Mostly shunned by television and radio, he has built through word of mouth and frequent touring a considerable following over the years, which allowed him to fill the 17,000-seater Palais Omnisport de Bercy for an anniversary concert in 1998. In recent years he has been increasingly name-dropped as an influence by the latest generation of performers in France, and was the subject of a tribute album of covers in 2002. He has been performing since the late 1960s and releasing records since 1978.
His parents sent him to a catholic boarding school. He spent few years there, where being singled out by his schoolmates started to be interested in great poets (such as Rimbaud) and writers. The catholic education he received will leave its mark on him. He became nonconformist; he wrote blasphemous lyrics, such as "Au nom du Pere, au nom du vice, au nom des rades et des mégots" (In the name of the Father, in the name of vice, in the name of the cafés and the (cigarette) butts), made biblical and latin references in "Femme de Loth" and many others. Musically, H-FT draws mostly from classic rock, with rare nods to the latest musical trends, and generally leaves the arranging to a collaborator. But his songs are most notable for instantly recognisable lyrics, with their trademarks streams of consciousness, surreal and often extreme or dark imagery, often tinged with comedy, cynicism, literary references, neologisms and liberal use of scientific, long or foreign words. The lyrical mayhem sometimes spreads into comically long song titles, such as Enfermé dans les cabinets (avec la fille mineure des 80 chasseurs), or Exercice de simple provocation avec 33 fois le mot « coupable ».
His avowed influences include Léo Ferré, Lou Reed, and many French, Anglo-saxon and German novelists and poets, with a preference for romantic litterature.
Discography
* 1978 - Tout corps vivant branché sur le secteur étant appelé à s'émouvoir
* 1979 - Autorisation de délirer
* 1980 - De l'amour, de l'art ou du cochon
* 1981 - Dernières balises (avant mutation)
* 1982 - Soleil cherche futur
* 1983 - En concert - live (double album)
* 1984 - Alambic/sortie-sud
* 1986 - En concert vol.2 - live
* 1986 - Météo für nada
* 1988 - Eros über alles
* 1988 - 1978-1983 - compilation
* 1988 - Routes 88 - live
* 1989 - 1984-1988 - compilation
* 1990 - Chroniques bluesymentales
* 1993 - Fragments d'hébétude
* 1995 - Paris-Zénith - live (double album)
* 1996 - La tentation du bonheur
* 1998 - Le bonheur de la tentation
* 1998 - 1978-1998 - compilation
* 1999 - En Concert A Bercy - live (double album)
* 2001 - Défloration 13
* 2002 - Au Bataclan - live
* 2005 - Scandale mélancolique
Médiocratie...
Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un GI vaut 2000 hoplites
Mais au rayon philosophie
On est resté chez Démocrite
On joue les chasseurs d'arc-en-ciel
Meublés chez Starck et compagnie
Mais on sort d'un vieux logiciel
Made in Néandertal-city
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Frères humains dans nos quartiers
Ça manque un peu d'humanité
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Ça manque un peu de verbe aimer
De respect, de fraternité
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Dans le grand jeu des anonymes
La fiction s'adoube au virtuel
On s'additionne on chat on frime
Et l'on se soustrait au réel
Baisés grave et manipulés
Devant nos écrans de facebook
On n'a qu'un pseudo pour rêver
Et s'inventer un autre look
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Frères humains dans nos quartiers
Ça manque un peu d'humanité
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Ça manque un peu de verbe aimer
De respect, de fraternité
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Frères humains frangins damnés
Sous la plage il y a des pavés
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Des pavés bien intentionnés
Pour un enfer climatisé
Devant toutes ces news quo nous soûlent
Ces flashs qui nous anesthésient
DJ God a perdu la boule
Et mixe à l'envers nos envies
Devons-nous croire à un réveil
Dans l'au-delà des jours fériés
Avec la photo du soleil
Brillant sur nos calendriers?
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Frères humains dans nos quartiers
Ça manque un peu d'humanité
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
Ça manque un peu de verbe aimer
De respect, de fraternité
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
In the song Médiocratie, Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine criticizes modern society's obsession with technology and social media, which, he claims, causes people to lose touch with human connection and real-life experiences. The first two lines, "Question gun et machicoulis/Un GI vaut 2000 hoplites," refer to the power of modern military technology and its ability to defeat a large number of soldiers with just one person. This is contrasted to the lack of philosophical advancement in society, where people still cling to outdated beliefs and ideas. Thiéfaine also takes a jab at the modern obsession with designer homes and furnishings while still adhering to primitive ways of thinking.
The song paints a bleak picture of society, where people hide behind screen names and social media profiles, leading to a lack of genuine human interactions and the deterioration of society's human values. The chorus, "Médiocratie, médiacrité! /Frères humains dans nos quartiers/Ça manque un peu d'humanité," expresses Thiéfaine's frustration at how society is becoming more and more mediocre and superficial, lacking the humanity and compassion that is necessary for it to thrive.
