Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun") is an entertainment empir… Read Full Bio ↴Cirque du Soleil (French for "Circus of the Sun") is an entertainment empire based in Montréal, Quebec, Canada and founded in Quebec in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy Laliberté and Daniel Gauthier. It was an answer to a call by Commissariat général aux célébrations 1534-1984 of the Quebec Government for the 450th anniversary celebration of the discovery of Canada by French explorer Jacques Cartier (b 1491-d 1557). Gauthier, who left the company in 2001, now owns the ski area Le Massif, on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. Cirque du Soleil is now "guided" by Guy Laliberté.

It has been described as the modern circus, and focuses upon a storyline as well as amazing performances. It has several resident and touring troupes and draws heavily from the circus tradition. Emphasizing the use of humans as performers, Cirque du Soleil does not make use of animals. Instead, its performances combine elements of street performances and busking, circus, opera, ballet, and rock music. Acts include contortionists, jugglers, feats of strength, clowning, and trapeze artists. Their costumes are very colorful and creative, setting a festive and lively atmosphere. Also, Cirque shows do not use pre-recorded music; all music is played live.

Cirque shows begin as a creative concept, usually with elements of a central story line, a design concept and the selection of a composer for the music. These elements remain relatively constant throughout the production run of a given show.

However, the shows also include both "house" and "guest" acts. House acts are performed by the full-time cast members, some whom may be involved in several routines. Not all prepared routines are presented in every performance. Guest acts rotate in and out over the run of the show (clowns are typically guest acts). As a result, Cirque shows can vary somewhat performance to performance, and shows tend to evolve over time.

Cirque creators borrow from some of circus's earliest forms (for example, banquine and teeterboard acts) but also regularly introduce new apparatus. For example, Cirque introduced the use of bungie cords to aerial acts and created a modified tumbling trampoline called a Power Track, both of which have since been adopted by other circuses.

Cirque du Soleil recruits acts from different world circuses, including from China and Russia, blending them into their own style.

Among veteran circus performers, Cirque is regarded as one of the world's best circuses, due to higher than normal pay scales and benefits.

Cirque du Soleil has produced a number of performance DVDs and soundtrack CDs.

The troupe was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

Carrousel
Cirque Du Soleil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Greeski ladori gonza
Ladova mishtigreets sia...
Tomili vongela i na
Noplei segela no ita
Mercista vagita no mae
Ka leeza pelileesh dior etai
Magishki vonvea veelae
Mepeshtae gochikor no za

Meone vanor ishti
tegrets e panca
Bakuchi debresko lunasae
Greeskii ladori gonza

Ladova mishtigreets sia
Ladova mishtigreets sia

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cirque Du Soleil's song Carrousel are in a made-up language that is mystical in nature and adds to the otherworldly experience of a Cirque Du Soleil show. Though it may be difficult to understand the meaning behind the words, the effortless and fluid melody conveys emotions that are universal - love, passion, hope, and nostalgia. The repetitive use of certain words and sounds, such as "ladori gonza" and "mishtigreets sia," infuse a sense of joy and playfulness that is reminiscent of an amusement park or carnival.

What is interesting is that while the language is made-up, the song still manages to communicate a story. The lyrics follow a young couple on a journey through an unknown land, where they encounter various obstacles and adventures. The words may be unfamiliar, but the tone suggests excitement and freedom, as though anything is possible in this world. By creating a song without lyrics that are discernible, Cirque Du Soleil allows the audience to use their imaginations and fill in the gaps with their own interpretations.

Line by Line Meaning

Greeski ladori gonza
The performers gather together with excitement

Ladova mishtigreets sia...
As the music starts, the performers move in sync with each other

Tomili vongela i na
The aerial artists soar above the stage with grace and elegance

Noplei segela no ita
The acrobats effortlessly perform unbelievable feats with precision

Mercista vagita no mae
The clowns bring laughter and joy to the audience with their antics

Ka leeza pelileesh dior etai
The dancers move with fluidity and expressiveness, conveying emotions through their movements

Magishki vonvea veelae
The magicians perform illusions that leave the audience in awe and wonder

Mepeshtae gochikor no za
The fire performers bring energy and excitement with their dangerous yet mesmerizing acts

Meone vanor ishti
As the show continues, the energy and excitement only grows stronger

tegrets e panca
The performers work together as a team to create a mesmerizing show

Bakuchi debresko lunasae
Each act seamlessly transitions into the next, making for a cohesive and captivating performance