Manuelle "Emma" Daumas is a young French songwriter and performer, particul… Read Full Bio ↴Manuelle "Emma" Daumas is a young French songwriter and performer, particularly well known for her participation in Star Academy. Daumas grew up in a family of music lovers and the passion for music led her to write several songs by the age of 12: her parents then allowed her to record her first song Stupid boy. After the piano, she took lessons in guitar, and enrolled at the academy of Villeuneuve-lès-Avignon at the age of 15. She frequently entered contests, in particular Mon Dieu of Édith Piaf: she came in 8th in the Laudun song contest playing one of her own compositions, Dis-moi pourquoi ("Tell me why"), before 700 people.

From this point on, her potential not only as a singer but as a songwriter started to become noticed. At this time, she began to enter the scene by taking part at the galas of Pascal Fallais, her professor at the time, with songs like I'm sorry or Vivre from the musical Notre-Dame de Paris. Three years later, she eventually took first place at the song contest at Laudun.

In 2000, her perseverance paid off and she was able to take part in Graines de stars, the live show by Laurent Boyer: she fulfilled her dream of 12 years. Her performance of Barbra Streisand's "Memory" allowed her to take 4th place. Some started to believe in her; among them was François-Georges, who will later become her manager. However, she waited to complete her literary Baccalauréat so she could be finished with her studies and devote herself to her vocation. Thus Emma continued her vocal training in 2001 and 2002 by taking singing lessons from vocal coach Maguy Vilette, and took guitar courses again for two months, because the musical style of pop rock attracted her. She learned more about the music scene by opening for acts such as Carlos, Éric Colado (comic of southern France), the groups Gold and Émile et Image, Noëlle Perna (a comedian from Nice), at the casino of Juan-les-Pins, but especially Michael Jones with the cabaret Le Rouge-Gorge at Avignon in November 2001, while doing odd jobs to make money. The publicity from the casting for Star Academy 2 will mark the end of a year of rich experiences.
[edit] Star Academy

In August 2002, she endeared herself with the public, but not in sufficient measure to defeat the eventual winner Nolwenn Leroy. Nevertheless, she reached the semi-final in the contest, and had the opportunity to sing duets with Serge Lama, Patrick Bruel, Youssou N'Dour and Ray Charles.
[edit] Other causes

Since 2002, Daumas has actively embraced causes in favour of underprivileged or sick children when she became a sponsor of UNICEF. She contributed the song L'or de nos vies for the Fight Aids Monaco charity (against HIV-AIDS)

Ailleurs
Emma Daumas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

J'en ai revé
M'laisser flotter
Dans les courants d'air
Ce soir
Je vais m'en aller m'envoler ailleurs
Je vais m'en aller m'envoler ailleurs

Ma tete qui tourne

Pas rond sans doute
Un peu de patience
Ca y est
J'vais enfin m'envoler m'en aller ailleurs
J'vais enfin m'envoler m'en aller ailleurs

C'est calme par ici
Un peu trop peut etre

Tout est donc si vide
Quand ca s'arrete
En ai-je revé
De ce cauchemar
Dans les courants d'air
J'ai froid
Je ne veux plus m'en aller
M'envoler ailleurs

Tu m'as souris
On s'est mal comprises
Dans ton berceau
Je meurs
Dans tes bras j'aurais pu trouver
Mon ailleurs, mon ailleurs

Dans tes bras j'aurais pu trouver
Mon ailleurs

Overall Meaning

Emma Daumas's song "Ailleurs" depicts the desire to escape from reality and find oneself in a better place. The singer dreams of floating in the currents of air and leaving, while feeling disconnected and overwhelmed by the emptiness of her surroundings. At first, she is excited to finally fly away, but as reality sets in, she realizes that perhaps her escape is not what she thought it would be, and ultimately decides she does not want to leave.

The lyrics present a sense of confusion and disorientation as the singer struggles to find her place in the world. She feels lost and disconnected from her surroundings, longing for a place where she can feel at peace. However, the mention of another person - "Tu m'as souris" - suggests that maybe the singer just needs someone to understand her, a place in someone's arms where she can feel safe and comfortable.

Overall, "Ailleurs" is a song about searching for a place of belonging, but ultimately finding that it might not exist. It is a universal theme that many can relate to, as everyone has felt lost or out of place at some point in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

J'en ai revé
I dreamt of it

M'laisser flotter
To let myself float

Dans les courants d'air
In the drafts of air

Ce soir
Tonight

Je vais m'en aller m'envoler ailleurs
I'm going to leave and fly away somewhere else

Ma tete qui tourne
My head is spinning

Pas rond sans doute
Probably not straight

Un peu de patience
A little patience

Ca y est
That's it

J'vais enfin m'envoler m'en aller ailleurs
I will finally fly away and go elsewhere

C'est calme par ici
It's quiet around here