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

Marouchka
Arthur H Lyrics

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Affalé dans l'atmosphère rouge d'un café
Plein de visages farouches,
Entouré des rires de mes compagnons anonymes,
J'attends un autre verre,
Le dernier verre

À minuit Marouchka apparaît,
Marouchka est maudite,

Marouchka m'éblouit
À minuit, Marouchka diabolique,
Marouchka me sourit
Et mes amis qui s'alanguissent dans le bruit
Et l'eau de vie,
Marouchka

Fasciné dans l'atmosphère rouge du café
Où plus rien ne bouge
Quand soudain Marouchka et ses amis rassortent dans la nuit
Je les suis, je les perds dans les ruelles sans lumière

À minuit Marouchka est partie,
Marouchka est un rêve qui m'éblouit,
À minuit, Marouchka c'est étrange,
Marouchka n'est pas un ange
Et mes amis qui s'alanguissent dans le bruit
Et l'eau de vie,
Marouchka

Marouchka, ma lumière de minuit
Marouchka s'est enfuie dans la nuit
Marouchka, ma lumière de minuit

Marouchka, jamais, jamais je ne t'oublierai
Marouchka, Marouchka, Marouchka, Marouchka

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Marouchka by Arthur H tell a story of the singer waiting in a dimly lit café, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, and waiting for another drink. Suddenly, Marouchka appears, a cursed figure who dazzles him, and he is entranced by her appearance. The singer follows her and her friends out into the dark alleys, eventually losing them. The song repeats her name as a sort of refrain, as he laments her departure from his life.

The song is clearly about a fleeting connection, perhaps a one-night stand or a brief love affair. Marouchka is a mysterious and alluring figure, but she seems to disappear as quickly as she appeared, leaving the singer to reflect on what could have been. The song conveys a sense of urgency, as though the singer is desperate to hold onto this moment before it slips away.

Overall, the song Marouchka is a haunting and beautifully expressed meditation on the fleeting nature of love and the eerie power of certain people to captivate us and then vanish without a trace.

Line by Line Meaning

Affalé dans l'atmosphère rouge d'un café
I am slumped in the red atmosphere of a café

Plein de visages farouches,
Full of fierce faces,

Entouré des rires de mes compagnons anonymes,
Surrounded by the laughter of my anonymous companions,

J'attends un autre verre,
I wait for another drink,

Le dernier verre
The last drink

À minuit Marouchka apparaît,
At midnight, Marouchka appears,

Marouchka est maudite,
Marouchka is cursed,

Marouchka m'éblouit
Marouchka dazzles me

À minuit, Marouchka diabolique,
At midnight, Marouchka is diabolical,

Marouchka me sourit
Marouchka smiles at me

Et mes amis qui s'alanguissent dans le bruit
And my friends who languish in the noise