Françoise Hardy signed her first contract with the record label Vogue in November 1961. In April 1962, shortly after finishing school, her first record Oh Oh Chéri appeared, written by Johnny Hallyday's writing duo. Her own flip side of the record, "Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles" became a success, riding the wave of Yé-yé music in France, with two million sales.
Hardy sang in French, English, Italian, Spanish, and German. In 1963 she came fifth for Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest with "L'amour s'en va". In 1963, she was awarded the Grand Prix Du Disque of the Charles Cros Academy.
In 1981, she married her long-time companion Jacques Dutronc, with whom she had had a son, Thomas Dutronc, in 1973. In 1994, she collaborated with the British pop group Blur for their "La Comedie" version of To The End. In May 2000, she made a comeback with the album Clair Obscur. Her son played guitar and her husband sang the duet "Puisque Vous Partez En Voyage." Iggy Pop and Étienne Daho also took part. Hardy lives near Paris and Dutronc lives in Monticello, Corsica, although they remain a couple.[citation needed]
Contre Vents Et Marées
Francoise Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oublie les apparances
Le silence
N'est jamais immobile
Toute attente a un sens
Aie confiance
Imagine
Les forces en présence
Pense au but, cherche encore
Le monde et toi
Êtes sommis à des Lois
Songes-y quelquefois...
Avant que tu t'élances
Que tu danses
Que tu coures sur ton fil
Que tes belles évidences
Ta violence
Tombent en ruines
Bien des deuils t'attendent...
Tu dois juste avancer
Regarder sans tricher
La vérité
Suivre ta route
Coûte que coûte
Contre vents et marees
Si nul n'echappe à ces orages
Qui balayent au passage
Les repères
Qui éteignent la lumière..
Dans la nuit noire
Tôt ou tard
Va briller un espoir
Et germer ta victoire...
Arme-toi de patience
La souffrance
N'est jamais inutile
Elle élève en silence
Tisse les fils
Invisible
D'une autre naissance
Vois la mer qui se calme
Le soleil dans les arbres
Sèche tes larmes
Sois vivant, reste vrai
Contre vents et marées
The lyrics of Françoise Hardy's song Contre Vents Et Marées are about perseverance in the face of adversity. The opening line encourages the listener to keep going despite obstacles, and to forget appearances or external factors that may be hindering progress. The following lines suggest that silence is never still and that waiting has a purpose, encouraging the listener to have faith in themselves and their goals.
The chorus of the song reinforces the message of perseverance, reminding the listener that everyone faces challenges in life (represented by the storms and rough waters of the sea), but that it is important to keep moving forward no matter what. The bridge, "Arme-toi de patience, la souffrance n'est jamais inutile, Elle élève en silence, Tisse les fils invisible D'une autre naissance" translates to "Arm yourself with patience, suffering is never useless, It raises in silence, Weaving the invisible threads of another birth". These lyrics suggest that even though suffering may be difficult, it can lead to a new beginning or a personal transformation.
Overall, the song is a message of hope and inspiration, encouraging the listener to persevere in their own journey through life.
Line by Line Meaning
Contre vents et marées
Despite all challenges and obstacles
Oublie les apparances
Don't be distracted by appearances
Le silence
Silence can be powerful
N'est jamais immobile
It's always changing
Toute attente a un sens
Every expectation has a purpose
Aie confiance
Have confidence in yourself
Imagine
Visualize your goals
Les forces en présence
The opposing forces at play
Continue ton effort
Keep making an effort
Pense au but, cherche encore
Think about your goal and keep searching for answers
Le monde et toi
You and the world
Êtes sommis à des Lois
Are subject to certain laws
Songes-y quelquefois...
Think about it sometimes
Avant que tu t'élances
Before you take a leap
Que tu danses
Before you dance
Que tu coures sur ton fil
Before you walk a tightrope
Que tes belles évidences
Before your assumptions crumble
Ta violence
Your anger
Tombent en ruines
Crumbles down
Bien des deuils t'attendent...
Many hardships await you
Tu dois juste avancer
You just need to keep moving forward
Regarder sans tricher
Look without deception
La vérité
The truth
Suivre ta route
Follow your path
Coûte que coûte
At any cost
Si n'ul n'echappe à ces orages
If no one is spared from these storms
Qui balayent au passage
That sweep away everything in their path
Les repères
The landmarks
Qui éteignent la lumière..
That extinguish the light
Dans la nuit noire
In the dark night
Tôt ou tard
Sooner or later
Va briller un espoir
Hope will shine
Et germer ta victoire...
And your victory will flourish
Arme-toi de patience
Arm yourself with patience
La souffrance
Suffering
N'est jamais inutile
Is never useless
Elle élève en silence
It raises you up in quietness
Tisse les fils
Weaves the threads
Invisible
Invisible
D'une autre naissance
Of another birth
Vois la mer qui se calme
See the calming sea
Le soleil dans les arbres
The sun in the trees
Sèche tes larmes
Dry your tears
Sois vivant, reste vrai
Be alive, stay true
Contre vents et marées
Against all odds
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.