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
Le Jardin Des Délices
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Des baisers et des rires,
Je voudrais savoir mentir
Pour te toucher encore
{Refrain:}
Cet orchestre disparu,
J'aime danser dessus avec toi
Où la musique
S'est-elle enfuie ?
Dans les jardins endormis
Tes lèvres plus douces que la pluie,
Dans les jardins de délices
Ton visage pâle de déesse
{au Refrain}
Bonjour mon amour,
Voilà, c'est une nouvelle fois,
Je vais toujours me souvenir
De nos baisers, de nos rires
The lyrics of Arthur H's song Le Jardin Des Délices are about wanting to remember the good times of love and laughter. The singer expresses a desire to lie in order to be able to touch his lover again. The refrain talks about a disappeared orchestra and the singer's wish to dance with his lover to its music again. The theme of disappearance is continued as the singer asks where the musicians and the music have gone.
The song then switches to a description of the gardens where the couple used to be together. The singer remembers the sweetness of his lover's lips and describes her as a pale goddess. The song ends with the singer bidding goodbye to his lover, promising to always remember their kisses and laughter.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released in 2001 as part of the album "Pour Madame X", but it was actually written ten years before that in 1991. Another interesting fact is that the title of the song "Le Jardin Des Délices" translates to "The Garden of Delights," which is also the title of a famous painting by Hieronymus Bosch. The surrealistic and fantastical nature of the painting seems to be reflected in the dreamy and magical imagery of the song's lyrics.
Additionally, the song was a hit in France and received critical acclaim. The album "Pour Madame X" went on to win the Victoires de la Musique award for Best Album in 2002. The singer Arthur H is the son of famous French singer Jacques Higelin, and has since released many more albums in his own right.
The chords for Le Jardin Des Délices are not known at this time.
Overall, Le Jardin Des Délices is a beautiful and nostalgic song about love and remembrance, with dreamy and poetic lyrics that evoke a sense of longing for the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Je voudrais me souvenir
I wish to remember
Des baisers et des rires,
The kisses and the laughter,
Je voudrais savoir mentir
I wish I knew how to lie,
Pour te toucher encore
To be able to touch you once again.
Refrain:
Chorus:
Cet orchestre disparu,
This vanished orchestra,
J'aime danser dessus avec toi
I love to dance to it with you,
Mais où sont les musiciens ?
But where are the musicians?
Où la musique S'est-elle enfuie ?
Where has the music gone?
Dans les jardins endormis
In the sleeping gardens,
Tes lèvres plus douces que la pluie,
Your lips are softer than the rain,
Dans les jardins de délices
In the gardens of delights,
Ton visage pâle de déesse
Your pale goddess-like face
au Refrain
to the Chorus
Bonjour mon amour,
Hello my love,
Voilà, c'est une nouvelle fois,
Here we are once again,
Je vais toujours me souvenir
I will always remember
De nos baisers, de nos rires
Our kisses, our laughter
Contributed by Aubrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.