Arthur H is Arthur Higelin's stage name. Higelin (born Paris, France, 27 Ma… Read Full Bio ↴Arthur H is Arthur Higelin's stage name. Higelin (born Paris, France, 27 March 1966), is a French pianist, songwriter and singer. He is the son of the French singer Jacques Higelin and Nicole Courtois. After traveling in the West Indies, he studied music in Boston before returning to Paris and developing his eclectic but highly personal musical style, drawing on such influences as Thelonious Monk, Serge Gainsbourg, the Sex Pistols, jazz, blues, Middle Eastern music and the tango. He is best known in France for his live performances - four of his albums were recorded live - and remains relatively little-known in the English-speaking world.

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

Bo Derek
Arthur H Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Elle est sortie de l'eau
Et le soleil
Tatoue sa peau
C'est beau
Comme Bo Derek

Le sable est trop chaud
Aldo la porte

Jusqu'à la moto
C'est beau
Comme Bo Derek

À la villa
Les vins sont prêts
Et les Anglais
Sont déjà là

La vie à la villa
Est douce et bonne
Mais monotone
C'est beau
Comme Bo Derek

Aldo n'en peut plus
Il monte sa moto
Part vers l'inconnu
C'est beau
Comme Bo Derek

À la villa
Voilà la nuit
Et les Anglais
Sont déjà gris

Elle est sortie de l'eau
Et le soleil
Tatoue sa peau

C'est beau
Comme Bo Derek

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Arthur H's song Bo Derek paint a picture of a beautiful beach setting where a woman – presumably the titular character Bo Derek – emerges from the water and is "tattooed" by the sun. The singer comments on how beautiful this scene is and compares it to the famous beauty of Bo Derek. The lyrics then shift to Aldo, who is unable to tolerate the hot sand and resorts to leaving on his motorcycle towards the unknown. Later in the song, we are told of a villa party where the wines are ready and the English are already there. However, despite the comfortable and enjoyable setting, the singer observes that it is also monotonous. As Aldo departs, the night falls and the English become intoxicated, the woman from the beginning of the song reappears from the sea once more, keeping the beauty of Bo Derek omnipresent.

Line by Line Meaning

Elle est sortie de l'eau
A woman emerges from the water

Et le soleil
The sun shines down upon her

Tatoue sa peau
Tattooing her skin with light and shadow

C'est beau
It's beautiful

Comme Bo Derek
Like Bo Derek, a famous actress known for her beauty

Le sable est trop chaud
The sand is too hot

Aldo la porte
Aldo carries her

Jusqu'à la moto
To the motorcycle

À la villa
At the villa

Les vins sont prêts
The wines are ready

Et les Anglais
And the English