Having gained experience as one of the six singers in close-harmony group Les Elles, and as a vocalist in the Philharmonic Funk Foundation, Emerald first gained public recognition for her debut solo single Back It Up, which was officially released by Grandmono Records on July 6, 2009.
Her first album, Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor was released on January 29, 2010. The album features a mix of ballroom jazz, tangos and mambo’s in a contemporary production. Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor has been the best selling album in The Netherlands for over 29 consecutive weeks, beating the previous record of 26 weeks set by Michael Jacksons album Thriller.
In December 2009 her second single A Night Like This was released and reached the #1 position in the dutch charts. Her latest (May 2010) release is That Man.
After the succes in The Netherlands Back it Up has been released in Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium and many more countries are to follow.
www.caroemerald.com
In May 2007 Caro Emerald got a phonecall from Dutch producers Jan van Wieringen and David Schreurs. With another producer, they'd written a song for a Japanese pop act with the acclaimed songwriter Vince Degiorgio (Atomic Kitten, A-Teens, N'Synch, Love Inc. a.o.). But their demo singer couldn't make it. They needed something quickly, and that's how Caro got to record the demo of "Back It Up".
Caro liked the song so much that she added it to her live repertoire. A year later she got the chance to perform "Back It Up" on local TV station AT5 in Amsterdam. It caught on right away: viewers just wouldn't stop calling and e-mailing about that lovely girl with her catchy song. Caro and a friend produced a no budget video which ended up on Youtube, and again, the response was overwhelming. People literally begged her to sell the song on iTunes.
But with only one song on the repertoire, Caro and her team decided to focus on a full album first. Inspired by films and music from the 40's and 50's they started working on new songs and ideas. Fall 2008, David flew over to Toronto to write with Degiorgio, and returned with 7 great tracks and a clear direction for the album. A few months later, Vince came to Amsterdam to finish the album. The result: an exciting and hugely accessible record, featuring ballroom jazz, cinematic tangoes, groovin' jazz tracks and infectious mambo's that sound like they were recorded in 1951 in Hollywood's most famous recording studios. But the smoking beats, catchy songs and inventive production tell it's actually 2009 that Caro Emerald is putting her name on the map.
Excuse My French
Caro Emerald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You walked in like Edgar con
Did you fly in on a jet?
Win a million dollar bet?
So let me get my good shoes on
I wanna follow in the same old steps
Where you waltz around like you're the best
Where you garden blooms in May
'Cause you have everything you want
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can't see
I could never be your wife
'Cause I'm still a lady
No, I'm not some witch
That postponed your lines
I'm not on the best
You're Houdini in the state and boy
I can't use a wretch
I know my words won't tell me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonnez moi)
Today you think you're Erol Flynn
Sharing stories where you think you've been
Your style must be grand, without a passport stamp
Can't you see the twister that you're in
Lie down inside a sea of words
You're going under, now you won't get hurt
So just give it a rest, this time your more is less
You're going solo in this dream
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can't see
I could never be your wife
'Cause I'm still a lady
No, I'm not some witch
That postponed your lines
I'm not on the best
You're Houdini in the state and boy
I can't use a wretch
I know my words won't tell me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonnez moi)
The lyrics to Caro Emerald's "Excuse My French" explore the concept of a person who walks into a room with a sense of entitlement and superiority, making grandiose claims and boasting about their accomplishments. The singer observes this person with a mixture of skepticism and bemusement, noting their ego-driven behavior and their tendency to treat others as inferior. The phrase "Excuse My French" appears several times in the song, suggesting that the subject's language and behavior may not be entirely appropriate or polite.
The first verse of the song describes this person's entrance into the room, and the singer wonders what kind of persona they are putting on. The lines "Did you fly in on a jet?/Win a million dollar bet?" suggest that the individual may be exaggerating their wealth and status. The chorus repeats the phrase "The Houdini in my life," referring to the person's tendency to disappear and reappear with grand gestures that may or may not be genuine. The singer makes it clear that she is not interested in this person romantically.
