Bérurier noir is a French punk band formed in Paris in 1983 by Loran (guita… Read Full Bio ↴Bérurier noir is a French punk band formed in Paris in 1983 by Loran (guitar), François (vocals) and Dédé (drum machine). They called themselves "noir" (black) for the color of mourning (because their first concert was planned to be also their last) and for anarchy and "Bérurier" after the character from the novels of Frédéric Dard. Instead of being an end, the success of their first show inspired them to continue. A cult band, Bérurier Noir were loved by a generation of youth and feared by concert organisers for the riots that followed their shows.

On the one hand, Bérurier Noir's music was clearly derived from British punk rock as far as music and lyrics were concerned. Most of their songs were short, aggressive and usually based on a couple of basic power chords. Their lyrics reflected the typical concerns of punks such as the rejection of consumerism, politics and traditional social order and the anger felt by disaffected youth, tramps and outsiders in general. On the other, they added some interesting innovations. Their rhythm section consisted of a cheap drum machine, which became an essential and arguably endearing part of their sound. The frequent use of a saxophone as of the mid-eighties also set them apart from most other punk rock bands.

They would regularly appear on record sleeves and on stage wearing clown outfits, mock police uniforms or pig masks. Their shows were a unique and highly festive cross between a punk rock concert, a grotesque circus and an anarchist rally.

By 1985, the band had grown to include François Guillemot (vocals), Loran (guitar), Pascal kung fu (saxophone), Helno (backing vocals), Laul aka Bol (backing vocals), la grande Titi (backing vocals), la petite Titi (backing vocals).

By 1987: François Guillemot (vocals), Loran (guitar), Masto (saxophone), Helno (backing vocals), Laul aka Bol (backing vocals), la grande Titi (backing vocals), la petite Titi (backing vocals).

By 1989: François Guillemot (vocals), Loran (guitar), Masto (saxophone), la petite Titi (backing vocals), Jojo (fire breather and backing vocals).

The band refused to make a profit and also to work. As a result, they lived precariously. In 1989, after three farewell concerts at the Paris Olympia, they disbanded. François later formed Molodoï and "François Béru et les Anges Déchus", Loran formed Ze6, Tromatism and later A.D. (Division de la horde).

On December 4, 2003, they reunited for the release of a DVD documenting their career. The concert took place in the context of the Transmusicales in Rennes. They have since played other concerts, in Quebec and in Belgium.

http://beruriernoir.fr/

Ibrahim
Bérurier Noir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ibrahim avec ses frères
Elevé dans la misère
Dans les bombes et dans la guerre
Ibrahim...
Qui se cache derrière ses frères?
A qui profite cet enfer?
Ibrahim bouc-émissaire
Ibrahim...

Parmi le fracas des mines
Palestine, quel est ton crime?
Israël t'assassine
Palestine...
De tous côtés pourchassés
Plus de terre où habiter
Palestine ensanglantée
Palestine...
Pour les enfants do Liban
Pour que cessent les flots de sang

Pour la paix au Moyen-Orient...
El fath... el fath!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bérurier Noir's song Ibrahim paint a picture of a young man named Ibrahim who was raised in poverty, amidst war and bombs. Despite this, he had his brothers to support him. However, the song questions who is really benefiting from this situation and why Ibrahim is being sacrificed as a scapegoat. In the midst of the chaos caused by the mines and war, the song turns its attention to Palestine and asks what their crime is to deserve such violence and persecution from Israel. The lyrics express the frustration and pain of a people who have been relentlessly pursued from all angles, with no land to call their own, in a Palestine that is continuously bathed in blood.

The song addresses the broader conflict in the Middle East, calling for peace in the region and an end to the violence that scars it. The final words of the song, "el fath... el fath!" which are Arabic for "victory" can be interpreted as a symbol of hope for the future, where the conflict and violence can be replaced by victory through peace.

Line by Line Meaning

Ibrahim avec ses frères
Ibrahim, raised in poverty with his brothers

Elevé dans la misère
Raised in destitution

Dans les bombes et dans la guerre
Amidst bombs and war

Ibrahim...
Ibrahim...

Qui se cache derrière ses frères?
Who is hiding behind his brothers?

A qui profite cet enfer?
Who benefits from this hell?

Ibrahim bouc-émissaire
Ibrahim, the scapegoat

Ibrahim...
Ibrahim...

Parmi le fracas des mines
Amongst the chaos of the mines

Palestine, quel est ton crime?
Palestine, what is your crime?

Israël t'assassine
Israel is murdering you