Letissier has used numerous personal and stage names, and remarked that he "just ha many names for all the layers". He began his career as Christine and the Queens. For his second studio album, he shortened it to Chris, which was accompanied by a shift to a persona described as "a woman playing with masculine tropes". In October 2021, he was using the name Rahim. This sparked a debate around cultural appropriation due to the name's Arabic origin. He eventually began using a succession of different names such as Sam le pompier (the French title of Fireman Sam) and a full stop before settling on Redcar, sometimes shortened as Red. In August 2022, he updated his pronouns to he/him across social media platforms. In 2023, with the release of fourth album Paranoïa, Angels, True Love, he seemed to have reverted to simply Chris. However, he still occasionally uses his birth name, about which he said: "Héloïse Letissier is my parents' provenance and I love my parents. I sometimes use Héloïse to reconnect me to my childhood, but my inner child name is Manamané."
Narcissus is Back
Christine and the Queens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he's still on the lookout
I lost my voice, I think I'm cursed
We make love as we rehearse
I'll cry a thousand more mirrors
So that your eyes could get brighter
Obediently I'll bear a name
I'll share it with the wind I tamed
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you?
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back, I shouldn't bother, I break the mirrors that I meet
Narcissus is back from underwater and has his whole lips to drink
The water, water is so cold
It poisons anyone who calls
A loving hand and daring kiss
Now watch, here's everything you miss
It's getting hard to look away
It's not your real face anyway
This smile's too easy to disperse
Et moi je prie pour une averse
For you to see my heart
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you?
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back, I shouldn't bother, I break the mirrors that I meet
Narcissus is back from underwater and has his whole lips to drink
Narcissus is back
Narcissus is back
Narcissus is back
Narcissus is back
The song "Narcissus is back" by Christine and the Queens explores the theme of self-love and the way in which it can become toxic. The lyrics tells the story of someone who is completely under the spell of Narcissus, a mythological character known for being obsessed with his own image. The singer of the song is trapped in a cycle of trying to please Narcissus, losing her own voice in the process, and breaking mirrors that remind her of her own imperfections.
The first verse depicts the singer trying to communicate with Narcissus, but he is too busy looking at himself to listen. She feels cursed and powerless, but still, they make love as they rehearse. The repetition of "can you see my heart" emphasizes how important it is for her to be seen for who she is beyond her reflection.
The chorus refers to Narcissus coming back from underwater, a reference to the myth in which he falls in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. The singer tries to break free from the cycle but finds it hard to look away from Narcissus's allure. She prays for rain, a cleansing force that could wash away the toxic influence of Narcissus.
Overall, "Narcissus is back" is a powerful commentary on the dangers of self-obsession and the importance of acknowledging our own flaws and vulnerabilities. It encourages us to look beyond our own reflection and see the beauty and value in others.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking talking your way out
You're trying to talk your way out of this situation
But he's still on the lookout
But he's still on the lookout for your attention and admiration
I lost my voice I think I'm cursed
I feel like I've lost my voice and my ability to express myself
We make love as we rehearse
We're rehearsing our love and affection to try and get it right
I'll cry a thousand more mirrors
I'll keep crying until my tears fill up a thousand more mirrors
So that your eyes could get brighter
So that you'll see me with brighter, more loving eyes
Obediently I'll bear a name
I'll submit to being given a name or identity by someone else
I'll share it with the wind I tamed
I'll share that name with the winds that I have learned to control
Can you see my heart
Can you really see and understand my feelings and emotions
Narcissus is back from under water and kisses his lips again
I'm stuck in a cycle of self-obsession and self-love, just like Narcissus
The water water is so cold
The water of reality and self-awareness is cold and painful
It poisons anyone who calls
It poisons and hurts anyone who tries to reach out for help or connection
A loving hand and daring kiss
Someone extending a hand of love and a daring kiss could break through the barrier of self-obsession
Now watch here's everything you miss
Take a step back and watch all the things you're missing out on by being consumed in self-obsession
It's getting hard to look away
It's becoming difficult to break free from the cycle of self-obsession
It's not your real face anyway
The face that you're obsessed with and in love with isn't even your real self
This smile's too easy to disperse
This superficial smile that I wear to hide my true emotions is too easily seen through
Et moi je prie pour une averse
And me, I pray for a storm to wash away all these illusions and masks
Can you see my heart
Do you really see me for who I truly am, beyond all the illusions and facades
Narcissus is back from under water and has his whole lips to drink
I'm stuck in self-obsession and self-love, and it's consuming me
Lyrics © NOUVELLES EDITIONS FRANCAISES, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, BECAUSE EDITIONS
Written by: Heloise Letissier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinaperoxcappe
Lyrics/Paroles
Talking, talking your way out
But he's still on the lookout
I lost my voice, I think I'm cursed
We make love as we rehearse
I'll cry a thousand more mirrors
So that your eyes could get brighter
Obediently I'll bear a name
I'll share it with the wind I tamed
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you?
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back, I shouldn't bother, I break the mirrors that I meet
Narcissus is back from underwater and has his whole lips to drink
The water, water is so cold
It poisons anyone who calls
A loving hand and daring kiss
Now watch, here's everything you miss
It's getting hard to look away
It's not your real face anyway
This smile's too easy to disperse
Et moi je prie pour une averse
For you to see my heart
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you see my heart?
Can you?
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back from underwater and kisses his lips again
Narcissus is back, I shouldn't bother, I break the mirrors that I meet
Narcissus is back from underwater and has his whole lips to drink
Narcissus is back
Narcissus is back
Narcissus is back
Narcissus is back
@luciagregorova8603
Nádherné, sofistikované, návykové!!!!
@miquelangellopezmurie6441
Es fantástica. Me alegro de haber conocido a esta artista, me gusta casi todo lo que hace. Ojalá tuviera su espacio musical en España.
@lolo13s
T'es une incroyable artiste ! Tu me procure tellement d'émotions. Ne t'arrête jamais s'il te plaît ❤
@amber1926
Why oh why isn't this version on the album, love this
@HeckTo
Yes this is better
@charmelizabeth8584
I just recently knew of her. Such an amazing artist. I love her hair long, but with short hair, she looks very sophisticated. Very cool either way😎 I like that she sings in both English and French
@alainstritmatter4636
C'est magnifique !!! La voix, le rythme tout !!!!
@josiemambo
Christine has been changing so much! Anyway, she keeps amazing strong personality and good musician.
@zacksap
I freakin' LOVE this song!
@nicolasgonzalez-pj5fd
découverte hier soir en live, un charme fou ! musique et personnalité fraîche, spontanée, envoûtante, belle, rebelle, captivante avec juste ce qu'il faut de sensualité et une proportion parfaite d'humour et d'auto dérision. ça y est je suis fan ! voire amoureux !!!