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'.
The Diva Dance
Eric Serra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, quella voce
M'e qui nel cor discesa!
Edgardo! Lo ti son resa, Edgardo!
Ah, Edgardo mio.
Si, ti son resa fugiti io son da' tuoi nemici ah nemici!
Un gelo mi serpeggia nel sen!
Trema ogni fibra.
Presso la fonte! Meco t'assidi alquanto
Si, presso la fonte meco... T'assidi
The lyrics are from the famous aria "Il dolce suono" from the opera "Lucia di Lammermoor" composed by Gaetano Donizetti. The aria is sung by the character Lucia, who has gone insane after being forced into a loveless marriage. The first line translates to "The sweet sound struck me with his voice! Oh, that voice is now within my heart!" Lucia is describing the effect that Edgardo's voice has on her.
She continues to speak to Edgardo, who she believes is there. She says "Edgardo, I have given myself to you. Oh, my Edgardo. Yes, I have fled from your enemies, from your enemies! A shiver runs through me!" Lucia is expressing her love for Edgardo and also her fear of his enemies.
In the final lines, Lucia imagines herself sitting with Edgardo by the fountain. She says "Yes, sit with me by the fountain. Sit with me." The scene is a figment of her imagination as Edgardo is not actually there. The lyrics are a powerful representation of the intense emotions felt by the character Lucia in the opera.
Line by Line Meaning
l dolce suono mi colpi di sua voce!
The sweet sound of her voice struck me!
Ah, quella voce M'e qui nel cor discesa!
Oh, that voice has descended into my heart!
Edgardo! Lo ti son resa, Edgardo!
Edgardo! I have brought her to you, Edgardo!
Ah, Edgardo mio.
Oh, my Edgardo.
Si, ti son resa fugiti io son da' tuoi nemici ah nemici!
Yes, I have brought her to you, while I am being chased by your enemies, ah enemies!
Un gelo mi serpeggia nel sen!
A chill is creeping over me!
Trema ogni fibra.
Every fiber trembles.
Vacilla it pie!
My feet are unsteady!
Presso la fonte! Meco t'assidi alquanto
Come sit with me near the fountain for a while.
Si, presso la fonte meco... T'assidi
Yes, come sit with me near the fountain.
Writer(s): Éric Serra
Contributed by Elliot D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vitamc1213
I didn't know who composed this until now, and the fact it was Eric Serra explains why I liked it. I am also an unusual fan of his Goldeneye soundtrack.
@lilrobloco01
the high pitch at 0:34 always touch my soul, i love it
@faridgnd5241
Listen this when you waking up, it will boost you energy ❤️
@lubandb1539
Magnífico!
@kingbeef66
This part of the song and the scene itself that accompanied it always kicked ass for me!
@YankruTakai
This is a pop opera called Diva Dance specially for the movie,the first part of Diva's performance is a tradicional opera writed in 1870 "Lucia di Lamermoor",the Aria is "Il Dolce Suono".
@Dylo108
2023, still Incredible as the day it was released
@tanjy.gst.6957
COISA LINDA
@davidguevara8867
Its 2017 and this song still sounds amazing!
@FriKuShAxP
Its 2022 and this song is still great