At the helm of Noir Désir, he became one of the most prominent figures of French music in the 90s. His left leaning political views saw him take position against globalisation, desertification of urban areas in Bordeaux and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In July 2003, while rowing with his girlfriend Marie Trintignant in a hotel apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania, he punched her repeatedly, which resulted in her falling into a coma and eventually dying few days later. This death caused considerable emotion in France. Nadine Trintignant, Marie's mother, actively sought a heavy sentence; Cantat's friends claimed he had been out of his mind and had not intended to cause harm. He was sentenced in March of 2004 to 8 years in prison for murder committed with indirect intent. The verdict was at first appealed by Marie's family, then by Bertrand Cantat, but both parties ultimately decided to cancel their appeals, which rendered the first 8 years judgment final. At the request of his lawyers, Cantat was moved from a Lithuanian prison to a prison near Muret, France on September 28, 2004.
His house in Landes was burned down on September 11, 2003. Many suspect this was related to the death of Marie Trintignant.Cantat has been released early due to good behaviour at october 16th 2007, and immediatly retreated to his house near Bordeaux, not leaving any time for interviews about his musical future.
In 2013 Détroit released their debut album Horizons, followed by a live album in 2014.
Silicon Valley
Bertrand Cantat Lyrics
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Pour ainsi dire la Mecque, l'endroit le plus select
J'ai plus d'influence sur ta vie
Que tu n'en as toi même
Toi même, quelle hérésie en fait
Un australopithèque, un rat de bibliothèque
Et encore je suis gentil
Tu n'es plus rien du tout
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Non mais tu comprends pas l'humain est obsolète
Et je te jure que la mec on va déchirer les limites avec mes algorithmes
Crois moi j'irai te chercher jusqu'au fond des désirs ce que tu n'as pas encore
J'exaucerai sans effort tout ce que tu ne veux même pas imaginer
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Prends moi dans tes bras
De plâtre et de sel
De ta peau et la chair de ta voix
Nous sommes seuls
Je veux sentir la pluie qui ruisselle sur nos yeux
Et ne plus liker
Ici tu sais, je vois tout, je sais tout ce que tu fais de banal avec ton internet
Je collecte mes indices
Une police love and peace
Je prends soin de toi tu sais
Je te sais faible alors j'ai comme projet de faire ton bonheur malgré toi
C'est pas la première fois qu'on te fait le coup
Oui mais là
On te jure que c'est la bonne
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
The lyrics of Bertrand Cantat's "Silicon Valley" can be interpreted as a critique of the influence and power of technology and the digital age on human life. The singer portrays himself as the embodiment of all epithets and claims to be the Mecca, the most exclusive place. He states that he has more influence on people's lives than they have on themselves, suggesting that technology has taken over and dictates the course of individuals' existence. The reference to an "australopithecus," a hominid species considered primitive, and a "bookworm" imply that the singer sees himself as superior and the listener as trivial in comparison.
The repeated chant of "silly, silly Silicon" emphasizes the mocking tone and serves as a direct criticism of Silicon Valley, the epicenter of technological development. The phrase "silly Silicon Valley" suggests that the singer views the advancements and innovations from this region as foolish or absurd. It portrays technology and its influence as superficial, lacking depth, and disconnected from genuine human experience.
The second verse suggests that the singer sees humans as becoming obsolete in the face of technological advancement. He claims to have algorithms that will push the boundaries and fulfill desires that people don't even know they have yet. This hints at the invasive and controlling nature of technology, with promises to fulfill wishes effortlessly. The repetition of "silly, silly Silicon" further emphasizes the singer's disdain for the power that technology wields.
In the final verse, the lyrics take a more introspective turn. The singer desires a more genuine connection, craving the physical presence and touch of another human rather than virtual interactions. He longs for true emotional experiences, wanting to feel the rain on their eyes and to stop merely "liking" things. This could be interpreted as a plea for a return to authentic human connection and a rejection of the shallow nature of interactions facilitated by technology.
Overall, the lyrics of "Silicon Valley" reflect a critical view of the dominance and influence of technology and how it can diminish the essence of human experience. It questions the societal impact of technological advancement and subtly calls for a balance between the digital and natural worlds.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis le lieu de toutes les épithètes
I am the place of all epithets
Pour ainsi dire la Mecque, l'endroit le plus select
So to speak, the Mecca, the most exclusive place
J'ai plus d'influence sur ta vie
I have more influence on your life
Que tu n'en as toi même
Than you have yourself
Toi même, quelle hérésie en fait
You yourself, what heresy in fact
Un australopithèque, un rat de bibliothèque
An Australopithecus, a bookworm
Et encore je suis gentil
And still I am kind
Tu n'es plus rien du tout
You are nothing at all
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Non mais tu comprends pas l'humain est obsolète
No, but you don't understand, humans are obsolete
Et je te jure que la mec on va déchirer les limites avec mes algorithmes
And I swear, dude, we'll push the limits with my algorithms
Crois moi j'irai te chercher jusqu'au fond des désirs ce que tu n'as pas encore
Believe me, I will find what you haven't even desired yet
J'exaucerai sans effort tout ce que tu ne veux même pas imaginer
I will effortlessly fulfill everything you don't even want to imagine
Prends moi dans tes bras
Take me in your arms
De plâtre et de sel
Of plaster and salt
De ta peau et la chair de ta voix
Of your skin and the flesh of your voice
Nous sommes seuls
We are alone
Je veux sentir la pluie qui ruisselle sur nos yeux
I want to feel the rain streaming down our eyes
Et ne plus liker
And stop liking
Ici tu sais, je vois tout, je sais tout ce que tu fais de banal avec ton internet
Here, you know, I see everything, I know everything about your mundane activities with your internet
Je collecte mes indices
I gather my clues
Une police love and peace
A love and peace police
Je prends soin de toi tu sais
I take care of you, you know
Je te sais faible alors j'ai comme projet de faire ton bonheur malgré toi
I know you are weak, so I have a project to make you happy against your will
C'est pas la première fois qu'on te fait le coup
It's not the first time we've played this trick on you
Oui mais là
Yes, but this time
On te jure que c'est la bonne
We swear it's the right one
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Silly, silly Silicon Valley
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bertrand Cantat
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind