Heavily influenced by American rock & roll, Mitchell (who went solo in 1963) has often recorded outside France, at first in London, but later in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer Bob Graham were among the British session musicians who regularly supported him in London.
Du blues du blues du blues
Eddy Mitchell Lyrics
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Plus une fausse blonde qui fume une vraie, faut l'faire
Manque plus qu'au piano Nat King Cole
Dents blanches
Smoking rose, chantant
Un blues pour blanc
Moi j'ai le blues du noir et blanc au ciné
Quand le "big band" est vraiment grand
J'ai l'blues du blanc
Du blanc
Pourtant j'ai pas bu (ah oui)
Des films j'en ai vu
Où l'entraîneuse chante l'espoir
En enlevant ses gants noirs
Blues du blanc
Blues du blanc
Mais, l'type au bar en fait trop dans la frime
L'genre à mourir dès la première bobine
Un homme de couleur beau et grand
J'ai l'blues du blanc
Du blanc
Pourtant j'ai pas bu (ah, je sais)
Des films j'en ai vu
Où le héros gagne tout l'temps
Sans verser une goutte de sang
Oh blues du blanc, blues du blanc
Un Martini Dry, une olive dans l'verre
Plus une fausse blonde qui fume une vraie, faut l'faire
Pour peu qu'le "big band" soit très grand
J'ai l'blues du blanc, du blanc
Du blanc, du blanc
Du blanc
This song by Eddy Mitchell, titled "Du blues du blues du blues" (translated to "Blues of the white") depicts the feeling of being out of place in a particular setting. The opening lines of the song talk about a Martini Dry with an olive in the glass, a fake blonde smoking a real cigarette, all that's missing is Nat King Cole on the piano. Here, the singer describes a luxurious and sophisticated setting. However, he feels out of place in this setting, of which he is not familiar. He mentions that even though he is not drinking, as he normally would when feeling awkward, he has a sense of sadness ("blues") that he can't shake off. The singer then talks about how he prefers the old-fashioned, black and white movies, where real redheads are not bleached, and the music is played by really great "big bands."
Further on in the song, the singer talks about seeing an African American man in a bar. He feels uncomfortable since he perceives the man as being more comfortable and at ease in the surroundings than he is. Even though he mentions he hasn't had anything to drink, he has the "blues of the white," a melancholic feeling of not fitting in.
Overall, through the use of imagery and metaphorical language, the song represents feelings of loneliness and not fitting in, despite being present in a luxurious setting. It also addresses the issue of racial disparities in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Un Martini Dry, une olive dans l'verre
A classic cocktail with a garnish, reflecting a refined lifestyle
Plus une fausse blonde qui fume une vraie, faut l'faire
A woman with fake blonde hair and a cigarette, an impressive sight
Manque plus qu'au piano Nat King Cole
The only thing missing is a legendary musician
Dents blanches
Bright, shiny teeth, a sign of good health and hygiene
Smoking rose, chantant
Wearing a fashionable pink tuxedo and singing
Un blues pour blanc
A blues song for a white audience, reflecting the racial dynamic of blues music
Moi j'ai le blues du noir et blanc au ciné
Feeling nostalgic for black and white movies
Où les vraies rousses ne sont pas décolorées
Missing the authenticity of natural redheads in movies
Quand le "big band" est vraiment grand
Longing for the greatness of a big band musical performance
J'ai l'blues du blanc
Feeling the sadness of being white, privileged, and perhaps disconnected from other parts of society
Du blanc
Repeating the same sentiment for emphasis
Pourtant j'ai pas bu (ah oui)
Despite the impression given by the lyrics, the artist hasn't been drinking
Des films j'en ai vu
Acknowledging a love for movies, and a familiarity with certain cliches
Où l'entraîneuse chante l'espoir
Recalling a familiar character: the hopeful nightclub singer
En enlevant ses gants noirs
Another familiar detail of a movie scene or trope
Mais, l'type au bar en fait trop dans la frime
Describing a patron at the bar who is trying too hard to impress
L'genre à mourir dès la première bobine
A humorous way of criticizing the man's excessive behavior
Un homme de couleur beau et grand
Noticing a handsome, tall, black man
J'ai l'blues du blanc
Repeating the earlier sentiment, and explaining that it arises from seeing a contrast with someone of another race
Du blanc
Repeating the sentiment for emphasis
Pourtant j'ai pas bu (ah, je sais)
Confirming for a second time that the artist has not been drinking
Des films j'en ai vu
Echoing earlier lines about a love of cinema
Où le héros gagne tout l'temps
Remembering movies where the singer always emerged victorious
Sans verser une goutte de sang
Underlining the implausibility of such stories
Oh blues du blanc, blues du blanc
Ending the song with a repetition of the refrain, and the same mournful sentiment
Un Martini Dry, une olive dans l'verre
Bringing the lyrics full circle, and emphasizing a sense of longing for some kind of luxury or sophistication
Plus une fausse blonde qui fume une vraie, faut l'faire
Repeating the earlier image of a striking woman with a cigarette
Pour peu qu'le "big band" soit très grand
Reiterating a wish for an amazing musical performance
J'ai l'blues du blanc, du blanc
Closing with the same sense of melancholy and privilege from earlier in the song
Du blanc, du blanc
Repeating for emphasis
Du blanc
The final repetition of this phrase underscores the dominant theme of the song
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, PEMA MUSIC
Written by: Claude Moine, Pierre Papadiamandis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind