In 2000, Adrien Gallo, Karim Réveillé and Raphaël Delorme, childhood friends, formed the band "Hangover" with songs exclusively in English.Some years later, Raphaël left the band at the moment when they were signing their first contract.The new lineup found a new guitarist, Félix Hemmen, who enjoyed their music. In 2007, the bassist Bérald Crambes joined the band.
The band took the name BB Brunes, inspired by the name of the song "Initials BB" by Serge Gainsbourg and by Paris's boulevard Brune, where the band then did their rehearsals.The band's musical influences are punk and rock groups from the 1960s and 1970s as well as current groups such as The Strokes, Amy Winehouse, The Clash, David Bowie, Ray Charles and singers like Serge Gainsbourg, Jacques Dutronc,etc. Their lyrics are mostly in French.
In 2009, the group won a Victoires de la musique in the category 'Group or artist stage revelation of the year'.
They have sold over 2 milllion albums and singles in France alone, 3.8 million in Europe.
Illuminations
BB Brunes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comme la fièvre s'est emparée mes draps.
Plus une lumière ne subsiste au-delà.
La ville nous attend, très chère, déserte: elle attend ses rois.
Princes de la ville qui s'illumine
Ils se retrouveront se l'on juré!
Au paradis ou en enfer.
Ils se retrouvent et ont déjà trié
L'paradis oui mais l'enfer: à quoi bon?
Héros défiants la souveraine nuit
Poison d'ivresse dans nos veines
L'éternité en chemin.
Nous jetant dans le ventre de mère nuit
Nous autres fils du soleil armés du vin de nos peines,
De nos euphories.
Princes de la ville qui s'illumine
Love You
Ils se retrouveront se l'ont juré!
Au paradis ou en enfer.
Princes de la ville bien qu'en exil,
Ils se retrouvent et ont déjà trié
Paradis oui, mais l'enfer à quoi bon
The opening line of BB Brunes's song "Illuminations," "Quand tout s'endort mais quand moi je ne veux pas," can be translated to "When everything falls asleep but I do not want to." As the song progresses, the singer describes how fever has taken over his bed sheets, and how there is no light besides the city he can see from his window. The city is empty, yet waiting for its kings to arrive. The "Princes de la ville" are the ones who light up the city, and they promise to meet in either heaven or hell. They are heroes, challenging the almighty night and the eternity that lies ahead of them. All of these themes are interwoven with a sense of reckless abandon, as the singers take refuge in the "vin de nos peines" and the "poison d'ivresse dans nos veines."
The lyrics of the song seem to emphasize the transience of life and how time is fleeting. The "Princes de la ville" in their bravado promise to rule the city, no matter whether they end up in Heaven or Hell. The theme of seeking refuge in alcohol and recklessness adds a sense of urgency and temporariness to their actions. Their actions can be viewed as a sort of defiance against the order of things, but ultimately they are an affirmation of life. The inevitability of eternity and the uncertainty of life is what gives the song its poignancy.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand tout s'endort mais quand moi je ne veux pas
When everything goes to sleep but I don't want to
Comme la fièvre s'est emparée mes draps
As fever took hold of my sheets
Plus une lumière ne subsiste au-delà
No light persists beyond
La ville nous attend, très chère, déserte: elle attend ses rois
The beloved and deserted city awaits its kings
Princes de la ville qui s'illumine
Princes of the illuminated city
Ils se retrouveront se l'on juré!
They will meet, as they swore!
Au paradis ou en enfer.
In heaven or hell.
Princes de la ville bien qu'en exil,
Princes of the city, despite their exile,
Ils se retrouvent et ont déjà trié
They meet and have already sorted
L'paradis oui mais l'enfer: à quoi bon?
Paradise, yes, but why bother with hell?
Héros défiants la souveraine nuit
Heroes challenging the sovereign night
Poison d'ivresse dans nos veines
Intoxicating poison in our veins
L'éternité en chemin.
Eternity on the way.
Nous jetant dans le ventre de mère nuit
Throwing ourselves into the belly of Mother Night
Nous autres fils du soleil armés du vin de nos peines,
We, the sons of the sun, armed with the wine of our sorrows,
De nos euphories.
And our euphoria.
Love You
Love you
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.