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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Le P'tit Cireur
François Feldman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qui donne la fièvre et qui salit
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui voit revenir le labeur
Tout le monde a peur de la nuit
Qui fait tout noir, qui fait tout gris
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Tout le monde veut se tenir debout
Personne ne veut s'mettre à genoux
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui n'connaît pas le déshonneur
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout l'monde veut vivre en grande pompe
Et ne jamais sentir ses pompes
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui dit qu'l'argent n'a pas d'odeur
Tout le monde se lève du pied gauche
A l'heure terrible de l'embauche
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui est toujours de bonne humeur
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout l'monde a des mornes saisons
Et l'estomac dans les talons
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui se nourrit de quelques fleurs
Tout l'monde a des trous de mémoire
Et les semelles comme des passoires
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui connaît cette chanson par cœur
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde.
In Le P'tit Cireur, François Feldman contrasts the perspectives of society with that of a shoeshine boy. While everyone else worries about the rain, the night, staying upright, their shoes, and their memory lapses, the shoeshine boy remains steadfast and positive. He finds beauty in the rain, sees color in the darkness, has no shame in kneeling, says money is worth nothing without honor, greets the day with enthusiasm, finds sustenance in small pleasures, and has learned the lyrics of life by heart. The chorus reminds us that everyone, no matter their station, faces the same difficulties and uncertainties.
The lyrics of the song could be interpreted as a critique of society, which values material success and regards poverty as a personal failure. But the shoeshine boy provides an alternative perspective. Despite his lowly position, he finds joy and satisfaction in his work and is able to appreciate life's simple pleasures. He is a symbol of resilience and optimism, a reminder that we can choose how we respond to the challenges that come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
Tout le monde se méfie de la pluie
Qui donne la fièvre et qui salit
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui voit revenir le labeur
Everyone is wary of the rain that brings illness and dirt except for the little shoeshiner who sees it as a sign of renewed business.
Tout le monde a peur de la nuit
Qui fait tout noir, qui fait tout gris
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui voit toutes les choses en couleurs
Everyone is afraid of the darkness that makes everything black and gray except for the little shoeshiner who sees everything in bright colors.
Tout le monde veut se tenir debout
Personne ne veut s'mettre à genoux
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui n'connaît pas le déshonneur
Everyone wants to stand tall and nobody wants to kneel except for the little shoeshiner who has never known dishonor.
Tout l'monde veut vivre en grande pompe
Et ne jamais sentir ses pompes
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui dit qu'l'argent n'a pas d'odeur
Everyone wants to live in luxury and never feel the pinch except for the little shoeshiner who believes that money has no odor.
Tout le monde se lève du pied gauche
A l'heure terrible de l'embauche
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui est toujours de bonne humeur
Everyone wakes up on the wrong side of the bed on workdays except for the little shoeshiner who is always in a good mood.
Tout l'monde a des mornes saisons
Et l'estomac dans les talons
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui se nourrit de quelques fleurs
Everyone has their downtimes and stomach in knots except for the little shoeshiner who feeds on the beauty of flowers.
Tout l'monde a des trous de mémoire
Et les semelles comme des passoires
Sauf le p'tit cireur, sauf le p'tit cireur
Qui connaît cette chanson par cœur
Everyone has memory lapses and worn-out soles except for the little shoeshiner who knows this song by heart.
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde
Tout le monde, tout le monde.
Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody.
Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.