the dirt
We need to find a way to rid ourselves of the unpleasantness.
Hold my hands
Please hold onto my hands.
You got styles
You have different ways of doing things.
Don't wear no lipstick and
You don't wear lipstick and...
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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
…