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
Loulou
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Loulou se fout de moi
La petiteLoulou part à Toubouctou
Oh Loulou se fout de tout
Le choléra
La peste noire
La fièvre jaune
Les zoulous
Le péril jaune
Le vaudou
Oh, Loulou ne vas pas à Toubouctou
La petite Loulou est un casse-cou
Je l'amadoue mais elle s'en fout
A ma Loulou j'ai dit : d'accord tu m'envoûtes
Mais moiLoulou je pars à Moscou
Maintenant Loulou traîne à Toubouctou
Et moi à Moscou je rêve de Loulou
The song "Loulou" by Arthur H is a love song that portrays the singer's obsession with a woman named Loulou who has charmed him completely. He acknowledges that Loulou drives him crazy and that he is powerless against her charms. Despite this, she seems uninterested in him and his feelings, as indicated by the repeated phrase, "Oh Loulou se fout de moi" (Loulou doesn't care about me). The singer warns Loulou not to go to Timbuktu (Toubouctou), a city in Mali that has been associated with disease and danger in Western popular culture. He lists various historical diseases, such as cholera, the Black Death, and yellow fever, as well as cultural threats, such as the Zulus, the "yellow peril," and voodoo, to persuade her to stay.
The repeated refrain of "Oh, Loulou ne vas pas à Toubouctou" (Oh, Loulou don't go to Toubouctou) is an effective way of emphasizing the singer's concern for Loulou's safety and wellbeing. Loulou is described as a daredevil who doesn't seem to care about the consequences of her actions. The singer attempts to win her over by telling her that she has enchanted him, but she remains unimpressed, as she runs off to Toubouctou. The last verse of the song shows the singer's despair as he realizes that Loulou has left him behind while he dreams of her in Moscow.
Overall, "Loulou" is a melancholic song about the intense but unrequited love of the singer. The song conveys strong emotions through its poetic lyrics and the use of repetition. It highlights the power dynamics between the characters and the helplessness that comes with intense love.
Line by Line Meaning
La petite Loulou me rend fou
The singer is driven to madness by Loulou, who is likely a love interest or object of desire.
Oh Loulou se fout de moi
Loulou disregards the singer's affections or attention.
La petiteLoulou part à Toubouctou
Loulou is leaving for Toubouctou, which is assumed to be a distant or dangerous place.
Oh Loulou se fout de tout
Loulou doesn't care about anything or anyone, suggesting recklessness or apathy.
Le choléra
Cholera, a severe infectious disease.
La peste noire
The Black Death, a deadly pandemic in the Middle Ages.
La fièvre jaune
Yellow fever, a tropical disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
Loulou, ne part pas à Toubouctou
The artist warns Loulou not to go to Toubouctou due to its dangers and risks of disease.
Les zoulous
The Zulu people, known for their warrior culture and history of conflict with European colonizers.
Le péril jaune
The Yellow Peril, a term used to describe the perceived threat of Asian influence and domination in the Western world.
Le vaudou
Voodoo, a religion and cultural practice with roots in West and Central Africa.
Oh, Loulou ne vas pas à Toubouctou
The artist repeats their warning to Loulou not to go to Toubouctou due to its perceived dangers and risks.
La petite Loulou est un casse-cou
Loulou is a daredevil or risk-taker, which may be a source of fascination or concern for the singer.
Je l'amadoue mais elle s'en fout
The singer tries to charm or win over Loulou, but Loulou remains indifferent or uninterested.
A ma Loulou j'ai dit : d'accord tu m'envoûtes
The singer admits to being enchanted by Loulou and possibly giving in to their desires.
Mais moiLoulou je pars à Moscou
The artist is leaving for Moscow, implying that they are unable to persuade or prevent Loulou from going to Toubouctou.
Maintenant Loulou traîne à Toubouctou
Loulou is now lingering or staying in Toubouctou despite the artist's warnings.
Et moi à Moscou je rêve de Loulou
The singer is longing for or yearning for Loulou while being far away in Moscow.
Contributed by Hannah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.