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
Scritch
Arthur H Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
S'agissait pas de chômer quand elle entre dans votre lit
Elle restait à la maison, elle s'appelait Laurence
Pour moi c'était "Ronron" je pouvais plus quitter la France
Elle me surnommait "Scritch"
Je trouvais ça con,
Elle, elle trouvait ça kitsch
Un jour elle vit Paulo, un collègue de bureau
Il lui sort son zozio, un mec pas règlo
Je l'avais dans le dos pour moi ce fut les bistrots
Pendant que gémissait le Dunlopillo
Elle me surnommait "Scritch"
Je trouvais ça con,
Elle, elle trouvait ça kitsch
Mon nom c'était Riton
Heureusement Miguel, le chef de bureau
Un gars nickel sanctionna Paulo
Aujourd'hui c'est pas génial heureusement y'a le boulot
J'ai pris mon Gardénal toujours un peu trop
Elle me surnommait "Scritch"
Je trouvais ça con,
Elle, elle trouvait ça kitsch
Mon nom c'était Riton
Quand je me chimise
Elle sait bien, Ronron,
Faut pas tirer sur la chemise
Paulo ça tourne pas rond
C'est ton dernier trip,
T'as vraiment pas de chance,
Faut que je voie tes tripes
Ça va sniffer le rance
Trois balles ont suffi
Paulo au Père-Lachaise
Je me fais plus de souci
Je remets mes charentaises
Je retrouve ma Ronron,
Cette fois-ci pour toujours
Je garde la clé de la maison
Ce sera le grand amour
Elle me surnommait "Scritch"
Je trouvais ça con,
Elle, elle trouvait ça kitsch
Mon nom c'était Riton
Elle me surnommait "Scritch"
Je trouvais ça con,
Elle, elle trouvait ça kitsch
Mon nom c'était Riton
Scritch
Con
Kitsch
Mon nom c'était Riton
The song Scritch by Arthur H is a tragicomic love story about a man named Riton and his girlfriend Laurence, whom he called "Ronron". Riton describes Laurence as an irresistible woman who would not let him leave the bed. However, their relationship takes a wrong turn when Laurence meets one of her colleagues named Paulo. Paulo is depicted as a disloyal man who does not keep his promises to Laurence. Learning of her infidelity, Riton drowns his sorrows in bars while Laurence continues to see Paulo. Eventually, Paulo's disrespect leads to a violent confrontation, resulting in his death.
The song captures Riton's mixed feelings of love and frustration towards his lover. He admits that Laurence's nickname for him, "Scritch", is silly and that he prefers his real name. Nevertheless, he is willing to do anything for her, even harm those who hurt her. Despite the tragedy, the song ends on a hopeful note, with Riton declaring his intention to stay committed to Laurence forever.
Overall, Scritch offers a poignant commentary on the fragility and complexity of human relationships. It portrays the agony of betrayal and the lengths that one may go to defend the honor of one's beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Y'a une super nana, du genre qu'on vous envie
There was a great woman, the kind that everyone envies
S'agissait pas de chômer quand elle entre dans votre lit
You couldn't slack off when she got into bed with you
Elle restait à la maison, elle s'appelait Laurence
She stayed at home, her name was Laurence
Pour moi c'était "Ronron" je pouvais plus quitter la France
For me, she was "Purr Purr," and I couldn't leave France
Elle me surnommait "Scritch"
She called me "Scratch"
Je trouvais ça con,
I thought it was stupid,
Elle, elle trouvait ça kitsch
She thought it was kitschy
Mon nom c'était Riton
My name was Riton
Un jour elle vit Paulo, un collègue de bureau
One day she saw Paulo, a colleague from work
Il lui sort son zozio, un mec pas règlo
He showed her his bird, a shady guy
Je l'avais dans le dos pour moi ce fut les bistrots
It was behind my back, so for me it was bars
Pendant que gémissait le Dunlopillo
While the mattress was groaning
Heureusement Miguel, le chef de bureau
Luckily, Miguel, the boss,
Un gars nickel sanctionna Paulo
A straight guy disciplined Paulo
Aujourd'hui c'est pas génial heureusement y'a le boulot
Today is not great, luckily there's work
J'ai pris mon Gardénal toujours un peu trop
I took my Gardénal, always a bit too much
Quand je me chimise
When I dress up in a shirt
Elle sait bien, Ronron,
She knows well, Purr Purr,
Faut pas tirer sur la chemise
Don't pull the shirt
Paulo ça tourne pas rond
Paulo is not right in the head
C'est ton dernier trip,
It's your last trip,
T'as vraiment pas de chance,
You really have no luck,
Faut que je voie tes tripes
I need to see your guts
Ça va sniffer le rance
It's going to smell rank
Trois balles ont suffi
Three bullets were enough
Paulo au Père-Lachaise
Paulo is in Père-Lachaise cemetery
Je me fais plus de souci
I'm not worried anymore
Je remets mes charentaises
I put on my slippers
Je retrouve ma Ronron,
I find my Purr Purr again,
Cette fois-ci pour toujours
This time, forever
Je garde la clé de la maison
I keep the key to the house
Ce sera le grand amour
It will be great love
Elle me surnommait "Scritch"
She called me "Scratch"
Je trouvais ça con,
I thought it was stupid,
Elle, elle trouvait ça kitsch
She thought it was kitschy
Mon nom c'était Riton
My name was Riton
Scritch
Scratch
Con
Stupid
Kitsch
Kitschy
Mon nom c'était Riton
My name was Riton
Contributed by Riley W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.