Guesch Patti was born on 19 March 1946 as Patricia Porasse, she was nicknamed Guesch (a Basque name) as a child, Patti is a pet name for Patricia. Her father, Jean Porasse, worked as an artistic director for the record company HMV-Pathé-Marconi, taking care of Gilbert Bécaud and later as an impresario for people like Eric Charden, Jean-Jacques Debout and Nino Ferrer. Aged 9 she danced the role of the Little Rat at the Paris Opera. When she was 19 she had a brief flirtation with singing as one half of the duo Yves et Patricia, a venture she was talked into by her father. They released 2 singles on the Philips label.
In the seventies she frequently worked for television as a dancer, for example in shows with Nana Mouskouri and Silvie Vartan. Later she moved into contemporary dance and became first dancer in Carolyn Carson's group, Prima Ballerina at the Scala in Milan and guest performer with Roland Petit and Maurice Béjart. She worked on the choreography for performances set to the music of Silvano Bussoti, Luigi Nono and Karlheinz Stockhausen. She also worked with the German choreographer Pina Bausch, practised Jazz dance with Michael Peter and worked on Robert Hossein's staging of Les Misérables.
In 1984 she teamed up with Lydie Callier and another girl to form the trio DaCapo. Virgin Records released one single, but declined to take it further. 1987 saw her emerge as a solo artist with the release of the single Étienne. It charted in 9 European countries, accompanied by a video that caused some controversy due to its erotic nature. It ended up winning Best Video awards in several countries. The success was remarkable because at that time modern French pop\rock music was rarely successful in non-French speaking territories. The international success of Étienne landed her an album recording contract with EMI, the band Encore was formed around her and together they produced her first album Labyrinthe, released in 1988. A second album Nomades followed in 1990. After an (amicable) split with Encore, a third album Gobe saw the light in 1992. Sales of Gobe were disappointing, Gobe was to be her last album for EMI.
After a period of reflection she met Étienne Daho, this contributed to a renewed interest in creating music. She teamed up with independent French label XIIIBis Records (now defunct) which resulted in the 1995 release of Blonde. Songs from this album were also used for the Peter Greenaway film The Pillow Book. Her most recent album is Dernieres Nouvelles, released in November 2000.
In recent years she has also appeared in film and television productions, most notably a co-starring role in the 1997 movie Elles where she appeared alongside Marthe Keller and Miou - Miou. 2001 saw her re-emerge as a dancer on stage in the production She smiles through tears. , Her latest work is the Dernieres Nouvelles DVD, released in February 2002 it features a video illustration of the music of the CD with the same title.
Etienne
Guesch Patti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, tiens-le bien
Baiser salé, sali
Tombé le long du lit
De l'inédit
Il aime à la folie
Au ralenti
Je soulève les interdits, oh
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Hmm, tiens le-bien
Affolé, affolant
Il glisse comme un gant
Pas de limite
Au goût de l'after-beat
Reste allongé
Je vais te rallumer
Aïe, Étienne
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Oh, tiens-le bien
Alléché, mal léché
Accolé, tout collé
Reste alangui
Je me sens étourdie
Toute alourdie
Mais un très grand appétit
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Oh, tiens-le bien
Délassée, délaissée
Enlacés, élancés
Si je te mords
Et encore et encore
Pendant le dos
Je souffle le mot
Oh, Étienne
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Oh, tiens-le bien
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Oh, tiens-le bien
Baiser salé, sali
Tombé le long du lit
De l'inédit
Il aime à la folie
Au ralenti
Je soulève les interdits
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Oh, tiens-le bien
Affolé, affolant
Il glisse comme un gant
Pas de limite
Au goût de l'after-beat
Reste allongé
Je vais te rallumer
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Oh, tiens-le bien
The lyrics to Guesch Patti's song "Etienne" are about a passionate and intense relationship with a man named Etienne. The lyrics include sensual and evocative descriptions of their physical relationship, with lines like "Baiser salé, sali" (salty, dirty kisses) and "Je soulève les interdits" (I raise taboos). The repeated refrain of "Etienne, Etienne, Etienne" serves as both a name and a chant, emphasizing the intensity and obsession of the relationship.
The song also touches on themes of power dynamics and control, with lines like "Tombé le long du lit" (fallen along the bed) and "Je vais te rallumer" (I'm going to reignite you). The singer seems to hold a position of control over Etienne, but also acknowledges her own vulnerability and desire.
Overall, the lyrics to "Etienne" can be interpreted as a celebration of passionate physical love, but also as a commentary on the complexities and power dynamics that can exist within such relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Étienne, Étienne, Étienne
Repeating the name of her lover, Étienne.
Oh, tiens-le bien
Hold him tight, don't let go.
Baiser salé, sali
Salty, dirty kiss.
Tombé le long du lit
Fell off the bed.
De l'inédit
Something new, never before experienced.
Il aime à la folie
He loves passionately, obsessively.
Au ralenti
Slowly, leisurely.
Je soulève les interdits, oh
I break the rules, I push the boundaries.
Affolé, affolant
Excited, exciting.
Il glisse comme un gant
He fits perfectly.
Pas de limite
No limits, anything goes.
Au goût de l'after-beat
To the rhythm of the after-party.
Reste allongé
Stay lying down.
Je vais te rallumer
I'm going to turn you on again.
Aïe, Étienne
Ouch, Étienne.
Alléché, mal léché
Enticed, rough around the edges.
Accolé, tout collé
Close together, stuck together.
Reste alangui
Stay languid, relaxed.
Je me sens étourdie
I feel dizzy.
Toute alourdie
Heavy, weighed down.
Mais un très grand appétit
But still a very strong desire.
Délassée, délaissée
Relaxed, neglected.
Enlacés, élancés
Entwined, graceful.
Si je te mords
If I bite you.
Et encore et encore
Over and over again.
Pendant le dos
During the back.
Je souffle le mot
I whisper the word.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Vincent Bruley, Guesch Patti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind