He first came to the music industry's attention with his collaboration with, and arrangements for, Keren Ann and his sister Coralie Clément. Finally earning a solo contract after many years of struggle, Biolay released his debut album, Rose Kennedy, in 2002. A concept album, Rose Kennedy looks at early 1960s America through the cataractic eyes of the late matriarch, who went from attending dinner parties to suffering the assassination of two of her sons.
Next up was Négatif, a double CD full of sometimes violent imagery surrounding a group of drifters, which included a disaffected, oddly sympathetic, american named Billy Bob. Biolay released two albums in 2005, A L'origine (translated: In The Beginning) is a darker, denser work than his previous outings, while Home is a light, sunny duet album with his wife, started when they noticed that they needed good road trip CD to listen to while on vacation. He has also written film scores, songs and arrangements for such beloved french stars as Francoise Hardy, Juliette Greco and Henri Salvador.
He worked with Elodie Frégé on her second album Le Jeu des 7 erreurs
(including lead single "La Ceinture") which was released in autumn 2006.
La garçonnière
Benjamin Biolay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Secouez vos bijoux
C'est pas la peine de faire comme si c'était bien.
Taisez vous, mettez vous à genoux
Moi je reste debout
C'est pas la peine d'être a la hauteur de rien.
Ne faites pas la moue
Mais dites moi encore "je suis ta putain..."
Regardez vous, en sueur le rose aux joues
Et des bleus de partout
On vous croirait presque passé sous le train.
Rhabillez vous, rejoignez votre époux
Vos baisers aigres doux
C'est pas la peine de faire comme si c'était bien.
Si tu m'aimes un peu, je t'aime un peu... c'est tout
Rentrez chez vous ,prenez un bain de boue
Même un bain à remous
Pour oublier a quel point c'était très bien, oh c'était trop bien.
Rendez vous, près du tout à l'égout
Ne portez rien dessous
c'est pas la peine de faire comme si c'était bien (x4)
The lyrics of Benjamin Biolay's song "La garçonnière" depict a scenario of sexual encounter without intimacy or emotional connection. The first stanza encourages the woman to undress and remove her jewelry, suggesting that she should not pretend to enjoy what is about to happen. The second stanza instructs her to be quiet and submissive, while the singer remains standing, suggesting a power dynamic in the situation. In the third stanza, she is asked to lean forward and raise her skirt, all the while maintaining a certain level of submission and being called a prostitute. The fourth stanza acknowledges the physical toll that this encounter takes on her body, with bruises and sweat marks. Finally, the fifth stanza instructs the woman to go back to her life and pretend everything is okay, while the singer declares that their love can only be superficial.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the superficiality and emptiness of sexual encounters that lack emotional connection or intimacy. The singer seems to suggest that there is no point in pretending that there is more to the encounter than physical pleasure, and that both parties should be honest about their intentions. The use of submissive language and power dynamics also suggests that the singer enjoys controlling the situation and has little regard for the woman's feelings or well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Allongez vous, enlevez presque tout
Lie down and take off almost everything.
Secouez vos bijoux
Shake your jewelry.
C'est pas la peine de faire comme si c'était bien.
There's no need to pretend it's good.
Taisez vous, mettez vous à genoux
Be quiet and kneel down.
Moi je reste debout
I'll stay standing.
C'est pas la peine d'être a la hauteur de rien.
There's no need to live up to anything.
Penchez vous, relevez vos froufrous
Bend over, lift your frills.
Ne faites pas la moue
Don't pout.
Mais dites moi encore "je suis ta putain..."
But tell me again "I'm your whore..."
Regardez vous, en sueur le rose aux joues
Look at yourself, with pink cheeks and sweat.
Et des bleus de partout
And bruises all over.
On vous croirait presque passé sous le train.
You'd almost think you'd been hit by a train.
Rhabillez vous, rejoignez votre époux
Get dressed, go back to your husband.
Vos baisers aigres doux
Your bittersweet kisses.
Si tu m'aimes un peu, je t'aime un peu... c'est tout
If you love me a little, I love you a little... that's it.
Rentrez chez vous ,prenez un bain de boue
Go home, take a mud bath.
Même un bain à remous
Even a hot tub.
Pour oublier a quel point c'était très bien, oh c'était trop bien.
To forget how good it was, oh it was too good.
Rendez vous, près du tout à l'égout
Meet me near the sewer.
Ne portez rien dessous
Don't wear anything underneath.
c'est pas la peine de faire comme si c'était bien (x4)
There's no need to pretend it's good (x4).
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.