He began songwriting in 1948, after meeting Maurice Vidalin, who inspired him to write his early compositions. He began writing for Marie Bizet; Bizet, Bécaud and Vidalin became a successful trio, and their partnership lasted until 1950.
Desiree
Gilbert Bécaud Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tu es violence, cadence et décadence
Robot, rebelle, madone des décibels
Deux grands yeux métal
Comme un ciel sans étoile
Deux scotch, un rock, on parle, on rit, on danse
Super gadget de discothèque qui danse, danse
Désirée, oh, Désirée
Dans le cœur, t'as le spleen de ta génération
Désirée, oh, Désirée
T'as le corps en blue-jeans et les rêves en jupon
Et les rêves en jupon
Désirée
Tu portes bien ton nom
Désirée
Ton appartement, une petite kitchenette et un balcon
Poster de Jane Fonda sur le mur
Des poupées sur le lit
Je n'ai rien demandé
Tu m'apportes un whisky
Tu pars, tu reviens
Baignoire de bain, romantique
On fait l'amour trop tôt, pas bien, mécanique
Désirée
Désirée, oh, Désirée
Dans le cœur, t'as le spleen de ta génération
Désirée, oh, Désirée
T'as le corps en blue-jeans et les rêves en jupon
Et les rêves en jupon
Désirée
Tu portes bien ton nom
Désirée
Tu as l'angoisse de tout, de toi, de l'avenir
Tu caches ta peur derrière ton rire
Oui, tu es belle comme le désir
Désirée
Comme je t'aimerais
Si tu savais pleurer
Désirée, oh, Désirée
Dans le cœur, t'as le spleen de ta génération
Désirée, oh, Désirée
T'as le corps en blue-jeans et les rêves en jupon
Et les rêves en jupon
Désirée
Tu portes bien ton nom
Désirée, Désirée
The song "Désirée" by Gilbert Bécaud is about a woman named Désirée who represents the generation's melancholy and anxiety. Her dance and music reflect her character of violence, rhythm, and decadence. She is a rebel and a madonna of decibels. The description of her two metallic eyes, like a starless sky, and her blue jeans-covered body with dreams in a skirt portrays her as a woman who is trying to find her place in the world. She lives in a small apartment with a kitchenette and a balcony, with posters of Jane Fonda on the wall and dolls on the bed. Désirée is a complicated woman who hides her fear behind her laughter. Despite her beauty, she is unable to find contentment in love and frequently engages in mechanical lovemaking. She has a sense of yearning for something more, represented by the line "Dans le cœur, t'as le spleen de ta génération," which means "in your heart, you have the melancholy of your generation." The singer expresses sympathy for Désirée and suggests that if she knew how to cry, he would love her.
Overall, "Désirée" is a striking and poignant portrayal of a young woman trying to find her place in the world. The song explores themes of alienation, melancholy, and desire. The singer's empathy for Désirée, despite her flaws and difficulties, reinforces the idea that we all struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Tu ressembles à la musique que tu danses
You embody the music you dance to
Tu es violence, cadence et décadence
You are a mix of intensity, rhythm, and decadence
Robot, rebelle, madone des décibels
You are a robotic rebel, a queen of decibels
Deux grands yeux métal
Two big metal eyes
Comme un ciel sans étoile
Like a starless sky
Deux scotch, un rock, on parle, on rit, on danse
Two scotches, one rock song, we talk, we laugh, we dance
Super gadget de discothèque qui danse, danse
Super disco gadget that dances, dances
Désirée
Desired
Désirée, oh, Désirée
Desired, oh, Desired
Dans le cœur, t'as le spleen de ta génération
In your heart, you have the melancholy of your generation
T'as le corps en blue-jeans et les rêves en jupon
You have a body in blue jeans and dreams in petticoats
Et les rêves en jupon
And dreams in petticoats
Désirée
Desired
Tu portes bien ton nom
You wear your name well
Ton appartement, une petite kitchenette et un balcon
Your apartment has a small kitchenette and a balcony
Poster de Jane Fonda sur le mur
A poster of Jane Fonda on the wall
Des poupées sur le lit
Dolls on the bed
Je n'ai rien demandé
I didn't ask for anything
Tu m'apportes un whisky
You bring me a whisky
Tu pars, tu reviens
You leave, you come back
Baignoire de bain, romantique
Romantic bathtub
On fait l'amour trop tôt, pas bien, mécanique
We make love too early, not good, mechanical
Tu as l'angoisse de tout, de toi, de l'avenir
You have anxiety about everything, yourself, the future
Tu caches ta peur derrière ton rire
You hide your fear behind your laughter
Oui, tu es belle comme le désir
Yes, you are as beautiful as desire
Désirée
Desired
Comme je t'aimerais
How I would love you
Si tu savais pleurer
If only you knew how to cry
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gilbert Francois Leopold Becaud, Michael Kunze, Claude Jacques Raoul Lemesle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind