Her first solo presentation at the Voutes des Frigo in December 2002 as well as the creation of a six title demo with Antoine Gaillet in 2003 allowed her to meet Christelle Lassort who soon joined the band. Christelle's violin and her voice brought a new harmonic impulse and strengthened the project. She also introduced Christophe Beaudriard (Bass / Double Bass) and Bertrand Perrin (Drums) to the band. They joined as well and smoothly adapted their sound to the rhythms imposed by the machines. Then, with the arrival of Antoine & Nicolas, from fellow band Narrow Terence, Etyl is finally complete.
Somewhere between organic acoustic and hypnotic machines, Etyl lays her doubts and hopes down in words and sounds. Like a question mark, Etyl's name ("Is it?"/"Is he?" in French) stands up to the questions raised in her lyrics.
For independence's sake, the album "La Tortue" was co-produced at the Microbe Studio by Julien Trimoreau and Eglantine herself for Lady Blue (her own label). However, Etyl recently signed with Recall Group and re-released her first album.
Noël
Etyl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vive l'époque des bilans
Et du manque de temps
Des fausses trèves
Et des vrais semblants
Du froid partout
Mais surtout dedans !
Noël, Noël, Noël, je hais Noël...
Mais qui sont tous ces gens
Dont je partage le sang
Que j'vois une fois par an,
Tout ça pour se rentrer dedans ?
Mais qui sont tous ces gens,
Moi je n'vois qu'les absents
Maintenant c'est dès début décembre
Qu'la pression monte
Qu'la terre tremble !
En bons chrétiens dans le métro
On est prêts à s'tirer dans l'dos
Pour finir ses cadeaux
Et pouvoir rentrer tôt...
Noël, Noël, Noël, je hais Noël...
Chaque année c'est la même rengaine
On s'prépare à s'faire de la peine
Enrobée de sourires polis
De gens gâchés, gâtés, pourris
Malades à manger trop
Quand d'autres n'ont plus que leur peau
Noël, Noël, Noël, je hais Noël...
Joyeux Noël...
The lyrics of Etyl's song Noël express a deep loathing for the holiday season, which is often associated with superficiality and pretense. The singer seems to be overwhelmed by the pressures of the holiday, from the rush to buy presents to the obligatory gatherings with family members that he barely knows. He sees Christmas as a time of false peace, characterized by the tension between people and their unspoken resentments.
The singer's disdain for Christmas is intensified by the stark contrast between the outward cheer and the inner turmoil that he feels. He sees the holiday as a reminder of the poverty and suffering in the world, and the incongruity of celebrating abundance while others struggle to survive. The repeated refrain of "Noël, Noël, Noël, je hais Noël" (Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, I hate Christmas) reflects the singer's deep and abiding frustration with the season.
Ultimately, the song is a powerful commentary on the commercialization and hypocrisy of the holiday season. It highlights the tensions and contradictions that often lurk beneath the surface of holiday cheer, and speaks to the discomfort and unease that many people feel during this time of year.
Line by Line Meaning
Noël, Noël, Noël, je hais Noël...
I hate Christmas and all the false pretenses that come with it.
Vive l'époque des bilans
This time of year is all about reflecting on the past year.
Et du manque de temps
It's also a time when everyone is rushed and doesn't have enough time.
Des fausses trèves
Despite the holidays being a time for peace, it's all a facade.
Et des vrais semblants
People put on a show, pretending to be happy and content when they really aren't.
Du froid partout
It's not just cold outside, but inside as well, where emotions are disconnected.
Mais qui sont tous ces gens
Who are all these people that I only see once a year?
Dont je partage le sang
They're supposed to be family, but they feel like strangers.
Que j'vois une fois par an,
I only see them once a year, for Christmas.
Tout ça pour se rentrer dedans ?
And for what? To fight and argue with each other?
Moi je n'vois qu'les absents
Instead of seeing those who are present, all I can see are those who are missing.
Maintenant c'est dès début décembre
It's not even December yet and the pressure is already building.
Qu'la pression monte
The pressure keeps building.
Qu'la terre tremble !
It feels like the world is shaking with the stress of the holiday season.
En bons chrétiens dans le métro
As good Christians, we're all rushing around in the metro, trying to get everything done.
On est prêts à s'tirer dans l'dos
We're even willing to push and shove each other to get what we want.
Pour finir ses cadeaux
All for the sake of getting those gifts bought and wrapped in time.
Et pouvoir rentrer tôt...
So we can finally go home and be done with it all.
Chaque année c'est la même rengaine
It's the same thing every year, a never-ending cycle of stress and frustration.
On s'prépare à s'faire de la peine
We know that we're setting ourselves up for disappointment.
Enrobée de sourires polis
But we still put on a show, smiling politely through it all.
De gens gâchés, gâtés, pourris
Ironically, the people we're buying gifts for are often spoiled and rotten.
Malades à manger trop
We all eat too much, making ourselves sick in the process.
Quand d'autres n'ont plus que leur peau
All the while, there are others out there who are struggling just to survive.
Joyeux Noël...
Merry Christmas...but is it really?
Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.