Cardin began her career as a model at the age of 15, where she appeared in numerous advertising campaigns such as Barilà.
A top four finalist in the first season of the TVA singing competition La Voix in 2013, later the same year she was featured on Garou's album Au milieu de ma vie as a duet vocalist on the single Du vent, des mots. On March 1, 2014, she appeared on the sister series The Voice: la plus belle voix in France to perform the song with Garou, a judge on that edition.
She released her solo debut EP, Big Boy - EP, in 2016 on Cult Nation Records. The EP featured songs in both English and French. She was a shortlisted SOCAN Songwriting Prize finalist in the French division for her song "Les échardes", and the title track "Big Boy" was playlisted on CBC Radio 2 and charted on the Radio 2 Top 20. She made an appearance on the talk show Tout le monde en parle to discuss her mini-album in November 2016.
At the 2017 SOCAN Songwriting Awards, she was a nominee in the English category for "Big Boy" and in the French category for "Faufile", becoming the first artist in the history of the award to be nominated in both categories in the same year.
In 2017 she released her second EP, Main Girl EP. The title track reached #1 on the Radio 2 Top 20.
She received two Juno Award nominations at the Juno Awards of 2018, for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for "Main Girl", "Paradise Motion" and "The Kids".[15]
In 2018, she received another SOCAN Songwriting Prize nomination for "Main Girl".
In 2019, Cardin and producer CRi collaborated on a cover of Daniel Bélanger's "Fous n'importe où", and Cardin appeared on Loud's album Tout ça pour ça as a duet vocalist on the track "Sometimes, All the Time". In 2020 she released the singles "Passive Aggressive" and "Daddy"; both tracks were recorded for her full-length debut album Phoenix, which was released on April 23, 2021. Phoenix was co-written with Cardin's longtime manager Jason Brando of Cult Nation.
In September 2021 she released two non-album songs through the Spotify Singles series, a cover of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" and a French-language version of her own "XOXO".
Phoenix won the Felix Award for Anglophone Album of the Year at the 43rd Félix Awards. Cardin also won the awards for Anglophone Concert of the Year and Most Successful Artist Outside Quebec.
Cardin was the most-nominated artist at the Juno Awards of 2022, receiving nominations for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Phoenix, Pop Album of the Year for Phoenix, Single of the Year and Video of the Year for "Meaningless", and the Fan Choice Award.
Phoenix
Charlotte Cardin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said it back, I don't mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
You been worried about me
A tornado inside
Take a second and show me
How to burn and to rise
I could swear I'm changing
I wasn't very happy when you met me
Baby boy
You told me you love me
I said it back, I don't mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
I know I haven't called back
But I'm building it up slowly, baby, surely
You're the first I'ma contact
When I feel good enough
You don't have to worry
I wasn't very happy when you met me
Baby boy
You told me you love me
I said it back, I don't mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
You told me you love me
I said it back, I don't mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
I thought I meant to when I came in this relationship
But all the roses in the world would only fuel my rage
And now you're wounded from the blades, I hope you can forgive
And we can rise from the ashes just like a phoenix
I'm burning alive, first to survive
It's been complicated
Ooh
You told me you love me
I said it back, I don't mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
You told me you love me
I said it back, I don't mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
I thought I meant to when I came in this relationship
But all the roses in the world would only fuel my rage
And now you're wounded from the blades, I hope you can forgive
And we can rise from the ashes just like a phoenix, phoenix
The song "Phoenix" by Charlotte Cardin is about the struggle of self-discovery and overcoming past traumas. The lyrics suggest that the singer has gone through a personal transformation after burning everything that she used to be. She admits that when her partner first met her, she wasn't happy and that she was complicated. However, her partner is there for her and she assures him that she is building herself back up again.
The chorus repeats the lines "You told me you love me, I said it back, I don't mean it" and "I had to burn everything that I was just to come back like a phoenix" emphasizing the idea that she had to destroy herself to become something new, something more alive. The song also talks about being wounded and the hope of forgiveness and a chance to rise from the ashes like a phoenix.
