Emblematic French singer from the 80's, Daniel Balavoine (1952-1986) partic… Read Full Bio ↴Emblematic French singer from the 80's, Daniel Balavoine (1952-1986) participated in the first Starmania rock-show (later played in the USA as 'Tycoon') and wrote many popular songs that shook French youth during his time, such as Le Chanteur, L'Aziza, Sauver l'amour ...

Very engaged in the civil society, he sang and personified the lust for life, the hopes and the doubts of his generation, often clashing with politicians, elites, and older generations. He is especially famous for a tense debate about the struggles, hopes and doubts of French youth with the then first secretary of the French Socialist party, François Mitterrand, who was later twice elected president of France. Later he also had problems in a misunderstood verbal clash about French veterans.

Daniel Balavoine loved Africa and this transpires in many of his songs. He dedicated himself to humanitarian projects and took part in the Paris-Dakar rallye two times. The third time he took part only for humanitarian reasons. On the 14th january 1986, around 8pm, his helicopter crashed between Mali and Burkina-Faso, killing all five passengers, putting an end to his career, and leaving behind his pregnant wife Corine and his son Jeremy.

C'est Fini
Daniel Balavoine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Le plaisir de regarder
Les films en couleur
Un président série B
Cow-Boy de valeur
Les chercheurs d'or
Et les duels où l'on ne voit pas la mort
Les baisers trichés
Tous les beaux défenseurs

De la veuve et de l'opprimé
Oh oh oh

Un grand sauvetage en mer
Héros de la guerre
Le retour à la maison
Le père qui est fier
La mère qui pleure

Enfants grandis dont on confond les noms
Les violons
Un hold-up élégant réussi
Où la morale a désobéi

C'est fini
Oh mets la lumière
Il faut se réveiller
Faire un travelling arrière
Oh c'est fini
Il faut s'y faire
Oublier les vapeurs d'éther
Redescendre sur terre

Se choisir un bon métier
Rentrer de bonne heure
Le journal télévisé
Pour voir des horreurs
Et repartir
La magie d'un film peut tout effacer
Pour mieux s'endormir
Ce n'est pas parcequ'on a des idées
Qu'on est obligé de se mouiller

C'est fini
Oh mets la lumière
Il faut se réveiller
Faire un travelling arrière
Oh c'est fini
Il faut s'y faire

Oublier les vapeurs d'éther
Redescendre sur terre

Overall Meaning

The song "C'est Fini" by Daniel Balavoine is a nostalgic reflection of the past, a time of childhood innocence and idealism, contrasted against the harsh realities of the present. The lyrics are steeped in imagery pertaining to the popular culture of the time, such as the pleasure of watching movies in color, the valorous cowboys of the Wild West, the heroic rescues at sea, and the defenders of the weak and oppressed. However, this idealized view of the world is shattered by the stark realities of adulthood, as the lyrics lament the need to forget about the "fumes of ether" and come back down to Earth.

The song paints a stark contrast between childhood and adulthood, as the singer reminisces about the innocent pleasures of youth, such as watching movies, while lamenting the horrors of adulthood, such as the news filled with atrocities. The lyrics urge the listener to accept this harsh reality and "choose a good career," to get home early from work, and watch the news. However, this seemingly wise advice is belied by the song's title, "It's Over," which suggests a sense of finality and resignation that is inescapable.

Overall, "C'est Fini" is a bittersweet reflection on the impermanence of youth and the harsh realities of adulthood, suggesting that perhaps there is no going back to the innocence of the past.

Line by Line Meaning

Le plaisir de regarder
The pleasure of watching

Les films en couleur
Colorful movies

Un président série B
A B-movie president

Cow-Boy de valeur
Cowboy with values

Les chercheurs d'or
Gold diggers

Et les duels où l'on ne voit pas la mort
And duels where you can't see the death

Les baisers trichés
Fake kisses

Tous les beaux défenseurs
All the handsome defenders

De la veuve et de l'opprimé
Of the widow and the oppressed

Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh

Un grand sauvetage en mer
A great sea rescue