It all started with a double bass pla… Read Full Bio ↴Paris, France (2005 – present)
It all started with a double bass player, a guitarist and a violinist; all highly talented musicians who are really into swing, Django addicts who enjoy tinkering with electro. Their project swayed a singer, a clarinettist, a trombonist who doubles up on percussion and a guitarist who also acts as DJ. With their “Zazou” look (inspired by Parisian paleo-punks from the 1940s), they serve up festive, frantic music, an improbable futuristic and melodious Charleston fit for the dance floor. Caravan Palace is to swing what the Gotan Project is to tango.
It so often starts out like that: a gang of mates who’ve kicked around together for the past ten years and who each get into music off their own bat. In this case, it was Hugues on the violin, Arnaud on guitar and Carlos on the double bass. A shared craze for manouche jazz (gypsy-style jazz), played in its natural setting, bars. Relatively serious composition, with a Zeitgeist twist: DIY electro, house, dub and hip-hop.
What triggered it all was an order placed by a film production company: a soundtrack for silent porn films dating from the beginning of the 20th century! They trotted out all their talents. Our three heroes played the end result to some friendly listeners, the feedback persuaded them to drop their individual projects and come up with a repertory of their own. Because there was no question for them of reworking Django or giving swing a face-lift! If they were going to forge their own path, it had to be something completely fresh.
This was back in 2005: it would take them an entire year. At which point they met Loïc Barrouk, manager of the Café de la Danse, who was really keen on the project. He got them into the studio (recording with session musicians), and then got them some gigs. For that, they needed some reliable fellow travellers, so they surfed MySpace. Two months later, the troops had been mustered: Chapi (clarinet), Toustou (who plays trombone and beat synthing), Aurélien (alternating as guitarist and DJ) and, last but not least, petulant vocalist Colotis Zoé, every bit as sweet’n’saucy as her signature song “Jolie coquine”! Among the three pioneers, Hugues, the crazy one, has revealed a talent for frenzied scat, Arnaud and Carlos double up their instruments thanks to programming. All together, they composed a new repertory. The Caravan took off.
Caravan Palace’s secret is a supersonic buzz on the Internet (free promo) and a year on the road with hard-hitting concerts, even before they released their record. A prime example was their performance at the 2007 Django Reinhardt Jazz Festival, in Samois, where they wowed an audience who had never heard of them. Veterans from the classic manouche jazz scene were left speechless. The excellent Caravan Palace musicians, who are of course “gadjos” (non-gypsies), have breathed fresh air into the timeless swing scene without coming across as preachers. As well as listeners with curious ears, the Caravan also has its own following, a horde of fans totally into the electro vibe, who turn up at each of their concerts. Caravan Palace’s reputation has rippled beyond the frontiers too, with Europe eager to check them out.
The album has at last been set for release in October 2008, on the Wagram label. With Caravan Palace, the future of swing looks set to swing.
April
Caravan Palace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
April please, lower your gun
Cold wind, nude branches on the trees
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
Grey steam, waving on my street
April please, lower your gun
Blurred dreams, playing on repeat
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature and
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
Running in nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
A child swing, hanging from my tree
My dear friend, you've been the one
Large fields, unexplored lovely things
April please, help me to run
The lyrics of Caravan Palace's song "April" evoke a sense of urgency and a desire to escape. The first verse opens with the imagery of a wild spring, symbolizing chaos and unpredictability, raging in the streets. The singer pleads with April, personified as a figure with a gun, to lower her weapon. This can be seen as a metaphor for the obstacles and challenges that the singer wants to overcome.
The mention of cold winds and nude branches on the trees further emphasizes the barren and desolate nature of the singer's surroundings. Again, the plea to April to help them run suggests a longing for freedom and a need to escape from their current situation. It implies a desire to leave behind the dullness and monotony of life.
In the second verse, the singer speaks of running in nature, away from the past. This signifies a desire to leave behind any burdens or regrets. The phrase "pretty as a picture" suggests a newfound optimism and joy that comes from being immersed in the beauty of nature and leaving behind the past.
The repetition of the chorus reinforces the themes of running, escaping, and finding solace in nature. The singer wants to break free and cheer up quickly, indicating that they are seeking a change in their life and are willing to take action to find it.
Towards the end of the song, the reference to a child swing hanging from a tree brings a nostalgic and innocent element to the lyrics. The swing symbolizes a simpler time and a connection to a dear friend. The mention of large fields and unexplored lovely things suggests a longing for new experiences and the excitement of the unknown. The plea to April to help them run repeats once again, emphasizing the urgency and longing for escape.
Overall, the lyrics of "April" convey a desire to break free from the constraints of life and find solace in nature. They illustrate a longing for freedom, new experiences, and the opportunity to leave behind the past. The repeated pleas to April suggest a need for external assistance, perhaps symbolizing a hope for change beyond the singer's control.
Line by Line Meaning
Wild spring, raging in the street
The vibrant energy of the spring season can be seen in the lively and chaotic atmosphere of the streets
April please, lower your gun
As spring brings forth growth and change, the singer pleads for the intensity and aggressiveness of April to subside
Cold wind, nude branches on the trees
The chilly wind blows through the barren branches of the trees, symbolizing the lifelessness of the surroundings
April please, help me to run
The artist seeks April's assistance in escaping from the stagnant and dull state of being
Running in the nature
Finding solace and freedom by immersing oneself in the natural environment
Away from the past
Leaving behind previous experiences or memories that may be holding them back
Pretty as a picture
Feeling joyful and content, as if life is as beautiful and idyllic as a picturesque image
I'm cheering up so fast
Experiencing a rapid and uplifting improvement in mood and spirits
Grey steam, waving on my street
The murky mist or fog softly moves through the streets, creating a somber and gloomy atmosphere
Blurred dreams, playing on repeat
The artist's aspirations or desires remain unclear and elusive, continuously recurring in their mind
Running in nature and
Continuing to find solace and freedom by immersing oneself in the natural environment
Away from the past
Continuing the journey of leaving behind previous experiences or memories that may be holding them back
Pretty as a picture
Continuing to feel joyful and content, as if life is as beautiful and idyllic as a picturesque image
I'm cheering up so fast
Continuing to experience a rapid and uplifting improvement in mood and spirits
Running in nature
Persistently seeking solace and freedom by immersing oneself in the natural environment
Away from the past
Persistently leaving behind previous experiences or memories that may be holding them back
Pretty as a picture
Persistently feeling joyful and content, as if life is as beautiful and idyllic as a picturesque image
I'm cheering up so fast
Persistently experiencing a rapid and uplifting improvement in mood and spirits
A child swing, hanging from my tree
A swing meant for children is suspended from a tree, symbolizing a reminder of innocence and joy in the singer's life
My dear friend, you've been the one
Expressing gratitude and appreciation to a specific person who has been a source of support and companionship
Large fields, unexplored lovely things
There are vast areas and undiscovered beauty that the artist is yet to explore, symbolizing uncharted experiences and opportunities
April please, help me to run
Once again, the artist seeks April's assistance in continuing the journey of escaping from the stagnant and dull state of being
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hugues Payen De La Garanderie, Sonia Fernandez Velasco, Antoine Toustou, Arnaud De Bosredon, Aurelien Amzallag, Charles Delaporte
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chaakmazing
Lyrics:
(please correct me if i made a mistake somewhere)
White spring, raging in the street,
april please, lower your gun,
cold wind, nude branches on the trees,
april please, help me to run.
[chorus]
Running in the nature,
away from the past,
pretty as a picture
i'm cheering up so fast.
Grey steam waving on my streets
april please, lower your gun
blurred dreams playing on repeat
april please, help me to run.
[chorus]
Running in the nature
and away from the past,
pretty as a picture
i'm cheering up so fast.
[chorus]
Running in the nature,
away from the past,
(oooh)
pretty as a picture
i'm cheering up so fast.
A giant swing hanging from my tree,
my dear friend, you've been the one,
large fields unexplored lovely things,
april please, help me to run.
Saeeda Frimpong
Lyrics
Wild spring, raging in my street
April please, lower your gun
Cold wind, nude branches on the trees
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
Grey steam, waving on my street
April please, lower your gun
Blurred dreams, playing on repeat
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
A child swing, hanging from my tree
My dear friend, you've been the one
Large fields, unexplored lovely things
April please, help me to run
Leon Ochoa Saenz
Amazing Song its very sentimental :3
Greetings from Peru Saludos desde Perú
Lyris
Wild spring, raging in my street
April please, lower your gun
Cold wind, nude branches on the trees
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
Grey steam, waving on my street
April please, lower your gun
Blurred dreams, playing on repeat
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
A child swing, hanging from my tree
My dear friend, you've been the one
Large fields, unexplored lovely things
April please, help me to run
Noche paz amor
Verse 1]
Wild spring
Raging in my street
April, please, lower your gun
Cold wind, nude branches on the trees
April, please, help me to run
[Chorus]
Running in the nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
[Verse 2]
Grey steam
Waving on my streets
April, please, lower your gun
Blurred dreams playing on repeat
April, please, help me to run
[Chorus]
Running in the nature, and
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
Running in the nature, and
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
[Outro]
A child's swing
Hanging from my tree
My dear friend, you've been the one
Large fields, unexplored lovely things
April, please, help me to run
Ava
Wild spring, raging in the street
April please, lower your gun
Cold wind, nude branches on the trees
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
Grey steam, waving on my street
April please, lower your gun
Blurred dreams, playing on repeat
April please, help me to run
Running in the nature and
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
[Break]
Running in nature
Away from the past
Pretty as a picture
I'm cheering up so fast
A child swing, hanging from my tree
My dear friend, you've been the one
Large fields, unexplored lovely things
April please, help me to run
CaravanPalace
Vocals performed by Manuela Riviere on this one <3
CRAZY Goldy
Beautiful voice! And awesome music!
Jolli
Genuinely surprised. Thought it really sounded like Zoe
Fiona Scott
This sounds like a french noir movie trailer 10/10
12GB DDR4 Ramsay
Sounds exactly like Zoè! Amazing!
TUSKLA
Generatión in the Palace! :3
Rhys D.
bold of you to own an entire genre and then accidentally create your own new genre in the process. thanks caravan palace, very cool!
LaFlammeAzure
Outstanding move
Drew Haynes
..... They created swing and electric swing music?
Ebi_Tempura
@Drew Haynes they own swing
Created electric (I think)