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).
Popopo
Alain Souchon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Le cigare au bec, parfait
Sur le t-shirt d'Adriana,
Allons faire un tour sur Internet
Voire si ce guérillero était vraiment le mec net
Popopopo, popopopo
Popopopo, popopopo
Ce libertador cador
Que tout l' monde adore
Chantait dans la sierra
Son chant de libération
Et de révolution
Est-ce que Juan Perez a aimé cette chanson?
Popopopo, popopopo
Popopopo, popopopo
Il disait ses vers sévères aux revolvers
Le poète de la cabaña
Ces cris, ces "tatatata"
Dans la prison d'état
C'était la joie des villageois
"Viva Guevara!"
Pan, pan, pan, pan
Pan, pan, pan, pan
Pan, pan, pan, pan
Pan, pan, pan, pan
Le pistolet sur la tête
Du fonctionnaire bête
Du paysan analphabète
Ce héros romantique
Qu'aimait le petit déclic
Et l'efficacité des armes automatiques
Popopopo, popopopo
Il rêvait des carabines fines du Potemkine
Pour mettre au pas Batista
C'est jamais par plaisir
Par plaisir qu'on tire
Mais pour un monde plus cool
Il faut bien que le sang coule
Popopopo, popopopo
La gueule de beau mec, le béret
Le cigare au bec, parfait
Sur le t-shirt d'Adriana,
Allons faire un tour sur Internet
Voire si ce guérillero était vraiment le mec net
Popopopo, popopopo
The lyrics to Alain Souchon's "Popopo" are a reflection on the legacy of Che Guevara, a revolutionary icon who is often portrayed as a symbol of rebellion, freedom, and anti-establishment sentiment. The song describes Guevara's iconic look - the beret, cigar, and rugged good looks - and juxtaposes it with the reality of his violent actions as a leader of the Cuban Revolution. Souchon wonders aloud whether Guevara's actions were truly "the right thing to do," and whether those who idolize him truly understand his complex legacy.
Souchon's lyrics also touch on the power of music as a tool for political change. He describes how Guevara's revolutionary songs were a source of hope and inspiration for the people of Cuba, and how they helped to galvanize the masses against the oppressive regime of President Batista. However, Souchon is also critical of the violent nature of Guevara's revolution, which he suggests was necessary but also tragic. The repeated refrain of "popopopo" throughout the song is a reference to the sound of gunfire, a reminder of the deadly nature of armed rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
La gueule de beau mec, le béret
The guy with a handsome face and a beret on his head
Le cigare au bec, parfait
Perfectly holding a cigar in his mouth
Sur le t-shirt d'Adriana,
On Adriana's t-shirt
Allons faire un tour sur Internet
Let's go check on the internet
Voire si ce guérillero était vraiment le mec net
To see if this guerrilla fighter was really a good guy
Popopopo, popopopo
Popopopo, popopopo
Ce libertador cador
This shining liberator
Que tout l' monde adore
Whom everyone adores
Chantait dans la sierra
Sang in the mountains
Son chant de libération
His song of liberation
Et de révolution
And of revolution
Est-ce que Juan Perez a aimé cette chanson?
Did Juan Perez like this song?
Il disait ses vers sévères aux revolvers
He recited his severe verses with a revolver in hand
Le poète de la cabaña
The poet from the hut
Ces cris, ces "tatatata"
Those screams, those "tatatata"
Dans la prison d'état
In the state prison
C'était la joie des villageois
It was the villagers' joy
"Viva Guevara!"
"Long live Guevara!"
Pan, pan, pan, pan
Bang, bang, bang, bang
Le pistolet sur la tête
The gun on the head
Du fonctionnaire bête
Of the stupid official
Du paysan analphabète
Of the illiterate peasant
Ce héros romantique
This romantic hero
Qu'aimait le petit déclic
Who liked the small click
Et l'efficacité des armes automatiques
And the efficiency of automatic weapons
Popopopo, popopopo
Popopopo, popopopo
Il rêvait des carabines fines du Potemkine
He dreamt of the sleek rifles from Potemkin
Pour mettre au pas Batista
To bring Batista in line
C'est jamais par plaisir
It's never for pleasure
Par plaisir qu'on tire
That we shoot for pleasure
Mais pour un monde plus cool
But for a cooler world
Il faut bien que le sang coule
Blood must be shed
La gueule de beau mec, le béret
The guy with a handsome face and a beret on his head
Le cigare au bec, parfait
Perfectly holding a cigar in his mouth
Sur le t-shirt d'Adriana,
On Adriana's t-shirt
Allons faire un tour sur Internet
Let's go check on the internet
Voire si ce guérillero était vraiment le mec net
To see if this guerrilla fighter was really a good guy
Popopopo, popopopo
Popopopo, popopopo
Lyrics © LES EDITIONS ALAIN SOUCHON
Written by: Alain SOUCHON, Laurent VOULZY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind