Son of an opera singer and an Italian piano teacher (Liette), he was raised by his grandparents in Toulouse, where he heard Glenn Miller, Édith Piaf and Louis Armstrong (among others) on the radio.
In 1947 he failed his baccalaureat and commenced a career in journalism, writing for various journals including Le Journal des Curistes at Vichy and L'Echo d'Alger. At the same time he wrote songs for Marcel Amont (Le barbier de Belleville, Le balayeur du roi) and Philippe Clay (Joseph, La sentinelle). He met Georges Brassens, who became his friend and mentor.
In 1949 he performed his military service in the foreign legion at Rabat, Morocco.
He sent his lyrics to Marguerite Monnot, Édith Piaf's songwriter, who put them to music. (Méphisto, Le Sentier de la guerre). He started to sing for a livelihood in 1959 in a Parisian cabaret in Montmartre, Le lapin agile.
In 1962, he decided to sing his works himself: Une petite fille and Cécile ma fille (dedicated to his daughter, born in 1962 to his wife Sylvie, whom he met at Le lapin agile). These songs made him immediately known to the larger public, which he had already started to penetrate by participating in the concerts of Dalida.
A car accident immobilised him for several months in 1963. The following year he travelled to Brazil, and sang in prestigious halls in Paris: the Olympia, the Palais, the Théâtre de la Ville.
Following the death of his friend Jacques Audiberti in 1965 he wrote, in homage, the song Chanson pour le maçon.
The events of May 1968 inspired him to the torrential Paris Mai, a plea for life, which would be banned from the airwaves. The same year he recorded his first live album at the Olympia: Une soirée avec Claude Nougaro.
His career continued normally punctuated with success: Le jazz et la java, Tu verras, Île de Ré, Armstrong, Toulouse, Petit taureau. But in 1984, his recording company did not renew his contract. Nougaro left for New York, seeking inspiration, and while there wrote and recorded a self-financed disc, Nougayork, whose resounding success was a surprise.
In 1988 Victoires de la musique rewarded him with best album and best artist, and between 1993 and 1997 he released three new albums.
His health deteriorated after 1995, when he underwent a heart operation. In 2003, his condition left him unable to appear at the festival du Verbe at Toulouse. From 1998 to 2004 he devoted himself more to concerts and festivals, apart from an album in aid of children suffering from AIDS. Having undergone further surgery in early 2004, he died of cancer in March, 74 years old.
His music drew inspiration, among other sources, from American jazz, from which he borrowed heavily (Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins), but also from Brazilian music (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Baden Powell de Aquino, Chico Buarque).
Les Points
Claude Nougaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les points sur les i, les cardinaux
Les terminus, point à la ligne
Les points de suspension de Céline
Les poings du boxeur dans son coin
Et puis l'arbitre qui compte les points
Les points de ton corps où j'appuie
Quand ça t' fait mal ou quand tu jouis
J'en finis plus
D' compter les points
Point point point
Le premier bon point à l'école
Et les mauvais baignant dans la colle
Ceux qu'on découpe en pointillé
Et là-haut ceux qu'on voit scintiller
Les points chinois d' l'acupuncture
Les poings sur la gueule, les points d' suture
Et le plus fort, le point sensible
Comme une flèche au cœur de la cible
J'en finis plus
D' compter les points
Point, point, point
Sans oublier tous les points noirs
Que tes belles mains me pressurent
Ni le point de vue de clébard
Que j'ai quand passe ta cambrure
Les points de rupture, certains soirs
Un point c'est tout, adieu, c'est marre
Le petit point à l'horizon
À l'horizon du verbe poindre
On ferait tout pour le rejoindre
À point nommé, point d'Alençon
Les points y en a trop, y en a tant
Ne forçons point notre talent
Finissons-en
D' compter les points
Point, point, point
Les poings fermés, les points vitaux
Les points sur les i, les cardinaux
Les terminus, point à la ligne
Les points de suspension de Céline
Les poings du boxeur dans son coin
Et puis l'arbitre qui comptre les points
Il n'y a qu'un point ou tout est clair
C'est le point obscur de notre affaire
C'est le point mort
Point capital
Point final
The song "Les Points" by Claude Nougaro is a playful exploration of the concept of points in various contexts. The lyrics list different types of points, both literal and metaphorical, such as "les points fermés" (closed points), "les points sur les i" (dots on i's), and "les points de suspension de Céline" (Celine's ellipses). The song touches on themes of achievement and failure with mentions of good and bad points at school, as well as more physical references to points such as "les points vitaux" (vital points) and "les points d' suture" (stitching points). There are also romantic references to the points on the body that one touches either in pain or pleasure.
