Biography
The young François Feldman spent his adolescence listening soul music, including songs by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and James Brown, among other artists. His father gave him his first guitar at fourteen years of age, and François won first prize several times in the radio contests he entered. He created his first group at the age of 14 and appeared in a few clubs. In 1980, Feldman recorded his first song, "You Want Every Night", then "Ma Petite Vidéo" in 1982, "Folle sur les bords" in 1983 summer, "Wally boule noire" and "Obsession" in 1984, and finally "Amour de corridor" in 1985, but all these singles remained unsuccessful.
In 1986, he became famous with his song "Rien que pour toi" which reached number 12 on the SNEP Singles Chart and sold 200,000 units. Thereafter, Feldman had many hits in France, becoming a well established star in France. He has sold very well over his 25-year career, selling about ten million albums in several countries, including Belgium, Italy, Canada and Japan.
Released in 1989, his second studio album entitled Une Présence was more successful and contains several hit singles, such as "Joue pas", recorded as a duet with Joniece Jamison, "Les Valses de Vienne", "Petit Frank" and "C'est toi qui m'as fait" which were all top-2 hits in France. The same year, he wrote the hit single "J'aurais voulu te dire" for Caroline Legrand. This album was followed by Magic Boul'vard, released in 1991, and provided to Feldman a third number one hit in France, "Joy", a song dedicated to the singer's daughter.
Since 1993, and his album Indigo, Feldman has been less successful and unable to repeat his previous feats on the charts. Despite releasing four albums, he has been almost absent from the media and his sales have become more restricted. He currently continues his artistic career giving popular concerts throughout France.
In 2007, "Rien que pour toi" was covered by Tatiana Laurens who took part in the French TV reality show Secret Story.
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J'ai peur
François Feldman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pour traverser la pluie
Quand tu tires le signal
Au milieu de la nuit
Pour me tenir debout
Quand je manque de courage
Et quand la voix des fous
{Refrain:}
J'Ai Peur
De tous ces signes de malheur
Que vienne plus le sauveur
J'Ai Peur
De tous ces cris de douleur
J'Ai Peur
J'entends tout ça dans mon c? ur
Quand là-haut dans le vide
Pour trouver l'univers
On envoie nos acides
Et on détruit la terre
Quand on n'se parle plus
Parce que tout va trop vite
Et que les chiens perdus
Ont des fièvres maudites
{Au Refrain}
Et quand je vois les lâches
Condamner les esprits
Les poètes se cachent
Dans bien trop de pays
Et quand j'entends mentir
Avec des phrases toutes faites
Les marchands d'avenir
Qu'on appelle des prophètes
{Au Refrain}
The song "J'ai Peur" by Francois Feldman reflects on the various anxieties and fears prevalent in today's world. The opening lines, "When your eyes hurt you to cross the rain, When you pull the signal in the middle of the night" describe a feeling of helplessness and desperation, wherein one seeks emotional support during trying times. The lyrics then delve into some of the darker issues affecting humanity, such as environmental destruction, loss of communication, and the silencing of dissenting voices. The chorus "J'ai Peur" (I'm afraid) is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of fear and uncertainty.
Moreover, the lyrics touch upon the concept of hopelessness - an underlying sense that the world is spiraling out of control and that there is no one to save us from the impending doom. This is exemplified in the lines, "Of all these signs of misfortune, That comes more the savior, I'm afraid, Of all these cries of pain, I'm afraid, I hear all of that in my heart." The singer acknowledges that he is terrified of the devastation that comes with natural disasters and the disregard for the environment that humanity exhibits.
Overall, "J'ai Peur" is a poignant song that speaks to our collective fears and uncertainties. The lyrics are a reflection of the world we live in, the troubles we face and the need to seek support from each other to overcome the anxieties and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand tes yeux te font mal
When your eyes hurt
Pour traverser la pluie
To cross the rain
Quand tu tires le signal
When you pull the signal
Au milieu de la nuit
In the middle of the night
Pour me tenir debout
To keep me standing
Quand je manque de courage
When I lack courage
Et quand la voix des fous
And when the voice of the crazies
Couvre la voix des sages
Covers the voice of the wise
{Refrain:}
J'Ai Peur
I'm Afraid
De tous ces signes de malheur
Of all these signs of misfortune
Que vienne plus le sauveur
That the savior does not come anymore
J'Ai Peur
I'm Afraid
De tous ces cris de douleur
Of all these cries of pain
J'Ai Peur
I'm Afraid
J'entends tout ça dans mon cœur
I hear all of that in my heart
Quand là-haut dans le vide
When up there in the void
Pour trouver l'univers
To find the universe
On envoie nos acides
We send our acids
Et on détruit la terre
And we destroy the earth
Quand on n'se parle plus
When we don't talk to each other anymore
Parce que tout va trop vite
Because everything goes by too fast
Et que les chiens perdus
And the lost dogs
Ont des fièvres maudites
Have cursed fevers
{Au Refrain}
Et quand je vois les lâches
And when I see the cowards
Condamner les esprits
Condemning the minds
Les poètes se cachent
The poets hide
Dans bien trop de pays
In way too many countries
Et quand j'entends mentir
And when I hear lies
Avec des phrases toutes faites
With ready-made phrases
Les marchands d'avenir
The merchants of the future
Qu'on appelle des prophètes
That we call prophets
{Au Refrain}
Writer(s): francois feldman, jean-marie moreau
Contributed by Isaiah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.