Éric Serra's father Claude was a famous French songwriter in the 1950s and '60s, and, as such, Éric was exposed to music and its production at a young age. His mother died when he was just seven years old. In the early '80s, Serra met director Luc Besson and was asked to score his first movie Le Dernier Combat (1983). Serra has scored all of Besson's directed movies to date, except Angel-A (2005) (scored by Anja Garbarek), and several that Besson has written such as Wasabi.
In 1995, Éric Serra was chosen to compose the score to the James Bond film GoldenEye, and produced a much more modern-sounding avant-garde soundtrack compared to previous Bond films. It met with mixed reviews from film critics. Serra's score is often criticized by Bond fans, and is considered the farthest departure from a traditional Bond score and, by some, as the most inappropriate in the series history. Others find it highly innovative, with the main problem the lack of John Barry's traditional theme. The producers later hired John Altman to provide the music for the tank chase in St. Petersburg. Serra's original track for that sequence can still be found on the soundtrack as "A Pleasant Drive In St. Petersburg".
Occasionally, and mainly due to his album released by this name, he is known in credits as RXRA (pronounced like his name, in French). An example is "Little Light of Love" on The Fifth Element soundtrack, which is credited to RXRA.
From 1980 to 1988, Éric Serra played bass guitar for French singer Jacques Higelin.
Éric Serra is also a songwriter, notably having written "It's Only Mystery" for the film Subway and "My Lady Blue" for Le Grand Bleu. In 1988, Éric Serra released an album of rock music titled RXRA which resembles the artist's name when pronounced as initial letters in French.
Most recently he composed the music for the new Criss Angel/Cirque Du Soleil show 'Criss Angel: Believe' to open at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, in October 2008.
Serra has spent little time in front of the camera, choosing to work behind the scenes instead. However, on French television he has made a number of appearances performing music, and notably appeared in the Luc Besson movie Subway in which he plays 'Enrico the bassist'.
Thank Your God
Eric Serra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thank you God
Thank your God for giving me my eyes and all those colours
Thank you God
Thank your God for giving me the scent of all the flowers
Thank you God
But why your God is grieving me with all those lonely hours
Like you, God I could live without
I wanna take you high
Till dawn
Let us unifly
Hey, how flying unified?
Well in a way I know the beginning is U and I
Thank your God for giving me your arms around my shoulders
Thank you God
Thank your God for giving me your skin under my fingers
Thank you God
Hallelujah
Thank your God for giving me the song of all your whispers
Thank you God
But why your God is grieving me with all those heavy hours
Like you, God I could live without
Rather than break down
I wanna make you high
Till dawn
Let us unifly
Hey! How? Flying unified
Well in a way I know the beginning is U and I
Come on now, howl
I don't wanna be alone again I wanna be the one and only one you love
And everyday I wanna be your Valentine
Unified in such a unique vibe what else could you need tied to the
universe
Thanks God bless the lovers
Feel the love supreme
Love is all about U and I
Unify
The lyrics of Thank Your God by Eric Serra express gratitude for the gifts of life and its joys - the senses, the colors, the scents, and the whispers. The singer expresses thankfulness for the presence of their partner in their life, the warmth of their embrace, the softness of their skin, and the sweetness of their words. However, the singer also questions the purpose of God's loneliness and despair, which seem to be overshadowing the good things in life. The singer asserts that they could live without God's sorrow and instead wants to uplift them to a place of happiness and unity. The lyrics tune towards a call for unification and oneness, offering the idea that U and I together can achieve joy and happiness.
The song expresses a deep sense of gratitude for the pleasures of life along with a desire for unity in the face of the sorrows that weigh us down. By thanking God for the gift of life and the presence of loved ones, the singer acknowledges the value of these blessings in shaping their lives and experiences. At the same time, the song also suggests that the purpose of life is not solely to suffer and feel sorrow but to overcome it and create happiness for ourselves and others. This message is captured in the lines "Rather than break down / I wanna make you high / Till dawn / Let us unifly."
Line by Line Meaning
Thank your God for giving me my life and all those pleasures
Expressing gratitude to God for bestowing the gift of life and all the joys that come with it.
Thank your God for giving me my eyes and all those colours
Being thankful to God for the ability to experience the beauty of the world through sight and the various colors.
Thank your God for giving me the scent of all the flowers
Acknowledging God's role in providing the sense of smell to appreciate the fragrance of flowers.
But why your God is grieving me with all those lonely hours
Questioning why there are moments of sadness or loneliness, despite being grateful for life's blessings.
Like you, God I could live without
Rather than kneel down
I wanna take you high
Till dawn
Let us unifly
Hey, how flying unified?
Well in a way I know the beginning is U and I
Rather than worshiping in submission, the desire to rise above through unity with God and others, symbolized by the play on words of 'unifly' (unify + fly). The phrase 'the beginning is U and I' implies that unity starts with individuals coming together.
Thank your God for giving me your arms around my shoulders
Grateful for the comfort and support provided by another person, as a gift from God.
Thank your God for giving me your skin under my fingers
Expressing appreciation for the physical intimacy shared with a loved one, made possible by God's gift of touch.
Hallelujah
An exclamation of praise and gratitude to God.
Thank your God for giving me the song of all your whispers
Thanking God for the moments of intimacy and soft voices shared with a loved one.
But why your God is grieving me with all those heavy hours
Questioning the presence of difficult times and struggles in life, despite the moments of happiness and love shared with others.
Like you, God I could live without
Rather than break down
I wanna make you high
Till dawn
Let us unifly
Hey! How? Flying unified
Well in a way I know the beginning is U and I
Choosing to rise above and lift up God and others, rather than succumbing to despair in challenging times. The concept of 'flying unified' is used again to emphasize the importance of unity and connection with others.
Come on now, howl
I don't wanna be alone again I wanna be the one and only one you love
And everyday I wanna be your Valentine
Unified in such a unique vibe what else could you need tied to the
universe
Expressing a desire to be loved and connected with another person in a unique and special way, echoing the sentiment of finding unity with others in the universe.
Thanks God bless the lovers
Feel the love supreme
Love is all about U and I
Unify
A final expression of gratitude to God for the gift of love and the desire for unity with others.
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.