In 1990, some friends recorded her at the Petite-Vallée song festival without her consent, but she completed a performance there and was regarded as a huge success. The following year she won at the Granby song festival for her rendition of Jacques Brel's "Amsterdam". That same year she was invited to take part in the festival Les FrancoFolies de Montréal.
In 1993 she represented Radio Canada at the "Truffe de Périgueux" festival held in Périgord, France. She carried off the prize for Best Singer in the "chanson francophone" (French song) category. Following her success in France, she was noticed by songwriter Luc Plamondon who was looking for emerging talents to perform in a new production of his rock opera Starmania. There, Boulay portrayed the role of Marie-Jeanne.
In 1996, Isabelle Boulay provided the singing voice for Alys Robi in the television series of the same name. She released her debut album, Fallait pas, that year.
Two years later, came "États d’amour" an album that included some of her most popular songs. "Je t’oublierai, je t’oublierai", "La lune" or "Le saule".
The following years were filled with success and recognition all over the world. In that time her albums "Scènes d’amour", which included thirteen live duets and "Mieux qu'ici-bas" were released. This last one became an instant success.
"Au moment d'être à vous" was again recorded live in Montreal in 2002. Acompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of Montreal, she performed her favourite songs from many composers.
"Tout un Jour" was released in 2004 and it included 14 new songs.
"Du Temps pour Toi" was recorded live at L'Olympia in Paris and released in 2005 and a DVD of the concert was also released.
In 2007, she went back to her childhood memories and songs and recorded a Country music album called "De Retour à la source"
In the spring of 2008 she released an album produced in France, "Nos Lendemains" that you can hear in her official site: www.isabelleboulay.ca
L'Absence
Isabelle Boulay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sur le drap où, naguère, tu as posé ton bras,
Cependant qu'en bas la rue parle toute seule,
Quelqu'un vend des mandarines,
Une dame bleu-marine promène sa fillette.
L'absence, la voilà.
L'absence d'un enfant, d'un amour,
Quand on a dit "Je t'aime" un jour,
Le silence est le même.
C'est une nuit qui tombe, c'est une poésie, aussi,
Où passaient les colombes un soir de jalousie,
Un livre est ouvert, tu as touché cette page,
Tu avais fêlé ce verre, au retour d'un grand voyage,
Il reste les bagages.
L'absence, la voilà.
L'absence d'un enfant, d'un amour,
L'absence est la même,
Quand on a dit "Je t'aime" un jour,
Le silence est le même.
C'est un volet qui bat, c'est sur un agenda, la croix,
D'un ancien rendez-vous où l'on se disait "Vous",
Les vases sont vides, où l'on mettait des bouquets
Et le miroir prend des rides, où le passé fait le guet,
J'entends le bruit d'un pas.
L'absence, la voilà.
L'absence d'un enfant, d'un amour,
L'absence est la même,
Quand on a dit "Je t'aime" un jour,
Le silence est le même.
The song L'Absence by Isabelle Boulay reflects on the feeling of absence, particularly in a romantic relationship. The lyrics describe different scenarios where absence is present, whether it be through the sound of a banging shutter, the emptiness of a vase where flowers were once placed, or the sound of footsteps that only serve as a reminder of the person who is no longer there. The repetition of the phrase "L'absence, la voilà" throughout the song emphasizes the weight of this feeling and how it permeates every aspect of one's life.
The imagery in the song provides a sense of nostalgia and longing for what once was. The mention of a book with a marked page, a cracked glass from a past trip, and an old calendar with a crossed-out appointment all represent tangible reminders of a time that has passed. The silence that follows the phrase "Je t'aime" (I love you) further emphasizes the pain of absence in a relationship. The song concludes with the haunting repetition of the phrase "Le silence est le même" (The silence is the same), emphasizing that absence is a universal, unchanging feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est un volet qui bat, c'est une déchirure, légère,
It's a shutter that beats, it's a slight tear, on the sheet where once you laid your arm, while down below the street speaks to itself, someone sells mandarins, a navy blue lady is walking her little girl.
L'absence, la voilà.
There it is, the absence.
L'absence d'un enfant, d'un amour,
The absence of a child, of a love.
L'absence est la même,
The absence is the same.
Quand on a dit "Je t'aime" un jour,
When one has said "I love you" one day.
Le silence est le même.
The silence is the same.
C'est une nuit qui tombe, c'est une poésie, aussi,
It's a falling night, it's also a poem, where once the doves passed on a jealous evening, a book is open, you touched this page, you had cracked that glass upon your return from a great trip, the luggage remains.
L'absence, la voilà.
There it is, the absence.
L'absence d'un enfant, d'un amour,
The absence of a child, of a love.
L'absence est la même,
The absence is the same.
Quand on a dit "Je t'aime" un jour,
When one has said "I love you" one day.
Le silence est le même.
The silence is the same.
C'est un volet qui bat, c'est sur un agenda, la croix,
It's a shutter that beats, it's the cross on a calendar, of a former appointment where one used to say "you," the vases are empty where we once put bouquets and the mirror wrinkles where the past stands guard, I hear the sound of footsteps.
L'absence, la voilà.
There it is, the absence.
L'absence d'un enfant, d'un amour,
The absence of a child, of a love.
L'absence est la même,
The absence is the same.
Quand on a dit "Je t'aime" un jour,
When one has said "I love you" one day.
Le silence est le même.
The silence is the same.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACQUES DATIN, JEAN LOUP DABADIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind