Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (born Carla Gilberta Bruni Tedeschi, December 23, 1967 … Read Full Bio ↴Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (born Carla Gilberta Bruni Tedeschi, December 23, 1967 in Turin, Italy) is an Italian-born, naturalized French songwriter, singer, former model and the spouse of the former president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy.

At the age of 5, her family left for Paris. When she was 19, she decided to stop studying art and architecture, to become a full-time model.

She was a very successful fashion model until 1998. Since then she has devoted herself to chanson. Her debut album, Quelqu'un m'a dit, on which she sings in French (despite her Italian origin), was released in 2002. To date it has sold over a million copies across Europe. Her second album, No Promises (this time in English, with songs inspired by famous English-language poets), was released in January 2007.

She married then French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in the beginning of 2008.

Her music career still did not cease after becoming the First Lady. She released her third album Comme si de rien n'était ("As If Nothing Happened") on 11 July 2008. The songs are self-penned except for one rendition of You Belong to Me and another song featuring a poem by Michel Houellebecq set to music. Royalties from the album will be donated to unidentified charitable and humanitarian cause.

L'Antilope
Carla Bruni Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

L'avenir est trouble
Et le passé troublant
Moi je suis
À même à même du présent
Comme la panthère
Et comme l'éléphant
Je mène mon âme
Pile dans l'instant

Car je suis à même
À même du présent
Comme la baleine
Comme le chat persan

Le passé avec ses
"Jamais plus" poignants
L'avenir avec son
Flot déconcertant
Je pose les armes
Et je choisis maintenant
Comme l'antilope
Comme la jument
Je bondis je galope
Au rythme du moment

Car je suis
A même à même du présent
Comme les vieillards
Les tout petits enfants

Comme les renards
Et les grands pélicans
Je dévore la moindre
Miette de ce néant
Et jusqu'au calice
Je bois mon tourment
Et jusqu'à l'extase
J'enlace le temps

Car je suis
A même à même du présent
Que la mort me prenne
Me prenne sans façon
Comme elle prend la lionne
Comme elle prend le faucon

Que la mort me prenne
Et je ne lui dirai pas non

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Carla Bruni's song L'Antilope illustrate the idea of living in the present moment and embracing life's uncertainty rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. The opening lines suggest that the future is unclear and the past is haunting, but the singer sees herself as being fully present, like a panther or an elephant. She is in control of her soul and living in the moment. She compares herself to various animals such as a whale, a Persian cat, a fox, and a pelican, emphasizing the idea that being fully present is a natural state of being for all creatures large and small.

The second verse highlights the contrast between the past and the future, which can be overwhelming and disconcerting. There are regrets from the past and fears about the future, but the singer chooses to live in the present moment, like an antelope or a mare, bounding and galloping to the rhythm of the moment. The song suggests making the most of every moment, devouring the smallest crumb of existence, embracing both pleasure and pain, and hugging time until the ultimate end. The final verse reinforces the idea of living in the moment and accepting death when it comes, comparing oneself to the lioness and the falcon, who accept death without hesitation.

Line by Line Meaning

L'avenir est trouble
The future is uncertain

Et le passé troublant
And the past is distressing

Moi je suis
As for me,

À même à même du présent
I am in tune with the present

Comme la panthère
Like a panther

Et comme l'éléphant
And like an elephant

Je mène mon âme
I lead my soul

Pile dans l'instant
Right in the moment

Car je suis à même
For I am in tune

Comme la baleine
Like a whale

Comme le chat persan
Like a Persian cat