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
Perfect Stranger
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tout près de moi
Tu sais bien que maintenant
Tu es a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
Tu as changé, tu ne m’écoutes pas
Mais c’est la dernière fois
Que tu entends ma voix,
Et même si tu es là
Tout près de moi
Tu sais bien que maintenant
Tu es a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
Et même si tu es là
Tout près de moi
Tu sais bien que maintenant
Tu es a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
Perfect stranger to me
The lyrics of "Perfect Stranger" by Arthur H speak about the feeling of detachment and disconnection in a relationship where one person has changed and is no longer attentive or responsive to the other person. The singer addresses their partner, acknowledging that they are physically present but emotionally distant, a perfect stranger to them. The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the distance between them and the sadness that comes with realizing someone you were once close to has become a stranger.
The singer acknowledges that their partner has changed, no longer listening or responding to them, and while they may physically be there, emotionally they are absent. The repetition of the line "Tu as changé, tu ne m’écoutes pas" (you have changed, you don't listen to me) drives home the sense of frustration and sadness that comes with this realization. The final repetition of "Perfect stranger to me" reinforces the idea that the emotional distance between them is irreparable, leaving the singer feeling lonely and disconnected despite the physical presence of their partner.
Overall, "Perfect Stranger" speaks to the universal experience of relationships changing and becoming distant, forcing us to confront the pain and loss that accompanies such a shift.
Line by Line Meaning
Et même si tu es là
Even if you are here
Tout près de moi
So close to me
Tu sais bien que maintenant
You know very well that now
Tu es a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
You are a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
Tu as changé, tu ne m’écoutes pas
You have changed, you don't listen to me
Mais c’est la dernière fois
But this is the last time
Que tu entends ma voix,
That you hear my voice,
La dernière fois
The last time
Et même si tu es là
Even if you are here
Tout près de moi
So close to me
Tu sais bien que maintenant
You know very well that now
Tu es a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
You are a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
Et même si tu es là
Even if you are here
Tout près de moi
So close to me
Tu sais bien que maintenant
You know very well that now
Tu es a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
You are a perfect stranger to me, a perfect stranger to me
Perfect stranger to me
Perfect stranger to me
Contributed by Adalyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.