The lyrics show the struggle of the singer as she tries to reconcile her past self with her new self. The song is both personal and universal in its meaning, as it reflects the journey of anyone who goes through a significant transformation in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
You told me you love me
You expressed your love for me
I said it back, I don't mean it
I reciprocated your words, but I do not feel the same
I had to burn everything that I was
I needed to let go of my past self and everything associated with it
Just to come back like a phoenix
So that I can rise anew, like a phoenix from the ashes
You been worried about me
You have been concerned for my well-being
A tornado inside
I am struggling with strong feelings and emotions
I've been complicated
I am a complex and difficult person
Take a second and show me
Take a moment to help and guide me
How to burn and to rise
How to let go and start anew
I could swear I'm changing
I am convinced that I am evolving and growing as a person
Baby boy
An endearing term of address for a loved one
I know I haven't called back
I am aware that I have not returned your calls
But I'm building it up slowly, baby, surely
I am taking my time to work on myself and improve
You're the first I'ma contact
You are the first person I will reach out to when I feel better
When I feel good enough
When I am in a better mental and emotional state
I thought I meant to when I came in this relationship
I believed that I was capable of loving you when we started seeing each other
But all the roses in the world would only fuel my rage
However, even the sweetest gestures and gifts would not have been enough to calm my intense anger and frustration
And now you're wounded from the blades, I hope you can forgive
Now that you have been hurt by my words and actions, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me
And we can rise from the ashes just like a phoenix
And we can start anew and improve our relationship, like a phoenix rising from the ashes
I'm burning alive, first to survive
I feel like I am going through a difficult and painful experience, but I am determined to come out stronger
Ooh
A sudden exclamation or expression of emotion
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Charlotte Cardin, Jason Brando O'Farrell Ciciola, Marc-Andre Gilbert, Phillipe Stebbings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zeiven Music ♪
Lyrics if you prefer comments:
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
You’ve been worried about me
A tornado inside
I’ve been complicated
Take a second to show me
How to burn and to rise
I could swear I’m changing
I wasn’t very happy
When you met me
Baby boy
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
I know I haven’t called back
But I’m building it up
Slowly baby surely
You’re the first one I’ll contact
When I feel good enough
You don’t have to worry
I wasn’t very happy
When you met me
Baby boy
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
(X2)
I thought I meant it
When I came in this relationship
But all the roses in the world
Would only fuel my rage
And now you’re wounded from the blaze
I hope you can forgive
And we can rise from the ashes
Just like a phoenix
I’m burning alive
For us to survive
It’s been complicated
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
(X2)
I thought I meant it
When I came in this relationship
But all the roses in the world
Would only fuel my rage
And now you’re wounded from the blaze
I hope you can forgive
So we can rise from the ashes
Just like a phoenix
A phoenix
(also i write songs inspired by Jeremy Zucker/Lauv. I'd love if you give a shot to my music and subscribe 'cause most probably you won't regret<3have a good day:)
Goumri Kawtar
This woman is so underrated, her voice is amazing her songs are just masterpieces. She really knows how to capture a feeling ❤️
Richard Martin
We saw her live a couple of years ago at the Danforth Music Hall. It was awesome! This album is so fantastic! Sounds even more incredible on vinyl. Just got tickets for the show next February at The Elgin! Can’t wait!!!
dr wafaa
I've shed so much tears to her songs ican fill a desert
David Langlois
her first album, dont think she's underrated
A
This song is the kind of song that crushes your whole soul and body, makes you relive some old and hard memories, it MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE. The kind of song that you want to scream along in your room, because it feels like an explosion inside you bringing so much emotions to the surface. Thank you Charlotte, it’s so rare to feel that kind of feelings with songs. Happens like once or two in a year . Love you
Cloé G.
She's so underrated I swear. I've been following her work since 2016, and she's the real deal. Her voice is raw, and even when she puts some effects, you can still feel that rawness and how she really feels each word. She's so talented! I could listen to her singing all day long haha <3 Quel talent! Greetings from Lisbon, hoping to see you soon here!
Zeiven Music ♪
Lyrics if you prefer comments:
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
You’ve been worried about me
A tornado inside
I’ve been complicated
Take a second to show me
How to burn and to rise
I could swear I’m changing
I wasn’t very happy
When you met me
Baby boy
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
I know I haven’t called back
But I’m building it up
Slowly baby surely
You’re the first one I’ll contact
When I feel good enough
You don’t have to worry
I wasn’t very happy
When you met me
Baby boy
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
A phoenix
(X2)
I thought I meant it
When I came in this relationship
But all the roses in the world
Would only fuel my rage
And now you’re wounded from the blaze
I hope you can forgive
And we can rise from the ashes
Just like a phoenix
I’m burning alive
For us to survive
It’s been complicated
You told me
You love me
I said it back I didn’t mean it
I had to burn everything that I was
Just to come back like a phoenix
(X2)
I thought I meant it
When I came in this relationship
But all the roses in the world
Would only fuel my rage
And now you’re wounded from the blaze
I hope you can forgive
So we can rise from the ashes
Just like a phoenix
A phoenix
(also i write songs inspired by Jeremy Zucker/Lauv. I'd love if you give a shot to my music and subscribe 'cause most probably you won't regret<3have a good day:)
La Vie En Pointillés🌸Mandalas
Merci 👍
Angeline Bena
Thank you!!!
Maeva aveaM
Merveilleux. Merci <3