Coulais began his musical education on the violin and piano, aiming to become a composer of contemporary classical music. However, a series of acquaintances gradually re-oriented him towards film music. Coulais was particularly influenced by director François Reichenbach, who asked him in 1977 to write the soundtrack to his new documentary Mexico Magico. The first full-length production he composed the score for was the 1986 film La femme secrète by Sébastien Grall. Until the end of the 1990s, he remained low-profile, composing mainly for television. His name can often be found from TV films by Gérard Marx and Laurent Heynemann. He also composed the soundtracks for Christine Pascal's 1992 film Le petit prince a dit, and Agnès Merlet's Le fils du requin in 1993.
In 1994, he met the television producer Josée Dayan, who let him write a theme for the TV series La rivière Esperance, aired on the France 2 network in autumn 1995. He worked with Dayan again with other major productions such as Le comte de Monte-Cristo, Balzac, and Les nuiteux.
The largest turning point of his career came in 1996, when he worked with directors Claude Nuridsany and Marie Pérennou of the documentary Microcosmos. This single film, which gave a great significance to the music in it, was a great success and made Coulais one of the most wanted composers of French film music. In 1997, he won the César award for the best musical score in a film, as well as a Victoire de la Musique. His reputation was confirmed by the soundtracks to Himalaya (1999) and Les rivières pourpres (2000), and after that Bruno Coulais's name was to be found on most new French blockbusters, such as Belphégor and Vidocq.
After producing the soundtrack to Winged Migration in 2001, Coulais announced that he wanted to significantly reduce his contributions to film music, and instead concentrate on other projects, such as the creation of an opera for children, and collaborations with Akhenaton, Akhenaton's group IAM and the Corsican group A Filetta, with whom he had worked since he had made the soundtrack for Jacques Weber's film Don Juan in 1998.
In 2002, his name was found on the ending credits of the animation L'enfant qui voulait être un ours, and in 2004, on Frédéric Schoendoerffer's Agents secrets. The same year, he wrote the soundtrack to the film Les choristes by Christophe Baratier, which subsequently became an international hit. The music for this film received as great praise as the film itself, and it won Coulais his third César award. Since then, Coulais's collaborations in cinema seem to be limited to works by directors with whom he already shares some history, in particular Jacques Perrin, Frédéric Schoendoerffer, and James Huth.
Bruno Coulais's musical style may vary significantly between different projects, but there are some constant factors visible: his taste for opera and for human voice (in particular that of children), for a search for original sonority, for world music and mixing different musical cultures, and finally, a certain tendency to give preference to the ambience created by lighting rather than the film's narration.
Coraline Fly
Bruno Coulais Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Emi Swalin Gwoh
Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
Fairy Seiry Don
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
Fweeden Soreti
Neh-Neh Fehreeden
Sindwee Bin Doh
Swin Ting Lan Twenty Some Dring Doli
Sweet Lan Bih City Tran Dolinda
Pretty Leheleni Switi Kull
Meli Swimmin So
Creaking Van Iddli Fla Lu Va
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Emi Swalin Gwoh
Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
Fairy Seiry Don
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
Fweeden Soreti
The lyrics to Bruno Coulais's song "Coraline Fly" are actually nonsensical and do not have any real meaning or message. The words are made up of gibberish and seemingly random sounds put together in a playful and whimsical manner. The song itself was created as a part of the soundtrack for the animated movie "Coraline," directed by Henry Selick and based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Coulais's music for the film uses a variety of instruments and sounds to create a magical and eerie atmosphere that perfectly complements the otherworldly visuals and story of the movie.
While the lyrics to "Coraline Fly" may not have a literal meaning or message, they serve an important role in the film's soundtrack. The song is used during a key scene in which the main character, Coraline, is transported to a surreal and fantastical world full of strange and magical creatures. The gibberish lyrics help to create a sense of wonder and whimsy, as well as adding to the otherworldly and dreamlike atmosphere of the scene.
Line by Line Meaning
Creaking Van Iddli Fla Lu Va
The sound of a van carrying Coraline to her new home.
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Coraline is excited about her new surroundings and eager to explore.
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Coraline is wandering through the garden and admiring the beautiful scenery.
Emi Swalin Gwoh
The peacefulness of the garden has put Coraline at ease and she is now content.
Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
The garden gives Coraline a sense of serenity and she feels at home.
Fairy Seiry Don
Coraline sees a fairy in the garden and feels like she is in a magical world.
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
Coraline encounters strange and unusual creatures in the garden.
Fweeden Soreti
Coraline continues to explore and discover new things in the garden.
Oosi An Tweeban Retiso
Coraline encounters more strange creatures in the garden, but she is curious and unafraid.
Neh-Neh Fehreeden
Coraline encounters a group of friendly creatures in the garden who welcome her.
Sindwee Bin Doh
Coraline continues to explore and marvel at the beauty of the garden.
Swin Ting Lan Twenty Some Dring Doli
Coraline is lost in the garden and begins to feel uneasy.
Sweet Lan Bih City Tran Dolinda
Despite feeling lost, Coraline still finds the garden captivating and enchanting.
Pretty Leheleni Switi Kull
Coraline encounters a group of friendly animals in the garden who provide comfort.
Meli Swimmin So
Coraline continues to explore the garden, enjoying its peacefulness and tranquility.
Creaking Van Iddli Fla Lu Va
Coraline's adventure in the garden comes to an end and she returns to her real life.
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Despite returning to reality, Coraline remains captivated by her memories of the garden.
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Coraline continues to remember the beauty and wonder of the garden.
Emi Swalin Gwoh
Coraline reflects on the peace and contentment she found in the garden.
Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
The garden continues to provide Coraline with a sense of serenity and calm.
Fairy Seiry Don
Coraline remembers the magical and otherworldly creatures she encountered in the garden.
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
The strange creatures in the garden continue to fascinate Coraline.
Fweeden Soreti
Coraline still longs to return to the garden and continue exploring.
Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.