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
Andora
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Andora les jambes écartées faisait du gringue avec les pieds
Elle ne voulait rien entendre
Elle me regardait d'un air tendre
Cette Aphrodite déguisée en petite putain de quartier
Je l'ai salie, salie, et je l'ai aimée
Salie, mais ce soir je suis fatigué
Salie, mais ce soir je suis fatigué
Elle avait l'air si enjouée
Mais je n'avais pas envie de jouer au manège enchanté
Des folles nuits désenchantées
Andora était si douée qu'il fallait pour m'amadouer
Qu'une petite place à mes côtés dans un même jardin secret
Seulement salie, salie, désolé bébé
Salie, mais ce soir je suis fatigué
Salie, salie, désolé bébé
Salie, mais ce soir je suis fatigué
Le soir même Andora s'endormait sur les mille plumes de mon duvet
Andora ne sait pas parler
Andora ne sait pas pleurer
Mais que fais tu, Andora, que sais-tu faire, Andora
Pour qui vis-tu Andora
D'où viens-tu Andora
Andora l'intimité n'avait rien à envier au monde entier
C'est un joli grain de beauté
Ma petite Vénus parfumée
Seulement salie, salie, désolé bébé
Salie, mais ce soir je suis fatigué
Salie, salie, désolé bébé
Salie, mais ce soir je suis fatigué
Mais ce soir je suis fatigué, je suis fatigué, je suis fatigué...
The lyrics of Arthur H's song "Andora" describe a scene in a seedy little bar, where Andora, a woman dressed like a prostitute, is trying to seduce the singer. The lyrics suggest that she is playful and seductive, but the singer is not in the mood for games. Despite this, they end up sleeping together, and the singer reflects that Andora has a certain charm that goes beyond her appearance. However, the singer also acknowledges that he has "soiled" her reputation and feels a sense of guilt and exhaustion.
The lyrics are a commentary on the complexities of sexuality and power dynamics between men and women. Andora is portrayed as both a sexual object and a vulnerable human being, while the singer is aware of his own role in perpetuating these stereotypes. The lyrics are also a reflection on the fleeting nature of sexual encounters and the emotions that can accompany them.
Overall, the song is a melancholic reflection on a transient moment of connection between two people. It captures the ambiguity and confusion that can arise in sexual encounters, and highlights the importance of recognizing the humanity in others, rather than reducing them to mere objects of desire.
Line by Line Meaning
Au comptoir enfumé d'un petit bar mal famé
In the smoky counter of a small shady bar
Andora les jambes écartées faisait du gringue avec les pieds
Andora, legs apart, was flirting with her feet
Elle ne voulait rien entendre
She didn't want to hear anything
Elle me regardait d'un air tendre
She was looking at me with a tender expression
Cette Aphrodite déguisée en petite putain de quartier
This Aphrodite disguised as a little streetwalker
Je l'ai salie, salie, et je l'ai aimée
I dirtied her, dirtied her, and I loved her
Salie, mais ce soir je suis fatigué
Dirtied, but tonight I am tired
Elle avait l'air si enjouée
She seemed so cheerful
Mais je n'avais pas envie de jouer au manège enchanté
But I didn't feel like playing the enchanted carousel
Des folles nuits désenchantées
Crazy disillusioned nights
Andora était si douée qu'il fallait pour m'amadouer
Andora was so talented that to woo me
Qu'une petite place à mes côtés dans un même jardin secret
Only a small place by my side in the same secret garden
Seulement salie, salie, désolé bébé
Only dirtied, dirtied, sorry baby
Le soir même Andora s'endormait sur les mille plumes de mon duvet
That same night Andora fell asleep on the thousand feathers of my duvet
Andora ne sait pas parler
Andora doesn't know how to speak
Andora ne sait pas pleurer
Andora doesn't know how to cry
Mais que fais tu, Andora, que sais-tu faire, Andora
But what are you doing, Andora, what do you know how to do, Andora
Pour qui vis-tu Andora
For whom do you live, Andora
D'où viens-tu Andora
Where do you come from, Andora
Andora l'intimité n'avait rien à envier au monde entier
Andora's intimacy had nothing to envy to the whole world
C'est un joli grain de beauté
She's a pretty mole
Ma petite Vénus parfumée
My little scented Venus
Mais ce soir je suis fatigué, je suis fatigué, je suis fatigué...
But tonight I am tired, I am tired, I am tired...
Contributed by Aiden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.