The second verse emphasizes the subject's tendency to talk about themselves without regard for others. The line "Lie down inside a sea of words/You're going under, now you won't get hurt" suggests that their boasting may be a form of self-protection or compensation for insecurity. The chorus repeats, once again calling the person "The Houdini in my life" and emphasizing the singer's lack of interest in a relationship. The song concludes with the phrase "Please excuse my French," suggesting that the subject's behavior may be offensive or off-putting.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know what you must be on
I cannot comprehend what you are thinking or feeling
You walked in like Edgar con
You entered here with an air of confidence or the impression of a con artist
Did you fly in on a jet?
Did you arrive on a plane?
Win a million dollar bet?
Did you just win a big fortune?
So let me get my good shoes on
Allow me to put on my best footwear
I wanna follow in the same old steps
I desire to imitate the same actions as you
Where you waltz around like you're the best
You confidently walk around with an air of superiority and success
Where your garden blooms in May
A place where everything seems to be in good condition or successful
But it's snowing every day
Although everything seems great, there is a cold emptiness within it all
Cause you have everything you want
You seem to have everything you could ever desire or need
You must be
You must be the one
The Houdini in my life
You are like the famous magician Houdini, appearing and disappearing from my life without explanation or reason
But you can't see
You cannot perceive or understand what I am thinking or feeling
I could never be your wife
I could never be with you in a committed and intimate partnership
'Cause I'm still a lady
I am a woman of class and dignity
No, I'm not some witch
I am not a manipulative or deceptive person
That postponed your lines
I am not responsible for delaying or postponing your actions or plans
I'm not on the best
I am not on top or at the height of success
You're Houdini in the state and boy
You are like Houdini, constantly appearing and disappearing, and it is frustrating for me
I can't use a wretch
I cannot use someone who is unreliable or unbecoming
I know my words won't tell me
I am aware that my words will not give me the answers I seek
Please excuse my French
Please forgive me for my foul language or for being frank about how I feel
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VINCENT PAUL DEGIORGIO, DAVID CHRISTIAAN SCHREURS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Liam Smith
I don't know what you must be on
You walked in like the Aga Khan
Did you fly in on a jet?
Win a million dollar bet?
So let me get my good shoes on
I wanna follow in the same old steps (uh-huh)
Where you waltz around like you're the best (uh-huh)
Where your garden blooms in May
But it's snowing every day
'Cause you have everything you want
You must be (you must be)
The Houdini in my life
But you can't see (you can't see)
I could never be your wife
'Cause I'm still a lady
No, I'm not some wench
That falls for your lines
I'm not on the fence
Your routine is fading
Boy, I could use a wrench
I know my words won't fail me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonnez-moi)
Today you think you're Erol Flynn
Sharing stories where you think you've been (where you've been)
Your style must be grand (grand), without a passport stamp
Can't you see the twister that you're in? (I'm in a twister)
Why drown inside a sea of words?
You're going under, now you won't get heard
So just give it a rest
This time your more is less
You're going solo in this dream
But you must be (you must be)
The Houdini in my life (the Houdini in my life)
But you can't see (but you can't see)
I could never be your wife
'Cause I'm still a lady
No, I'm not some wench
That falls for your lines
I'm not on the fence
Your routine is fading
Boy, I could use a wrench
I know my words won't fail me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonnez-moi)
Serenity Enderson
Lyrics (for anyone who wants the correct ones - unlike pretty much every lyric site online, for some reason):
(Verse)
I don't know what you must be on
You walked in like the Aga Khan
Did you fly in on a jet?
Win a million-dollar bet?
So let me get my good shoes on
I wanna follow in the same old steps
Where you waltz around like you're the best
Where your garden blooms in May
But it snowing every day
'Cause you have everything you want
(Pre-Chorus)
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can't see
I could never be your wife
(Chorus)
'Cause I'm still a lady
No, I'm not some wench
That knows all your lines
I'm not on the fence
Your routine is fading
Boy, I could use a wrench!
I know my words won't tell me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonne-moi)
(Verse)
Today you think you're Erol Flynn
Sharing stories where you think you've been
Your style must be cramped, without a passport stamp
Can't you see the twister that you're in
Lie down inside a sea of words
You're going under, now you won't get hurt
So just give it a rest, this time your more is less
You're going solo in this dream
(Pre-Chorus)
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can't see
I could never be your wife
(Chorus)
'Cause I'm still a lady
No, I'm not some wench
That knows all your lines
I'm not on the fence
Your routine is fading
Boy, I could use a wrench!