Throughout the song, Nougaro repeats the phrase "J'en finis plus / D' compter les points / Point point point" (I can't stop counting points / Point point point) which seems to suggest that understanding the value and significance of different points is an endless pursuit. However, the song concludes with the line "Il n'y a qu'un point ou tout est clair / C'est le point obscur de notre affaire" (There is only one point where everything is clear / It's the obscure point of our affair) which adds a philosophical layer to the concept of points.
Line by Line Meaning
Les points fermés, les points vitaux
Refers to the vital points on a body, such as pressure points used in martial arts.
Les points sur les i, les cardinaux
Refers to the dot above the letter i and the four cardinal directions, both of which represent precision and direction.
Les terminus, point à la ligne
Refers to the end of a line in writing, symbolized by a period, and the end of a train line, represented by a terminal station.
Les points de suspension de Céline
Refers to the use of ellipsis in literature, specifically in the work of French author Louis-Ferdinand Céline.
Les poings du boxeur dans son coin
Refers to a boxer's fists resting in his corner, preparing for the next round of a fight.
Et puis l'arbitre qui compte les points
Refers to the referee in a boxing match who tallies the number of punches landed by each fighter.
Les points de ton corps où j'appuie
Refers to pressure points on the body that elicit varying responses, such as pleasure or pain.
Quand ça t' fait mal ou quand tu jouis
Refers to the two different reactions that can be produced when pressure is applied to certain points on the body.
Le premier bon point à l'école
Refers to receiving a good grade or positive feedback in school, often represented by a check mark or smiley face.
Et les mauvais baignant dans la colle
Refers to receiving a bad grade or negative feedback in school, often punished with detention or extra work.
Ceux qu'on découpe en pointillé
Refers to lines drawn with periods to form a dotted line, often seen in graphic design or art.
Et là-haut ceux qu'on voit scintiller
Refers to the stars in the sky that appear as points of light, twinkling in the darkness.
Les points chinois d' l'acupuncture
Refers to the pressure points used in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Les poings sur la gueule, les points d' suture
Refers to the physical injuries sustained in a fight, often leading to the need for stitches.
Et le plus fort, le point sensible
Refers to the most sensitive point on the body, such as an emotional trigger or physical vulnerability.
Comme une flèche au cœur de la cible
Refers to hitting the bullseye or target with precision, akin to finding one's most sensitive point.
Sans oublier tous les points noirs
Refers to blackheads or blemishes on the skin, often cleared up by pressure or exfoliation.
Que tes belles mains me pressurent
Refers to the act of applying pressure to the body, in this case through touch or massage.
Ni le point de vue de clébard
Refers to the perspective of a dog, often represented by looking up at something or someone from a lower vantage point.
Que j'ai quand passe ta cambrure
Refers to the curve of someone's body, often considered an attractive feature.
Les points de rupture, certains soirs
Refers to moments of emotional or physical breakdown, often represented by reaching a breaking point.
Un point c'est tout, adieu, c'est marre
Refers to the end or conclusion of something, often represented by a single period or point.
Le petit point à l'horizon
Refers to a small dot or point in the distance, often a representation of hope or a new beginning.
À l'horizon du verbe poindre
Refers to the horizon of a new idea or concept, often represented by the beginning of a new sentence or phrase.
On ferait tout pour le rejoindre
Refers to the desire to pursue a new idea or opportunity, often represented by chasing a distant point or goal.
À point nommé, point d'Alençon
Refers to the precise moment or opportunity, often represented by a specific point in time or location.
Les points y en a trop, y en a tant
Refers to the abundance of different types of points or the overwhelming nature of all the different meanings points can have.
Ne forçons point notre talent
Refers to taking things one step at a time and not overexerting oneself, often represented by not pushing too hard or too fast.
Il n'y a qu'un point ou tout est clair
Refers to a single moment of clarity or understanding, often represented by a single point where everything clicks into place.
C'est le point obscur de notre affaire
Refers to a point of ambiguity or uncertainty in a situation, often represented by a lack of clarity or understanding.
C'est le point mort
Refers to being stuck or at a standstill, often represented by the neutral gear in a car.
Point capital
Refers to a crucial or essential point, often represented by an important detail or aspect.
Point final
Refers to the end or conclusion of something, often represented by a final period or point.
Contributed by Adrian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.