Overall, the song Médiocratie is a critique of the modern era's obsession with technology and social media and its effects on society's humanity and values.
Line by Line Meaning
Question gun et machicoulis
We are living in times of uncertainty and death, where war and violence pervade everyday life.
Un GI vaut 2000 hoplites
In this era of advanced military technology, a single soldier can kill far more people than in ancient times.
Mais au rayon philosophie
However, in terms of intellectual progress, we have not advanced beyond the ancient philosophers.
On est resté chez Démocrite
Our understanding of the world is still limited by the ideas of the ancient Greeks like Democritus.
On joue les chasseurs d'arc-en-ciel
We engage in superficial pursuits, like trying to capture the impossible, fleeting beauty of a rainbow.
Meublés chez Starck et compagnie
We seek comfort in lavish, expensive possessions designed by elite designers like Philippe Starck.
Mais on sort d'un vieux logiciel
However, we are in dire need of an update, as we cling to outdated ways of thinking.
Made in Néandertal-city
Our current societal structures are primitive and limited, resembling those of our prehistoric ancestors.
Médiocratie, médiacrité!
We live in a world that lacks depth and critical thinking.
Frères humains dans nos quartiers
Despite our many differences, we are all human beings living in the same neighborhoods.
Ça manque un peu d'humanité
However, we seem to have lost the essence of what it means to be human.
Ça manque un peu de verbe aimer
We seem to have forgotten the importance of love as a driving force for human connection.
De respect, de fraternité
We have lost sight of how crucial respect and brotherhood are in maintaining a functioning society.
Dans le grand jeu des anonymes
In the vast, anonymous network of the internet, people play games of deception and illusion.
La fiction s'adoube au virtuel
Fictional stories merge with reality on online platforms, blurring the lines between the two.
On s'additionne on chat on frime
We add up friends and followers, chat superficially, and flaunt an idealized version of ourselves online.
Et l'on se soustrait au réel
However, in doing so, we disconnect from reality and avoid confronting the challenges it presents us with.
Baisés grave et manipulés
We are easily manipulated and deceived by what we see online and what we believe to be true.
Devant nos écrans de facebook
We spend an overwhelming amount of time in front of our Facebook accounts, taking in information that is not always trustworthy.
On n'a qu'un pseudo pour rêver
We often hide behind fake names and profiles to portray a different version of ourselves and dream of a different life.
Et s'inventer un autre look
We hope to change who we are by adopting a new appearance or persona online.
Frères humains frangins damnés
As human beings, we share a common fate, and yet we all struggle and suffer in our own ways.
Sous la plage il y a des pavés
Beneath the surface of the idyllic, beachy lifestyle, there are harsh realities and struggles to be faced.
Des pavés bien intentionnés
However, there are also those among us who want to stand up for what is right and protest for change.
Pour un enfer climatisé
We may be living in a world full of problems, but we've made ourselves comfortable by avoiding the heat and difficulties.
Devant toutes ces news qui nous soûlent
The constant barrage of news and media is exhausting and overwhelming.
Ces flashs qui nous anesthésient
We become numb to the distressing and traumatic events happening in the world, through the non-stop flood of media images.
DJ God a perdu la boule
Even our most prominent cultural figures and idols have lost their way or become misguided.
Et mixe à l'envers nos envies
They distort our desires and promote false ideas, leading us down a path of confusion and disillusionment.
Devons-nous croire à un réveil
Is there still hope for a revival, a conscious effort to address the problems we face as a society?
Dans l'au-delà des jours fériés
Perhaps our chance for change lies beyond the superficiality and commercialization of holidays and celebrations.
Avec la photo du soleil
With a renewed sense of hope and optimism, we can look towards a brighter future.
Brillant sur nos calendriers?
Will we rise to the occasion, or succumb to the mediocrity and disillusionment of our times?
Lyrics © LILITH EROTICA, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mathieu MONNAERT, Hubert-Félix THIEFAINE, Lucas THIEFAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thierry Pradelle
Encore une très belle ballade dans l'univers de Thiéfaine...que du bonheur.
val bauer
Une merveille de Thiefaine
Daniele Chany
Ce monde qui est le notre ;( merci Hubert Felix , et bravo à Lucas , la relève est assurée <3 <3
Mathilde Bourgeon
C est ma preferee
Yves Clausse
Merci hubert tu est u n vrai musicien et vrai poète
Moi Même
Cette homme et un vrai poète grand monsieur je l ai vu le 30 7 2022 à la laigne super concer avec son fils lucas comme musicien vivement le prochain concert dans le 17...
LOUISIANE
PLUS QUE JAMAIS......🖤🖤🖤💖
Assas Reza
Hubert je t adors ! Grave
Mathilde Bourgeon
J éprouvé 1 Sentiment d amour mélancolique
Septimanie Charles
C ma chanson prefere. Tu es de plus en plus beau ... . A la prochaine !