Born in Paris but traveled widely as a child. With her father transferring first to Mexico and later around the world, she grew in touch with Bossa Nova and other local flavors of music.Returned to France and started Piano lessons at age 10 and Jazz school at age 12. Started her professional career in 1987 by sending a demo tape to Jazz greats Johnny Griffin and Ben Sidran, and was subsequently given an opportunity to record several songs with them.
In 1988 released her first single, "Absolument Jazz" with CBS France. Signed a contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan in 1990, and released many singles and albums. From 2003 to 2005 switched to the Epic Records Japan label, and from 2005 to 2008 to Toshiba EMI. Returned to Sony Music Entertainment in 2008.
Les Champ Elysées
Clémentine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Le coeur ouvert à l'inconnu
J'avais envie de dire bonjour
À n'importe qui
N'importe qui ce fut toi
Je t'ai dit n'importe quoi
Il suffisait de te parler
Pour t'apprivoiser
Aux Champs-Élysées
Aux Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
À midi ou à minuit
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez
Aux Champs-Élysées
Tu m'as dit "J'ai rendez-vous
Dans un sous-sol avec des fous
Qui vivent la guitare à la main
Du soir au matin"
Alors je t'ai accompagnée
On a chanté, on a dansé
Et l'on n'a même pas pensé
À s'embrasser
Aux Champs-Élysées
Aux Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
À midi ou à minuit
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez
Aux Champs-Élysées
Hier soir deux inconnus
Et ce matin sur l'avenue
Deux amoureux tout étourdis
Par la longue nuit
Et de l'Étoile à la Concorde
Un orchestre à mille cordes
Tous les oiseaux du point du jour
Chantent l'amour
Aux Champs-Élysées
Aux Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
À midi ou à minuit
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez
Aux Champs-Élysées
The lyrics of "Les Champs-Élysées" talk about a person strolling through the famous Parisian avenue with an open heart. They want to greet and talk to anyone they come across, and they happen to meet someone they immediately click with. They accompany this person to a basement where musicians are playing their guitars, and they sing and dance together without even thinking of kissing. The next morning, they meet as two in love. The last verse talks about the beauty of the morning in Paris, with an orchestra and birds singing of love.
The song brings to life the romantic and joyful ambiance of one of the most emblematic avenues in the city. It's a nod to the possibilities of chance encounters, the beauty of music, and the loveliness of Parisian streets. The lyrics resonate with all those who have felt the magic of Paris and the vibe of its streets that has enchanted artists, intellectuals, and wanderers for centuries.
Line by Line Meaning
Je m'baladais sur l'avenue
I was strolling down the avenue
Le coeur ouvert à l'inconnu
With an open heart towards the unknown
J'avais envie de dire bonjour
I felt like saying hello
À n'importe qui
To anyone
N'importe qui ce fut toi
It was you, anyone at all
Je t'ai dit n'importe quoi
I said anything
Il suffisait de te parler
All it took was to talk to you
Pour t'apprivoiser
To tame you
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
In the sun, in the rain
À midi ou à minuit
At noon or at midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez
There's everything you want
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Tu m'as dit "J'ai rendez-vous
You told me "I have an appointment
Dans un sous-sol avec des fous
In a basement with crazy people
Qui vivent la guitare à la main
Who live with a guitar in their hands
Du soir au matin"
From evening till morning"
Alors je t'ai accompagnée
So I went with you
On a chanté, on a dansé
We sang, we danced
Et l'on n'a même pas pensé
And we didn't even think
À s'embrasser
To kiss each other
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
In the sun, in the rain
À midi ou à minuit
At noon or at midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez
There's everything you want
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Hier soir deux inconnus
Last night two strangers
Et ce matin sur l'avenue
And this morning on the avenue
Deux amoureux tout étourdis
Two lovers, dizzy with love
Par la longue nuit
Throughout the long night
Et de l'Étoile à la Concorde
From the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde
Un orchestre à mille cordes
An orchestra with a thousand strings
Tous les oiseaux du point du jour
All the birds at daybreak
Chantent l'amour
Sing about love
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Au soleil, sous la pluie
In the sun, in the rain
À midi ou à minuit
At noon or at midnight
Il y a tout ce que vous voulez
There's everything you want
Aux Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Writer(s): Pierre Delanoe, Mike Wilsh, Mike Deighan
Contributed by Addison N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.