Elli attended the Uruguyan American School, and when her mother remarried & moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, she attended the Instituto Bayard, a British school. When she was fourteen, her mother & step father moved to Paris, and she had to learn French in a couple of months so she could attend high school. She tried several schools, including an art schoot, l'Ecole des Arts Appliquées, but dropped out before getting a "baccalauréat" to start her first band, the Stinky Toys, the first French punk band, playing several London punk Festivals along with the Clash & the Sex Pistols.
Elli appeared on the cover of 'Melody Maker' & that convinced the until then extremely reluctant French record companies to sign them a deal. After two albums, the Stinky Toys split and Elli and Stinky Toy Jacno then released several albums as the techno pop duo 'Elli & Jacno'. Their last was Les nuits de la pleine lune (1984), the score to Eric Rohmer's movie. Elli then went solo, her music becoming more personal, more Latin and had several hits in France, including Toi mon Toit, mega hit of 1986, now a standard.
After a break, Elli decided to go back to acting & school, & worked with 'Andreas Voutsinas', who was Lee Strasberg's assistant for twenty years and created the Paris "Actor's Studio", le Théatre des Cinquante. She also took classes with Madeleine Barchevska and Bob Mc Andrew.
Melancolia
Elli Medeiros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Angel caìdo, caìdo al mar, eres tù mi mal
eres tù mi mal, eres tù mi mal
Conjuré tu reflejo en el espejo y pude llorar
con el movimiento de mi pensamiento
Y si hoy me consumo, ceniza y humo, sin esperar.
En el fuego lento de mi sentimiento
Melancolia... melancolia... melancolia...
Ojos de sombra, manos de azahar, eres tù mi mal
Dulce martirio, daga y bozal, eres tù mi mal
Conjuré tu reflejo en el espejo y pude llorar
con el movimiento de mi pensamiento
Y si hoy me consumo, ceniza y humo, sin esperar.
En el fuego lento de mi sentimiento
Melancolia... melancolia... melancolia...
Tus besos como espinas, abren la herida y quiero soñar
en el movimiento del consentimiento
Y si hoy me consumo, ceniza y humo, sin esperar.
En el fuego lento de mi sentimiento.
Melancolia... melancolia... melancolia...
In Elli Medeiros's song Melancolia, the lyrics describe a complex relationship with someone who is both an angelic and alluring figure, but also a source of pain and torment, referred to as "mi mal" or "my evil." The use of the metaphor of a "dulce serpiente angelical" (sweet angelic serpent) highlights the conflicting nature of this person's character, and their ability to both entice and harm the singer. The repetition of the line "conjuré tu reflejo en el espejo y pude llorar con el movimiento de mi pensamiento" (I conjured your reflection in the mirror and was able to cry with the movement of my thoughts) suggests that the singer may have tried to distance themselves from this person, perhaps through visualization or mental exercises to cope with the pain they bring.
The use of the word "melancolia" throughout the song, which translates to "melancholy" in English, highlights the emotional state of the singer, who seems to be in a state of sadness or depression due to their relationship with this person. The use of vivid and contrasting imagery throughout the lyrics, such as "ojos de sombra, manos de azahar" (shadowy eyes, hands of orange blossom) and "dulce martirio, daga y bozal" (sweet martyrdom, dagger and muzzle), further emphasizes the complex and conflicting emotions at play.
Overall, Melancolia is a poetic exploration of a tumultuous relationship, highlighting the pain and sadness that can come from being drawn to someone who is ultimately harmful.
Line by Line Meaning
Dulce serpiente angelical, eres tù mi mal
You are my sweet angelic serpent, but also the source of my pain
Angel caìdo, caìdo al mar, eres tù mi mal
You've fallen from the sky and plunged into the sea, and you are also the cause of my suffering
eres tù mi mal, eres tù mi mal
You are the root of all my troubles and distress
Conjuré tu reflejo en el espejo y pude llorar con el movimiento de mi pensamiento
I summoned your reflection in the mirror and cried with the power of my thoughts
Y si hoy me consumo, ceniza y humo, sin esperar. En el fuego lento de mi sentimiento
If I am slowly consumed, turned to ash and smoke, without expecting it. By the slow fire of my feelings
Melancolia... melancolia... melancolia...
Melancholy... melancholy... melancholy...
... Ojos de sombra, manos de azahar, eres tù mi mal
...Eyes of darkness, hands of orange blossom, you are also the cause of my pain
Dulce martirio, daga y bozal, eres tù mi mal
You are my sweet martyrdom, my dagger and my muzzle, also my cause of suffering
Tus besos como espinas, abren la herida y quiero soñar en el movimiento del consentimiento
Your kisses are like thorns, they open wounds and I dream about the power of consent
En el fuego lento de mi sentimiento. Melancolia... melancolia... melancolia...
In the slow fire of my feelings. Melancholy... melancholy... melancholy...
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.