Souchon signed his first contract in 1971, but had no success until he began to collaborate with composer/arranger Laurent Voulzy ; they would write together, but each released albums under his own name. Souchon's first hit was "J'ai 10 ans" (1974), from the album of the same name. Souchon's biggest hit was probably "Foule Sentimentale" from 1995's C'est Deja ca. His recent album is from 2005, called La Vie Theodore which features his song "Et si en plus, y'a personne" [What if, even more, there is no one], a song condemning religious intolerance.
He wrote the theme for François Truffaut's 1979 film Love on the Run (L'amour en fuite).
Le P'tit Chanteur
Alain Souchon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sa petite Nini partie, pauvre petit.
Ça va avec quoi sa vie?
Dans les journaux, la, la, la, y bousillent tous ces gens
Pauvre chanteur. Pauvre chanteur.
A la télé, c'est sûre pour cacher sa blessure,
Sur sa figure, y'a des tonnes de peinture. C'est dur, dur, dur.
"Mon Dieu, quel cœur, bravo le décorateur!"
Oui, mais si t'es tourneur, PDG, promoteur ou le vieux rémouleur,
Ta Nini est partie. T'es tout seul dans ton lit.
Tout le monde s'en fout. Tu m'as compris.
Pas moyen, ça c'est sûre cacher ta blessure,
De te mettre sur la figure des tonnes de peinture. C'est dur, dur, dur.
Les Ninis quand c'est parti, c'est pleurs, douleur, hystérie,
Wagner, Les Walkyries.
Si t'es le pape, encore tu pries, le président, le safari.
Mais nous, y'a que le chianti.
T'es pas vraiment chanteur. T'es pas vedette en couleur.
Pauvre ton cœur. Pauvre ton cœur.
Y'a pas ton Electro-cardio dans les journaux.
Ton chagrin sur le dos, t'es un escargot qui dit bo bo bo bo
Le petit chanteur pleurer, plus chanter, tout dégoutté
Sa petite Nini partie, pauvre petit. ça va de quoi sa vie?
Si t'es chanteur, que tu pleures, on dit
"Mon Dieu, quel cœur, bravo le décorateur!"
Oui, mais si t'es tourneur, PDG, promoteur ou le vieux rémouleur
The song "Le P'tit Chanteur" by Alain Souchon is a poignant and thoughtful reflection on the struggles of being a musician. The song tells the story of a little singer who is heartbroken over the loss of his girlfriend Nini. The singer feels lost and disillusioned, wondering what the purpose of his life is without her. He sees in the newspapers how celebrities are criticized and judged, and he knows that if he were to show his own pain, he would also be treated with the same level of condemnation. The singer wears a mask of makeup when he performs on television to hide his sadness, but he knows that it's just a temporary solution to the deeper problems in his life.
The lyrics speak to the idea that being a singer or musician is not all it's cracked up to be. While some people view artists as glamorous and enviable, the reality is that they often face a great deal of pain and loneliness. This is something that is rarely talked about in the media and in society as a whole. However, the song also suggests that this pain is not exclusive to singers, that everyone has struggles and heartbreaks that are not acknowledged in the public sphere. Ultimately, the song is a critique of the way we treat celebrities and a call for greater empathy for all people, regardless of their job or status.
Line by Line Meaning
Le petit chanteur pleurer, plus chanter, tout dégoutté?
Is the little singer crying, not singing, completely disgusted?
Sa petite Nini partie, pauvre petit.
His little Nini has left, poor little one.
Ça va avec quoi sa vie?
What does his life go with?
Dans les journaux, la, la, la, y bousillent tous ces gens
In the newspapers, la, la, la, they mess up all these people.
Pauvre chanteur. Pauvre chanteur.
Poor singer. Poor singer.
A la télé, c'est sûre pour cacher sa blessure,
On TV, it's sure to hide his wound,
Sur sa figure, y'a des tonnes de peinture. C'est dur, dur, dur.
On his face, there's tons of makeup. It's hard, hard, hard.
Si t'es chanteur, que tu pleures, on dit,
If you're a singer and you cry, they say,
"Mon Dieu, quel cœur, bravo le décorateur!"
"Oh my God, what a heart, bravo to the decorator!"
Oui, mais si t'es tourneur, PDG, promoteur ou le vieux rémouleur,
Yes, but if you're a lathe operator, CEO, promoter, or old knife grinder,
Ta Nini est partie. T'es tout seul dans ton lit.
Your Nini is gone. You're all alone in your bed.
Tout le monde s'en fout. Tu m'as compris.
Everyone doesn't care. You understand me.
Pas moyen, ça c'est sûre cacher ta blessure,
No way, that's for sure, to hide your wound,
De te mettre sur la figure des tonnes de peinture. C'est dur, dur, dur.
To put tons of makeup on your face. It's hard, hard, hard.
Les Ninis quand c'est parti, c'est pleurs, douleur, hystérie,
When Nini's gone, it's tears, pain, and hysteria,
Wagner, Les Walkyries.
Wagner's The Ride of the Valkyries.
Si t'es le pape, encore tu pries, le président, le safari.
If you're the Pope, you still pray, the president, the safari.
Mais nous, y'a que le chianti.
But for us, there's only Chianti.
T'es pas vraiment chanteur. T'es pas vedette en couleur.
You're not really a singer. You're not a colorful star.
Pauvre ton cœur. Pauvre ton cœur.
Poor heart of yours. Poor heart of yours.
Y'a pas ton Electro-cardio dans les journaux.
Your electrocardiogram isn't in the newspapers.
Ton chagrin sur le dos, t'es un escargot qui dit bo bo bo bo
With your sorrow on your back, you're a snail that says bo bo bo bo.
Le petit chanteur pleurer, plus chanter, tout dégoutté
The little singer is crying, not singing, completely disgusted.
Sa petite Nini partie, pauvre petit. ça va de quoi sa vie?
His little Nini has left, poor little one. What does his life go with?
Si t'es chanteur, que tu pleures, on dit
If you're a singer and you cry, they say,
"Mon Dieu, quel cœur, bravo le décorateur!"
"Oh my God, what a heart, bravo to the decorator!"
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAIN SOUCHON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Caradec
J'avais 18 ans et je frissonnais déjà à l'idée que cette chanson pouvait illustrer ma vie future. Gagné. Enfin, plutôt perdu.
Retour Vers les souvenirs
Juste énorme ce titre et grandiose inteprétation
Frederic Quintana
La cornemuse, un instrument prenant qui me donne des frissons !!
marie-laure brasseur
J'adooooooore
Тобиас
2-8-23.Doucement la vie m a mis K O .Je la voyais pas comme ça ma vie.Premier à l ecole.Dernier dans la vie.Je la voyais grande.C est une toute petite vie.🍒🦘🐕
N Mal
Faudrait passer ça à 15 ans, ça aiderait...
Ing. Pa Colh
Non moi j'ai beaucoup voyagé j'ai rencontré ma femme et elle est merveilleuse alors cette chanson c'est pas pour moi
riguepeu
@Ing. Pa Colh
T'inquiète ça dure pas...
Brigitte BAILLY
Tout le monde est breton avec Souchon
Marie-Laure Calvez
J'avais 7 ans à Brest ...
Pourrions nous nous rencontrer ?
...