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
John La Reine Des Pommes
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moi je suis pâle et tout fiévreux
Je vocifère et j'attaque
Attention John, j'allume le contact
Tu n'as plus rien qui brille dans les yeux
Mais t'as les mains molles et ça me rend nerveux
Non John, je ne te tire pas mon chapeau
{Refrain:}
John, John, John, je suis la reine des pommes
John, John, John, je suis la reine des pommes
Tu es arrivé dans ta Jaguar
L'oeil ému et un peu hagard,
Tu avais amené une barrique de Cognac
Et quand j'ai bu, j'ai pas les idées droites
Tu savais que j'étais le nouveau Balzac
Alors t'es reparti avec tous mes manuscrits
Tu m'as juste laissé un mot avec marqué "Merci"
Pendant que moi, abruti, je cuvais ton Cognac
{au Refrain}
Grâce à moi, tu as quelques exemplaires
Moi je n'ai que quelques ardoises bien remplies
Toi tu as toutes les pin-up dans ton lit
Mais John, dans ta somptueuse piscine,
Tout doucement tu te noies,
Comme un rêve tu glisses dans l'eau noire
Et moi sournois, je souris
Tes nombreuses femmes peu à peu te ruinent
Ta cocaïne trop pure te broie les narines
Et même si tous les soirs dans ton Cognac je m'abîme
Je serai bien plus heureux que toi
{au Refrain}
The lyrics of Arthur H's song "John La Reine Des Pommes" depict the power dynamic between two characters - John and the singer. The singer is depicted as being uneasy, feverish, and envious of John, who is living a life of luxury and indulgence, driving a Jaguar and enjoying multiple women. The singer is filled with anger towards John and at one point threatens to shoot him in the back. Throughout the song, it becomes clear that despite John's perceived power and opulence, he is not truly happy and is slowly being destroyed by his vices. Meanwhile, the singer, who is bitter and resentful, may actually find more contentment in his simpler life, despite his envy of John.
Line by Line Meaning
Toi tu es au soleil, tu es bienheureux
You're basking in the sun, living a blissful life
Moi je suis pâle et tout fiévreux
I'm pale and feverish
Je vocifère et j'attaque
I shout and attack
Attention John, j'allume le contact
Watch out John, I'm starting something
Tu n'as plus rien qui brille dans les yeux
Your eyes no longer shine
Mais t'as les mains molles et ça me rend nerveux
But your weak hands make me nervous
Non John, je ne te tire pas mon chapeau
No John, I'm not giving you any praise
Je te tirerais plutôt une balle dans le dos
I would rather shoot you in the back
John, John, John, je suis la reine des pommes
John, John, John, I am the queen of the apples
Tu es arrivé dans ta Jaguar
You arrived in your Jaguar
L'oeil ému et un peu hagard,
Your eyes were emotional and a bit worn out
Tu avais amené une barrique de Cognac
You brought a barrel of Cognac
Et quand j'ai bu, j'ai pas les idées droites
And when I drank it, my thoughts became clouded
Tu savais que j'étais le nouveau Balzac
You knew I was the new Balzac
Alors t'es reparti avec tous mes manuscrits
So you left with all my manuscripts
Tu m'as juste laissé un mot avec marqué "Merci"
You just left me a note that said "Thank you"
Pendant que moi, abruti, je cuvais ton Cognac
While I, the fool, was getting drunk on your Cognac
John, John, John, je suis la reine des pommes
John, John, John, I am the queen of the apples
Grâce à moi, tu as quelques exemplaires
Thanks to me, you have a few copies
Moi je n'ai que quelques ardoises bien remplies
I only have a few filled slates
Toi tu as toutes les pin-up dans ton lit
You have all the pin-ups in your bed
Mais John, dans ta somptueuse piscine,
But John, in your sumptuous swimming pool,
Tout doucement tu te noies,
You drown slowly
Comme un rêve tu glisses dans l'eau noire
Slipping away like a dream into the dark water
Et moi sournois, je souris
And me, slyly smiling
Tes nombreuses femmes peu à peu te ruinent
Your numerous women are slowly ruining you
Ta cocaïne trop pure te broie les narines
Your too pure cocaine is grinding your nostrils
Et même si tous les soirs dans ton Cognac je m'abîme
And even if I drown myself in your Cognac every night
Je serai bien plus heureux que toi
I will be much happier than you
John, John, John, je suis la reine des pommes
John, John, John, I am the queen of the apples
Contributed by Lila Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.