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
Padam Padam
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cet air n'est pas né d'aujourd'hui
Il vient d'aussi loin que je viens
Traîné par cent mille musiciens
Un jour cet air me rendra fou
Cent fois j'ai voulu dire pourquoi
Mais il m'a coupé la parole
Il parle toujours avant moi
Padam… padam… padam…
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
Padam… padam… padam…
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi
Padam… padam… padam…
C'est un air qui me montre du doigt
Il dit: "Rappelle-toi tes amours
Rappelle-toi puisque c'est ton tour
Y a pas de raison que tu ne pleures pas
Avec tes souvenirs sur les bras..."
Je revois ceux qui restent
Mes vingt ans font battre tambour
Je vois s'entrebattre des gestes
Toute la comédie des amours
Sur un air qui va toujours
Padam… padam… padam…
Des "je t'aime" de quatorze juillet
Padam… padam… padam…
Des "veux-tu" en voilà par paquets
Padam… padam… padam…
Des "toujours" qu'on achète au rabais
Et tout ça pour tomber juste au coin de la rue
Sur l'air qui m'a reconnue
Écoutez le chahut qu'il me fait
Padam… padam… padam…
Comme si tout mon passé défilait
Padam… padam… padam…
Faut garder du chagrin pour après
La la la la la la cet air qui bat…
Qui bat comme un coeur de bois…
The lyrics of Arthur H's song "Padam Padam" depict the singer's obsession with a tune that haunts them day and night. The melody originates from the depths of the singer's memories, and they feel it has been carried by a hundred thousand musicians since time immemorial. The singer both desires to understand why this tune is persistently present in their life and fears it will eventually drive them insane. The song's title is an onomatopoeic representation of the melody, which is described as running behind the singer, pointing the finger at them, and reminding them of past love affairs. The tune seems to embody memories of different stages of the singer's romantic life and the various emotions that accompanied them. The singer struggles to cope with the memories and the unrelenting presence of the tune that resonates with their heartbeat.
The song "Padam Padam" is about more than just unrequited love or past relationships. Through its lyrics, the song reflects the influence of music in our lives, how melodies become embedded in our memory, and how they have the power to trigger emotions and memories. The nostalgic element of this song is particularly potent, infused with longing and regret, as the singer reflects on love affairs that may have ended badly. By the end of the song, the singer suggests that there is a need to embrace the emotions the tune elicits fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Cet air qui m'obsède jour et nuit
This melody that haunts me day and night
Cet air n'est pas né d'aujourd'hui
This melody was not born today
Il vient d'aussi loin que je viens
It comes from as far away as I do
Traîné par cent mille musiciens
Dragged along by a hundred thousand musicians
Un jour cet air me rendra fou
One day this melody will make me crazy
Cent fois j'ai voulu dire pourquoi
A hundred times I've wanted to say why
Mais il m'a coupé la parole
But it cuts me off mid-sentence
Il parle toujours avant moi
It always speaks before I do
Et sa voix couvre ma voix
And its voice drowns out mine
Padam… padam… padam…
Padam... padam... padam...
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
It comes running after me
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi
It pulls the 'remember' trick on me
C'est un air qui me montre du doigt
It's a melody that points me out
Il dit: "Rappelle-toi tes amours
It says, 'Remember your loves'
Rappelle-toi puisque c'est ton tour
Remember since it's your turn
Y a pas de raison que tu ne pleures pas
There's no reason for you not to cry
Avec tes souvenirs sur les bras..."
With your memories weighing on you
Je revois ceux qui restent
I see again those who remain
Mes vingt ans font battre tambour
My years of twenty beat like a drum
Je vois s'entrebattre des gestes
I see gestures clashing
Toute la comédie des amours
All the comedy of love
Sur un air qui va toujours
To a melody that always plays
Des "je t'aime" de quatorze juillet
"I love you's" from Bastille Day
Des "veux-tu" en voilà par paquets
"Would you's" by the handful
Des "toujours" qu'on achète au rabais
"Forever's" that are bought on discount
Et tout ça pour tomber juste au coin de la rue
And all that just to fall right around the corner
Sur l'air qui m'a reconnue
To the melody that recognized me
Écoutez le chahut qu'il me fait
Listen to the racket it makes
Comme si tout mon passé défilait
As if my entire past was flashing before me
Faut garder du chagrin pour après
You have to save your sorrow for later
La la la la la la cet air qui bat…
La la la la la la, this melody that beats like a wooden heart...
Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.