Arthur H first performed in 1988 in clubs in Paris, as leader of a trio with bassist Brad Scott and drummer Paul Jothy. His first album, Arthur H (1990), combined rhythmic experimentation and bal-musette elements with a vocal style which has been compared to Tom Waits. He toured widely around this time, particularly in France and Japan, adding a fourth band member, Jon Handelsman (saxophone), and produced a second album, Bachibouzouk (1992). In early 1993, he did a six week season at the Magic Mirrors, an antique circus big top, which was later put on as a touring show and recorded on the live album En chair et en os. In 1996, he released the album Trouble Fête, following which he performed a season at the Gymnase in Paris. The live album Fête Trouble (1997) included some tracks from these shows as well as others recorded on tour in Africa. He toured the USA and Canada in 1998.
In 2000, he wrote the soundtrack for Michel Couvelard’s film, Inséparables, before touring in Asia and Canada. His next album, Pour Madame X (2000), featured the touring band of Nicolas Repac (guitar), Brad Scott (double bass) and Laurent Robin (drums). In 2001, he took part in the show "Cabaret Imprudent" with "Le Cirque Cahin-caha". The following year, he released the album Piano Solo, recorded live in a studio and mainly consisting of solo interpretations of earlier songs. This was followed by a band album, Négresse Blanche (2003), comprising tracks dedicated to the memory of famous women such as "Marilyn Kaddish" and "Bo Derek". In 2005, a planned tour of China was cancelled, and he returned to the studio to record the album Adieu Tristesse. This was the most commercially successful of his career, and included several duets, one with his father and another, "Est-ce que tu aimes?", with the musician -M- (Matthieu Chedid). He subsequently toured widely in France, Lebanon and Canada. In 2006 he published a book, "Onirique attaque", containing lyrics, reflections and photographs. He also composed the soundtrack for the film "L’homme qui rêvait d'un enfant", directed by Delphine Gleize. The soundtrack was performed by an ensemble of children from a local music school. The album "Show Time", issued late in 2006, was recorded live on tour and includes duets with Matthieu Chedid, Pauline Croze, Lhasa de Sela and Jacques Higelin. In June 2008 he released the album "L'Homme du Monde".
Discography
* 1990 : Arthur H
* 1991 : Cool Jazz (remixes)
* 1992 : Bachibouzouk
* 1993 : En chair et en os (live)
* 1996 : Trouble-Fête
* 1997 : Fête Trouble (live)
* 1999 : Inséparables (soundtrack)
* 2000 : Pour Madame X
* 2002 : Piano Solo (live)
* 2003 : Négresse Blanche
* 2005 : Adieu Tristesse
* 2006 : Show Time (live)
* 2008 : L'Homme du Monde
www.arthurh.net
14 Juillet 2002
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un homme, un vrai
Je ne suis pas
Un petit garçon
Regarde-moi
Le monde va
Subir le feu
Tomorrow I will kill Jacques Chirac
Tomorrow I'll be a movie star
Je suis le vengeur
Seul dans la rue
Je croise les regards,
Mais personne ne sens
Ma puissance
Pourtant, je suis
Là pour sauver
Le monde de
Sa décadence
Tomorrow I will kill Jacques Chirac
Tomorrow I'll be a movie star
Je suis le vengeur
Tout va trop vite
La vie est dure
Je prends des coups
Je ne suis pas fou
Ça t'impressionne
À la télé
Tu vois, c'est moi
Qu'on bastonne
Tomorrow I will kill Jacques Chirac
Tomorrow I'll be a movie star
Je suis le vengeur
The song 14 Juillet 2002 by Arthur H is a commentary on the desire to be powerful and significant in a changing world. The opening lyrics express the desire to be a real man, not a mere child, and the singer asserts his intention to make his mark on the world. This is juxtaposed with the chorus, where the singer declares that he will kill Jacques Chirac, the former French president, and become a movie star. This suggests a feeling of powerlessness and frustration that can only be assuaged by violent and extreme action.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more and more isolated and alienated from society. He sees himself as a hero, a savior of the world from its decline, but no one else seems to recognize his power. The bridge of the song suggests that the singer is not insane, despite the violence of his dreams, and that he is aware of the harsh realities of life. He takes beating in the streets, but this does not deter his violent intentions.
The song as a whole paints a picture of the toxic masculinity and violence that can arise from a feeling of powerlessness and a desire for significance. The dream of killing a real person and becoming a movie star represents a twisted idea of what it means to be powerful and important.
Line by Line Meaning
Je veux tant être
I desire to be strongly
Un homme, un vrai
A man, a real one
Je ne suis pas
I am not
Un petit garçon
A little boy
Regarde-moi
Look at me
Le monde va
The world is going
Subir le feu
To suffer from fire
De on éclat
From its radiance
Tomorrow I will kill Jacques Chirac
I will kill Jacques Chirac tomorrow
Tomorrow I'll be a movie star
I will be a movie star tomorrow
Je suis le vengeur
I am the avenger
Seul dans la rue
Alone in the street
Je croise les regards,
I cross gazes
Mais personne ne sens
But no one feels
Ma puissance
My power
Pourtant, je suis
However, I am
Là pour sauver
Here to save
Le monde de
The world from
Sa décadence
Its decline
Tout va trop vite
Everything is going too fast
La vie est dure
Life is hard
Je prends des coups
I take blows
Je ne suis pas fou
I am not crazy
Ça t'impressionne
It impresses you
À la télé
On TV
Tu vois, c'est moi
You see, it's me
Qu'on bastonne
Getting beaten
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.