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.
Walk on Water
Cirque du Soleil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mais son aura est maléfique
Cette tentatrice
Se laisse bercer par la critique
Son plumage est beau
Mais son ramage est faux
Déesse de l'image
Le serpent rampe
Mais se laisse piler dessus
De chaque moment de plaisir
En émerge un où t'es déçu
L'œuf de Fabergé
Est vide à l'intérieur
L'enveloppe qu'on se crée
Sert à dissimuler ses peurs
La ballade est relax
Quand c'est un autre qui rame
Jouer l'indifférent
C'est comme danser avec le drame
Alle reste au chaud
Enveloppé par les flammes
Sa langue est un couteau
Et toi tu veux lécher la lame!
Copie conforme
Originalité de masse
Tu peux jouer la mascarade,
Jusqu'à ce que tombe le masque
Je ne vois que très peu d'art
Mais beaucoup d'artifice
Dites-moi combien de pantins pendent
Par leur égocentrisme?
Walk on water, walk on air,
Scratch the surface if you dare
You'll go further if you learn to skim
You can rise above it all
But why walk when you can crawl?
Just be sure you always slice it thin
À te bercer par la foule
T'en perds la direction
Si tu ne comptes que sur la vague
Quelle sera ta destination?
À te bercer par la foule
T'en perds la direction
Si tu ne comptes que sur la vague
Quelle sera ta destination?
You can linger in the shallows
Take the bait but never swallow
Close your eyes and never question why
Always cooler in the shadows
Why lead when you can follow?
You'll never lose if you don't try
Walk on water, walk on air
Scratch the surface if you care
Nothing inside, no reason to hide
It'll all be so much clearer
Don't look in the mirror
Lay back, just let yourself slide
Walk on water, walk on air
Scratch the surface if you dare
Things go better when you let it slide
There's a truth in every lie
Lay back, just let it slide
You'll always be the apple of your eye
Aucun miroir ne reflète l'intérieur
Aucun miroir ne reflète l'intérieur
Aucun miroir ne reflète l'intérieur
Ce n'est qu'en grattant la surface
Qu'on peut voir la couleur
Aucun miroir ne reflète l'intérieur
Aucun miroir ne reflète l'intérieur
Aucun miroir ne reflète l'intérieur
Ce n'est qu'en grattant la surface
Qu'on peut voir la couleur
The lyrics of Walk on Water by Cirque du Soleil are a powerful commentary on the dangers of succumbing to ego and superficiality. The song describes a seductive and beautiful figure whose aura is malevolent, a temptress who is easily swayed by criticism. The imagery of the song paints a complex picture of a person who is simultaneously captivating and flawed, with a beautiful exterior hiding empty or toxic substance. This person walks on water and imagines herself to be a goddess, but in reality is just a puppet to her own image.
The song warns against the dangers of falling prey to one's own ego and being swayed by the opinions of others. It urges listeners to scratch the surface and look beyond appearances in order to find the true essence of people and situations. The song encourages us to take risks and to challenge ourselves, warning us that if we don't, we will never discover our true potential.
Overall, Walk on Water is a beautifully woven tapestry of lyrics that urge us to look beyond the surface and embrace a deeper understanding of ourselves and of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Elle est si magnifique
She is so beautiful
Mais son aura est maléfique
But her aura is evil
Cette tentatrice
This temptress
Se laisse bercer par la critique
Is swayed by criticism
Son plumage est beau
Her plumage is beautiful
Mais son ramage est faux
But her singing is false
Déesse de l'image
Goddess of image
S'imagine marcher sur l'eau
Imagines walking on water
Le serpent rampe
The snake slithers
Mais se laisse piler dessus
But can be crushed
De chaque moment de plaisir
From every moment of pleasure
En émerge un où t'es déçu
One emerges where you're disappointed
L'œuf de Fabergé
The Fabergé egg
Est vide à l'intérieur
Is empty inside
L'enveloppe qu'on se crée
The envelope we create
Sert à dissimuler ses peurs
Serves to hide our fears
La ballade est relax
The ballad is relaxing
Quand c'est un autre qui rame
When it's another who rows
Jouer l'indifférent
Play indifference
C'est comme danser avec le drame
It's like dancing with the drama
Alle reste au chaud
She stays warm
Enveloppé par les flammes
Enveloped by flames
Sa langue est un couteau
Her tongue is a knife
Et toi tu veux lécher la lame!
And you want to lick the blade!
Copie conforme
Exact copy
Originalité de masse
Mass-produced originality
Tu peux jouer la mascarade,
You can play the masquerade,
Jusqu'à ce que tombe le masque
Until the mask falls off
Je ne vois que très peu d'art
I see very little art
Mais beaucoup d'artifice
But a lot of artifice
Dites-moi combien de pantins pendent
Tell me how many puppets hang
Par leur égocentrisme?
By their egocentrism?
Walk on water, walk on air,
Walk on water, walk on air,
Scratch the surface if you dare
Scratch the surface if you dare
You'll go further if you learn to skim
You'll go further if you learn to skim
You can rise above it all
You can rise above it all
But why walk when you can crawl?
But why walk when you can crawl?
Just be sure you always slice it thin
Just be sure you always slice it thin
À te bercer par la foule
Rocked by the crowd
T'en perds la direction
You lose direction
Si tu ne comptes que sur la vague
If you only rely on the wave
Quelle sera ta destination?
What will your destination be?
You can linger in the shallows
You can linger in the shallows
Take the bait but never swallow
Take the bait but never swallow
Close your eyes and never question why
Close your eyes and never question why
Always cooler in the shadows
Always cooler in the shadows
Why lead when you can follow?
Why lead when you can follow?
You'll never lose if you don't try
You'll never lose if you don't try
Nothing inside, no reason to hide
Nothing inside, no reason to hide
It'll all be so much clearer
It'll all be so much clearer
Don't look in the mirror
Don't look in the mirror
Lay back, just let yourself slide
Lay back, just let yourself slide
Things go better when you let it slide
Things go better when you let it slide
There's a truth in every lie
There's a truth in every lie
Lay back, just let it slide
Lay back, just let it slide
You'll always be the apple of your eye
You'll always be the apple of your eye
Aucun miroir ne reflète l'intérieur
No mirror reflects the inside
Ce n'est qu'en grattant la surface
It's only by scratching the surface
Qu'on peut voir la couleur
That we can see the color
Writer(s): Francois Gregoire, Benoit Jutras, Robert Dillon Copyright: Creations Meandres Inc.
Contributed by Asher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.