I know my words won't tell me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonne-moi)
Betül Çakır
I don’t know what you must be on
You walked in like Edgar con
Did you fly in on a jet
Win a million dollar bet
So let me get my good shoes on
I wanna follow in the same old steps
Where you waltz around like you’re the best
Where you garden blooms in May
But it snowing every day
‘Cause you have everything you want
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can’t see
I could never be your wife
‘Cause I’m still a lady
No, I’m not some witch
That postponed your lines
I’m not on the best
You’re Houdini in the state and boy
I can’t use a wretch
I know my words won’t tell me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonnez moi)
Today you think you’re Erol Flynn
Sharing stories where you think you’ve been
Your style must be grand, without a passport stamp
Can’t you see the twister that you’re in
Lie down inside a sea of words
You’re going under, now you won’t get hurt
So just give it a rest, this time your more is less
You’re going solo in this dream
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can’t see
I could never be your wife
‘Cause I’m still a lady
No, I’m not some witch
That postponed your lines
I’m not on the best
You’re Houdini in the state and boy
I can’t use a wretch
I know my words won’t tell me
Please excuse my French
(Pardonnez moi)
Beuk Style
***** I don’t know what you must be on
You walked in like the Aga Khan
Did you fly in on a jet?
Win a million dollar bet?
So let me get my good shoes on
I wanna follow in the same old steps
Where you waltz around like you’re the best
Where your garden blooms in May
But it's snowing every day
‘Cause you have everything you want
[Pre-Chorus:]
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can’t see
I could never be your wife
[Chorus:]
‘Cause I’m still a lady
No, I’m not some wench
That postponed your lines
I’m not on the best
Your routine is fading, boy
I could use a wrench
I know my words won’t fail me
Please excuse my French
(Pardone moi)
[Verse:]
Today you think you’re Erol Flynn
Sharing stories where you think you’ve been
Your style must be cramped, without a passport stamp
Can’t you see the twister that you’re in
Lie down inside a sea of words
You’re going under, now you won’t get hurt
So just give it a rest, this time your more is less
You’re going solo in this dream
[Pre-Chorus:]
You must be
The Houdini in my life
But you can’t see
I could never be your wife
[Chorus:]
‘Cause I’m still a lady
No, I’m not some wench
That postponed your lines
I’m not on the best
Your routine is fading, boy
I could use a wrench
I know my words won’t fail me
Please excuse my French
(Pardone moi)
Ansein
Riccardo Ratti
I'm going to break things down to their relative parts for you. Then I want you to substitute your lyrics, and look at the rhythm, and how it relates to that particular part.
‘Cause I’m still a lady
No, I’m not some wench
That postponed your lines
I’m not on the fence
Your routine is fading, boy
I could use a wrench
I know my words won’t fail me
Please excuse my French
Looking at the rhyming scheme, I think it should be bench, but fence is what makes sense, since she's not debating.
RandomUserHere
Caro is just unmatched, she isn't all peppy 24/7 she knows the right tempo, has original songs, and she does electro swing, the un matched best style
Валерий Назаров
Х
Ed Alisauskas
This is one of THE most creative and musical albums in recent memories
Shame Caro & her band are not more known (esp in the US)
They deserve it
Real music in an era of fake & image
photist100
Yes, totally agree.
MandalorianKoala
I think this is Caro's most criminally underrated song.
photist100
Definitely very underrated, there with you. Sorry the shitty the police misses that.
Микола Іванович
Каро надо видеть.Это непревзойденно,и слова не передают всю гамму удовольствий от ее песен.
Ewa Rosołowska
Caro, śpiewasz cuuuuudownie. Dziękuje za cudne chwile spędzone przy Twych piosenkach.
Галина Симонова
Очень приятно слушать и смотреть Caro, невозможно с кем - то сравнить.
Женя Сахаров
Я приятно удивлён, встретив в комментариях своего соотечественника)))