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
T'as l'air d'une chanson
Isabelle Boulay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et ton air difficile
Avec tes mots d'amour
Qu'on ne comprend pas toujours
T'as l'air d'une chanson
Qu'on chante à la maison
Y'a des jours où tu sais
Y'a des jours où ton père
N'est sûrement pas Prévert
Mais t'as l'air d'une chanson
Qu'on chante entre garçons
Ma femme, la la la la la la
Ma femme, la la la la la la
Ça fait belle lurette
Que je t'ai dans la tête
T'es pas la Madelon
Mais t'as l'air d'une chanson
Qu'a fait bien d'autres guerres
Dont j'étais l'adversaire
Et puis malgré les crises
Malgré mes maints exodes
Comme le temps des cerises
T'es revenue à la mode
T'as l'air d'une chanson
Fidèle à son violon
Ma femme, la la la la la
Ma femme, la la la la la
Tu es faite de quoi
Quatre coups de crayon
Deux trois notes de joie
Et beaucoup de brouillons
Et tu racontes quoi
Une histoire qui me plaît
Si je ne suis pas toujours
Là dans tous les couplets
Je reviens au refrain
Et j'appelle ça l'amour
Tu es faite de quoi
Tu es faite de moi
Ma femme, la la la la la
Ma femme, la la la la la
Y'a des jours où tu sais
Tu n'es pas un succès
Y'a des jours où ton père
N'est sûrement pas Prévert
Mais tu es la chanson
Qui ne doit pas finir
Je te joue longuement
Je me trompe souvent
Car depuis tant de temps
Que je t'apprends par cœur
J'ai encore peur
De ne pas te retenir
Ma femme, la la la la la
Ma femme, la la la la la
In Isabelle Boulay's song "T'as l'air d'une chanson," the singer expresses her love for her partner and compares her to a song, saying that even on days when things don't go well, she remains an important part of their lives. The lyrics are full of imagery that emphasizes the simplicity and beauty of love mirrored in music. The singer highlights the fact that even if some parts of the song may be difficult to understand, she still loves her partner unreservedly.
The first verse starts with the singer describing her partner as having a tough exterior but with words of love that are not always clear. This suggests that although her partner may come across as tough and unapproachable, there is a tenderness there that may not be immediately apparent. The chorus emphasizes this point by stating that her partner looks like a song that is sung at home.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that there are times when she isn't at her best, and neither is her partner. However, she asserts that despite these difficult moments, her partner is a song that she sings with her male friends. The bridge reminds the listener that the song has been around for a long time, just like the couple's relationship, and has survived through various trials.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was co-written by Isabelle Boulay and Francis Cabrel, a French singer-songwriter. Another fact is that it was released in 2017 on Boulay's album En Vérité, which received critical acclaim in Canada. The song quickly became popular in the country and is still a favorite among fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Avec des mots faciles
With easy words
Et ton air difficile
And your difficult air
Avec tes mots d'amour
With your words of love
Qu'on ne comprend pas toujours
That we don't always understand
T'as l'air d'une chanson
You look like a song
Qu'on chante à la maison
That we sing at home
Y'a des jours où tu sais
There are days when you know
Tu n'es pas un succès
You're not a success
Y'a des jours où ton père
There are days when your father
N'est sûrement pas Prévert
Certainly isn't Prévert
Mais t'as l'air d'une chanson
But you still look like a song
Qu'on chante entre garçons
That boys sing
Ma femme, la la la la la la
My wife, la la la la la la
Ça fait belle lurette
It's been a long time
Que je t'ai dans la tête
Since I've had you in my head
T'es pas la Madelon
You're not Madelon
Mais t'as l'air d'une chanson
But you still look like a song
Qu'a fait bien d'autres guerres
That has been through many other wars
Dont j'étais l'adversaire
That I was the opponent of
Et puis malgré les crises
And despite the crisis
Malgré mes maints exodes
Despite my many exoduses
Comme le temps des cerises
Like the time of cherries
T'es revenue à la mode
You've come back in style
T'as l'air d'une chanson
You look like a song
Fidèle à son violon
Faithful to its violin
Tu es faite de quoi
What are you made of
Quatre coups de crayon
Four pencil strokes
Deux trois notes de joie
Two or three notes of joy
Et beaucoup de brouillons
And a lot of drafts
Et tu racontes quoi
And what do you tell
Une histoire qui me plaît
A story that I like
Si je ne suis pas toujours
If I'm not always
Là dans tous les couplets
There in all the verses
Je reviens au refrain
I come back to the chorus
Et j'appelle ça l'amour
And I call that love
Tu es faite de quoi
What are you made of
Tu es faite de moi
You're made of me
Y'a des jours où tu sais
There are days when you know
Tu n'es pas un succès
You're not a success
Y'a des jours où ton père
There are days when your father
N'est sûrement pas Prévert
Certainly isn't Prévert
Mais tu es la chanson
But you are the song
Qui ne doit pas finir
That must not end
Je te joue longuement
I play you for a long time
Je me trompe souvent
I often make mistakes
Car depuis tant de temps
Because for such a long time
Que je t'apprends par cœur
I've memorized you
J'ai encore peur
I'm still afraid
De ne pas te retenir
Of not holding onto you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAIN GORAGUER, JEAN LOUP DABADIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind