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
Sans toi
Isabelle Boulay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qu'il �tait l'ombre et le froid le silence
Et surtout qu'il me donne l'envie de poursuivre sans toi
Il faudra que le temps me r�pare
Qu'il m'apprenne au moins cette fois
La passion c'est la force de croire
Il y a tant de choses que je ne suis pas
Sans toi
Un souffle une �tincelle
Sans toi
Que ma vie se rebelle
Sans toi
Redessiner mon ciel
Sans toi
Enfin devenir celle
Sans toi
Du fond de mes col�res
Sans toi
Bien plus qu'une pri�re
Sans toi
Franchir d'autres fronti�res
Sans toi
Effacer des rivi�res
Il faudra que le temps me d�livre
De nos secrets de nos serments
Qu'il m'enseigne du fond de ses livres
O' d�rives sentiments
Il faudra que le temps se souvienne
De nos regards et de nos voix
Simplement pour qu'un jour ils reviennent
Dans le sourire d'un autre que toi
Sans toi
Du fond de mes col�res
Sans toi
Bien plus qu'une pri�re
Sans toi
Franchir d'autres fronti�res
Sans toi
Effacer des rivi�res
M�me si l'amour me blesse
Me fait si mal chaque fois
M�me si l'amour me blesse
Je veux vivre et aimer chaque fois
Tout comme la premi�re fois
Sans toi
Un souffle une �tincelle
Sans toi
Que ma vie se rebelle
Sans toi
Redessiner mon ciel
Sans toi
Enfin devenir celle
Sans toi
Du fond de mes col�res
Sans toi
Bien plus qu'une pri�re
Sans toi
Franchir d'autres fronti�res
Sans toi
Effacer des rivi�res
Sans toi
Sans toi
Sans toi
Sans toi
Sans toi........
The lyrics to Isabelle Boulay's song Sans toi express the pain and struggle of moving on after a relationship has ended. The singer acknowledges that time needs to pass for forgiveness and healing to take place, but also for the desire to continue living without the other person. The theme of time appears throughout the song, as it is seen as the ultimate healer and teacher, allowing the singer to rediscover the strength of believing in passion and to leave behind the secrets and promises of the past relationship. The absence of the other person is emphasized throughout the song, with the singer repeating the phrase "Sans toi" (without you), conveying the sense of emptiness and loss she feels. However, she also expresses the hope of rediscovering herself and her life, even if love will always have the power to hurt her.
Line by Line Meaning
Il faudra que le temps me pardonne
I need time to help me forgive
Qu'il �tait l'ombre et le froid le silence
For it was shadow and cold silence
Et surtout qu'il me donne l'envie de poursuivre sans toi
Above all, I need the inspiration to keep going without you
Il faudra que le temps me r�pare
Time must heal me
Qu'il m'apprenne au moins cette fois
Teach me at least this time
La passion c'est la force de croire
Passion is the strength to believe
Il y a tant de choses que je ne suis pas
There are so many things that I am not
Sans toi Un souffle une �tincelle
Without you, a breath, a spark
Sans toi Que ma vie se rebelle
Without you, my life rebels
Sans toi Redessiner mon ciel
Without you, my sky is redrawn
Sans toi Enfin devenir celle
Without you, I can finally become myself
Sans toi Du fond de mes col�res
Without you, from the depths of my anger
Sans toi Bien plus qu'une pri�re
Without you, more than just a prayer
Sans toi Franchir d'autres fronti�res
Without you, crossing other borders
Sans toi Effacer des rivi�res
Without you, erasing rivers
Il faudra que le temps me d�livre
Time must set me free
De nos secrets de nos serments
From our secrets and our promises
Qu'il m'enseigne du fond de ses livres
Teaching me the lessons of its books
O' d�rives sentiments
About emotional drifts
Il faudra que le temps se souvienne
Time must remember
De nos regards et de nos voix
From our gazes and our voices
Simplement pour qu'un jour ils reviennent
Just so that one day they may return
Dans le sourire d'un autre que toi
In the smile of someone other than you
M�me si l'amour me blesse
Even if love hurts me
Me fait si mal chaque fois
Causes me pain every time
Je veux vivre et aimer chaque fois
I still want to live and love every time
Tout comme la premi�re fois
Just like the first time
Sans toi
Without you
Sans toi
Without you
Sans toi
Without you
Sans toi
Without you
Sans toi........
Without you...
Contributed by Noah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.