Borrowing 2 french and 3 english songs from her latest release Blanc Mercredi, and 6 brand new english tracks, Shiver features Caracol's unique vocal harmonies and a tasteful blend of folk, indie-pop and retro-soul. Caracol surrounded herself with her usual dream team; produced by Sebastien Blais-Montpetit (ADISQ Producer of the year 2011 and DJ Champion guitarist) and accompanied by top notch musicians, she delivers an album of great musicality, using authentic vintage instruments to keep the purity of her signature style.
This third solo album marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Caracol, who has enjoyed a successful French musical career. Her first solo album "L'arbre aux parfums", received several top prizes for both show and album from Radio-Canada, Bourse Rideau, Prix Miroir, Adisq, as well as nominations at the Junos and Canadian Folk music awards. This follows a hugely successful album and #1 single "etrange" with world-pop duo DobaCaracol.
She has toured relentlessly throughout Europe and North America with artists such as Serena Ryder, Joseph Arthur, hitting events & festivals such as NACA, SXSW, CMW, NXNE, Osheaga, Rifflandia and several major Canadian folk festivals.
In june 2011, she was invited to play with The Bangles at the Twilight series on the Santa Monica Pier in California. Since its october 2011 release, Blanc Mercredi has placed in many "best albums of 2011" lists. Media response has been very positive and Caracol has been invited to appear on several tv shows such as Star Academie and Studio 12. She was also recently nominated for a Genie Award in the category "Best Original Song" for her song "Quelque part" in the recent blockbuster Quebec film Starbuck. Caracol now embarks on a 3 month tour of Canada, with Amelia Curran and Vincent Vallieres, before heading off to Europe and Australia in the fall and winter.
L'arbre aux parfums
Caracol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dans l’arbre aux parfums rieurs
Je perds le nord
Alors je pose ta main
Comme une pieuvre sur ma blancheur
Pour mieux attraper les cristaux de bonheur
Avançant vers la mort
Paisiblement, vers ailleurs
Coule la sève sans peur
De l’arbre au parfums rieurs
Après, je meurs
Alors je pose ton âme
Calme baume sur ma douleur
Pour mieux écarter les assaults du malheur
Dans le mélange des os
Avançant corps à corps
Tout doucement, vers ailleurs
Avance dans mon corps
Avance vers la mort
Avance dans mon corps
Contraste avec ma peur
Après, je meurs.
The first verse of the song, "Haut perché le bonheur, dans l'arbre aux parfums rieurs, je perds le nord," translates to "Happiness is high up in the tree of joyful scents, and I lose my sense of direction." This suggests that the singer has found a source of happiness or contentment but also feels disoriented or lost in this new state. The metaphor of the tree with delightful scents implies that this happiness is something sensory or intangible, like a pleasant smell.
The second verse, "Alors je pose ta main comme une pieuvre sur ma blancheur, pour mieux attraper les cristaux de bonheur," translates to "So I place your hand like an octopus on my whiteness, to better grab hold of the crystals of happiness." This imagery of grasping for happiness suggests that the singer is trying to hold onto or maintain this new state of contentment. The comparison of the hand to an octopus implies a sense of desperation or neediness.
The third verse changes to "Dans le miroir des eaux, avançant vers la mort, paisiblement, vers ailleurs, coule la sève sans peur, de l'arbre aux parfums rieurs, après, je meurs." This translates to "In the mirror of the water, moving towards death, peacefully, towards elsewhere, the sap of the tree of joyful scents flows fearlessly. After that, I die." This verse suggests a sense of acceptance and peace with mortality, as well as a connection to nature and the cycle of life and death.
The final verse repeats the idea of moving towards death and contrasts it with fear. "Avance dans mon corps, avance vers la mort, avance dans mon corps, contraste avec ma peur, après, je meurs." This translates to "Move through my body, move towards death, move through my body, contrast with my fear. After that, I die." The repetition of "move through my body" emphasizes this sense of acceptance and surrender to the ebbs and flows of life, and the contrast with fear suggests that the singer is no longer afraid of death.
Line by Line Meaning
Haut perché le bonheur
The feeling of happiness is often elusive and difficult to attain.
Dans l’arbre aux parfums rieurs
The source of happiness can come from unexpected and delightful places.
Je perds le nord
In the pursuit of happiness, one can lose focus or direction.
Alors je pose ta main
In moments of joy, it is natural to seek closeness and connection with loved ones.
Comme une pieuvre sur ma blancheur
The embrace is tight and enveloping like a loving tentacle from an octopus.
Pour mieux attraper les cristaux de bonheur
Holding onto someone you love can intensify the experience of happiness and prolong its effect.
Dans le miroir des eaux
Reflecting on life's journey and contemplating mortality.
Avançant vers la mort
Moving forward toward death, accepting its inevitability.
Paisiblement, vers ailleurs
Finding peace in the knowledge that there is something beyond this life.
Coule la sève sans peur
Life flows unencumbered and unafraid, like the sap of a happy tree.
De l’arbre au parfums rieurs
The tree of happiness is a source of constant joy and contentment.
Après, je meurs
Despite the beauty of life and happiness, it is still fleeting and will ultimately come to an end.
Alors je pose ton âme
In times of sadness and hardship, relying on the support and comfort of loved ones becomes crucial.
Calme baume sur ma douleur
Their presence acts as a soothing balm that eases pain and suffering.
Pour mieux écarter les assaults du malheur
Having someone to rely on makes it easier to withstand the blows of misfortune and unhappiness.
Dans le mélange des os
Reflecting on the inevitability of death and the end of physical life.
Avançant corps à corps
Facing mortality together, hand in hand.
Tout doucement, vers ailleurs
Stepping toward the unknown with serenity and peace.
Avance dans mon corps
The acceptance of mortality is a journey that is experienced physically and emotionally.
Contraste avec ma peur
This journey of acceptance contrasts with the natural human fear of death and the unknown.
Après, je meurs.
Ultimately, life is fleeting and will come to an end despite our efforts to hold onto happiness and love.
Contributed by Jordan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.