Emmanuelle Seigner (born 22 June 1966) is an actress from Paris, France, fo… Read Full Bio ↴Emmanuelle Seigner (born 22 June 1966) is an actress from Paris, France, former fashion model, and singer, best known as the wife of Academy Award winning director Roman Polanski, and for her roles in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007), and Frantic (1988). She has been nominated for two César Awards for Best Supporting Actress in Place Vendôme (1998) and La Vie En Rose (2007).

In 2006, she became lead singer of the pop rock band Ultra Orange, and the group's name was changed to Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle. Seigner lives with their two children in Paris. She is an ambassadress of the Polish brand Dr Irena Eris.

Emmanuelle
Emmanuelle Seigner Lyrics

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Les petits noms, les mots cochons
J′aime bien
Mais nom d'un chien
Débarasse-moi pour de bon
De ces noms
Et même du mien

Je serai ton inconnue

Ta vérité toute nue
Je vais, je viens
Je t′ensorcelle, dans la dentelle
J'réponds de rien
Quand tu m'appelles
Emmanuelle

Quand je mens, je m′en tire bien
Mais tu vois
On s′refait pas
Déshabille-moi pour de vrai
Cette fois
Tu trouveras

Drapée dans sa vertu
La vérité toute nue
Tu vas, tu viens
Tu m'ensorcelles dans la dentelle
J′réponds de rien
Quand tu m'appelles
Emmanuelle

Les palaces, les grandes glaces
Ingénue
Je m′y suis cru
Qui était cette fille en face
L'aurais-tu
Perdue de vue?

N′a t-elle jamais connu
La vérité toute nue?
Je vais, je viens
Je t'ensorcelle, dans la dentelle
J'réponds de rien

Quand tu m′appelles
Emmanuelle

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Emmanuelle Seigner's "Emmanuelle" revolve around a woman who is comfortable with sexual language ("les petits noms, les mots cochons j'aime bien") but wants to be rid of it, even her own name. She declares herself to be the lover's "inconnue," or unknown, and strips herself bare ("ta vérité toute nue"). The refrain is seductive and hypnotic, calling out her own name, Emmanuelle, as if it were a kind of magic.

The second verse is the mirror image of the first, with the roles reversed. The lover, who apparently has a history of lies, is challenged to undress her for real ("déshabille-moi pour de vrai / cette fois"). Again, the singer emphasizes the allure of her naked truth and the power she has over the lover ("tu vas, tu viens / tu m'ensorcelles dans la dentelle / j'réponds de rien / quand tu m'appelles / Emmanuelle").

The final verse hints at a different aspect of Emmanuelle's character, as she reflects on her past and a "lost girl" who may or may not have known the same naked truth. The song ends on a haunting note of ambiguity, as Emmanuelle's identity and her relationship with the lover remain enigmatic.

Overall, "Emmanuelle" is a sensual, enigmatic song that uses repetition and hypnotic language to explore themes of truth and desire.

Line by Line Meaning

Les petits noms, les mots cochons J′aime bien Mais nom d'un chien Débarasse-moi pour de bon De ces noms Et même du mien
I enjoy using pet names and dirty words, but let's stop using them for good, including my own name.

Je serai ton inconnue Ta vérité toute nue Je vais, je viens Je t′ensorcelle, dans la dentelle J'réponds de rien Quand tu m'appelles Emmanuelle
I will be your stranger, and show you my naked truth. I enchant you with my lace movement, and when you call my name Emmanuelle, I respond with nothing.

Quand je mens, je m′en tire bien Mais tu vois On s′refait pas Déshabille-moi pour de vrai Cette fois Tu trouveras
I am good at getting away with lying, but I know I cannot change it. So, undress me for real this time, and you'll find the truth.

Drapée dans sa vertu La vérité toute nue Tu vas, tu viens Tu m'ensorcelles dans la dentelle J′réponds de rien Quand tu m'appelles Emmanuelle
Wrapped in her virtue, the naked truth is revealed. You come and go, enchanting me with the lace movement, and when you call my name Emmanuelle, I respond with nothing.

Les palaces, les grandes glaces Ingénue Je m′y suis cru Qui était cette fille en face L'aurais-tu Perdue de vue?
In the palaces, behind the big mirrors, I believed myself to be an innocent girl. Who is this person in front of me? Have you lost sight of her?

N′a t-elle jamais connu La vérité toute nue? Je vais, je viens Je t'ensorcelle, dans la dentelle J'réponds de rien Quand tu m′appelles Emmanuelle
Has she never experienced the naked truth? I come and go, enchanting you with my lace movement, and when you call my name Emmanuelle, I respond with nothing.

Writer(s): Keren Ann Zeidel, Laurent Lescarret

Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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