Salvador recorded several songs written with Boris Vian with Quincy Jones as arranger.
In the 60's Salvador was the television host of several popular TV variety shows on French TV.
Henri Salvador and his song "Dans mon île" (1957) is said to have unwittingly inspired bossa nova in Brazil, as Carlos Tom Jobim would have exclaimed on hearing the song "This is what you have to do! Slow down the tempo of samba, add a good melody and top it with beautiful chords!"
Caetano Veloso, a renowned brasilian composer and singer, made a direct reference at Salvador in his song "Reconvexo" : "quem não sentiu o swing de Heri Salvador ?" (who hasn't felt the swing of Henri Salvador ?)
In (1964) Henri Salvador scored a popular French hit with "Zorro est arrivé" (which was inspired by the English song "Along Came Jones"). His song "Mais non, mais non" (1969) inspired Jim Henson' song Mahna Mahna. These kind of comedy songs made him well known in France. He is also famous for his good nature and rich, catchy laugh, which is a standalone feature in many of his humoristic songs.
He has a brother, André, and a sister Alice. He became a musician and comedian. Later he uncovered new French talents Keren Ann and Art Mengo.
Mathilda
Henri Salvador Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eveillant mes amours fanées.
Valse du souvenir, mélodie des désirs oubliés,
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi.
Valsez Mathilda,
Valsez Mathilda,
Charmant fantôme de mes jours fleuris
Tourbillon parfumé
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi.
Comme un vent léger qui passe et ne revient jamais
En souriant m'avez quitté
J'ai retrouvé ce soir le chemin des Espoirs envolés
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi.
Où etes-vous Mathilda ?
Où etes-vous Mathilda ?
Où dansez-vous Mathilda, sans moi ?
Si jolie vous étiez
Hélas ! Jamais plus ne me reviendrez
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi
Si jolie vous étiez
Hélas ! Jamais plus ne me reviendrez
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi
The lyrics of Henri Salvador's "Mathilda" are about a wistful reminiscence of a past love. The singer hears whispers from the wind of a forgotten tale, awakening his faded love. He describes Mathilda's dance as a waltz of memories and forgotten desires, and remembers how beautiful she was when she danced for him. Mathilda is a charming ghost from his youthful days, and the scent of her swirling in the waltz is a vivid memory. The singer ponders where she might be now and asks if she still dances without him. He laments that he will never see her again, but the beauty of her dance remains with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Le vent du passé me murmure un conte effacé
The wind of the past whispers a forgotten tale to me
Eveillant mes amours fanées.
Awakening my faded loves
Valse du souvenir, mélodie des désirs oubliés,
Waltz of memories, melody of forgotten desires
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi.
When you danced Mathilda, for me
Valsez Mathilda,
Waltzing Mathilda
Valsez Mathilda,
Waltzing Mathilda
Charmant fantôme de mes jours fleuris
Charming ghost of my blooming days
Tourbillon parfumé
Perfumed whirlwind
En valsant vous étiez si jolie,
You were so pretty while dancing
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi.
When you danced Mathilda, for me
Comme un vent léger qui passe et ne revient jamais
Like a light wind that passes and never returns
En souriant m'avez quitté
You left me while smiling
J'ai retrouvé ce soir le chemin des Espoirs envolés
Tonight, I found the path of vanished hopes
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi.
When you danced Mathilda, for me
Où etes-vous Mathilda ?
Where are you, Mathilda?
Où etes-vous Mathilda ?
Where are you, Mathilda?
Où dansez-vous Mathilda, sans moi ?
Where are you dancing Mathilda, without me?
Si jolie vous étiez
You were so pretty
Hélas ! Jamais plus ne me reviendrez
Alas! You will never return to me
Quand vous dansiez Mathilda, pour moi
When you danced Mathilda, for me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Span Norman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind