Alain Souchon (born May 27, 1944, Casablanca, Morocco) is a French pop sing… Read Full Bio ↴Alain Souchon (born May 27, 1944, Casablanca, Morocco) is a French pop singer, songwriter and actor. He has released 15 albums and has played roles in seven films.

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).

Ultra Moderne Solitude Live
Alain Souchon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ça s'passe boulevard Haussmann à cinq heures
Elle sent venir une larme de son cœur
D'un revers de la main elle efface
Des fois on sait pas bien ce qui se passe

Pourquoi ces rivières
Soudain sur les joues qui coulent
Dans la fourmilière

C'est l'ultra moderne solitude

Ça se passe à Manhattan dans un cœur
Il sent monter une vague des profondeurs
Pourtant j'ai des amis sans bye-bye
Du soleil un amour du travail

Pourquoi ces rivières
Soudain sur les joues qui coulent
Dans la fourmilière
C'est l'ultra moderne solitude

Ça se passe partout dans l'monde chaque seconde
Des visages tout d'un coup s'inondent
Un revers de la main efface
Des fois on sait pas bien ce qui se passe

Pourquoi ces rivières
Soudain sur les joues qui coulent
Dans la fourmilière
C'est l'ultra moderne solitude

On a les panoplies les hangars
Les tempos les harmonies les guitares
On danse des étés entiers au soleil
Mais la musique est mouillée pareil

Pourquoi ce mystère
Malgré la chaleur des foules
Dans les yeux divers
C'est l'ultra moderne solitude

Pourquoi ces rivières
Soudain sur les joues qui coulent

Dans la fourmilière
C'est l'ultra moderne solitude

Overall Meaning

Alain Souchon's "Ultra Moderne Solitude" is a poignant exploration of the isolation and loneliness that can exist amid crowds of people in urban settings. The song starts with a woman on Boulevard Haussmann who feels a tear coming from her heart. She quickly wipes it away, unsure of why she's suddenly feeling overwhelmed. The chorus is a repetition of the phrase "Pourquoi ces rivières/Soudain sur les joues qui coulent/Dans la fourmilière/C'est l'ultra moderne solitude" which translates to "why are these rivers suddenly flowing down my cheeks/in the midst of the crowd, it's the ultra-modern solitude." The term "ultra-modern solitude" refers to the idea that in our modern, digital age, people can feel more alone than ever before, even when surrounded by others.

The second verse takes place in Manhattan, where a man is experiencing a similar wave of emotion. Despite having friends, love, and work, he still feels a sense of isolation. The final verse expands the message of the song to encompass all people across the world, pointing out that these sudden waves of emotion and tears can strike anyone, anywhere. The repetition in the chorus highlights the universal nature of this feeling, as well as the confusion and enigma of why it happens.

Overall, "Ultra Moderne Solitude" is a bittersweet and poignant ode to the human condition and the loneliness that can accompany even the most connected lives. Its message is as relevant today as when it was first released in 1988.

Line by Line Meaning

Ça s'passe boulevard Haussmann à cinq heures
This is happening on Haussmann Boulevard at five o'clock

Elle sent venir une larme de son cœur
She feels a tear coming from her heart

D'un revers de la main elle efface
With a back of her hand, she wipes it away

Des fois on sait pas bien ce qui se passe
Sometimes we don't know what's happening

Pourquoi ces rivières
Why these rivers

Soudain sur les joues qui coulent
Suddenly flowing on the cheeks

Dans la fourmilière
In the ant colony

C'est l'ultra moderne solitude
It's the ultra-modern loneliness

Ça se passe à Manhattan dans un cœur
This happens in a heart in Manhattan

Il sent monter une vague des profondeurs
He feels a wave rising from the depths

Pourtant j'ai des amis sans bye-bye
Yet, I have friends without bye-byes