Between 1963 and 1964, Dutronc was the guitarist for a group called El Toro et les Cyclones who recorded several EPs. During this time he could frequently be seen on stage at the Golf Drouot as backing guitarist for stars like Eddy Mitchell. He then went and did his obligatory military service. After his return he landed a job as assistant at Vogue Records to Artistic Director Jacques Wolfsohn. In this capacity he arranged songs (there is no indication that he wrote the lyrics for any of these songs) for several lesser known artists like Zou Zou and CLeo. In 1966 (or maybe the end of 1965), he was teamed with writer Jacques Lanzmann, then director at Lui magazine, to create songs for artists who were arranged to be the next big thing. Benjamin was the first of these singers. But his first EP did horribly and he was unceremoniously booted from Vogue. One day after hearing the demos that Dutronc had made of a song, Wolfsohn declared that Jacques should do the record for release. "Et moi, et moi, et moi" was unleashed on the world in 1966 and overnight one of France's biggest stars was born.
With Lanzmann in charge of the lyrics and Dutronc taking care of the music, the two created some of the most lasting songs in French pop history. There is almost no French person alive who does not know "Et moi, et moi, et moi", "Les Playboys", and "Le cactus". Other great songs include "Mini, mini, mini", "Le responsable", "J'ai un tigre dans ma guitare", and "L'opportuniste". The music on most of these songs is a British garage sound and Dutronc has often been compared to Ray Davies of The Kinks, and that comparison works musically as well. What really set Dutronc apart from the other singers of the time was his parody. His songs are not celebrating the "youth generation" but mocking it. Dutronc's biggest hit was the beautiful "Il est cinq heures, Paris s'eveille", with the classical flute player Roger Bourdin (not as some had thought Jean-Pierre Rampal) performing an essential part. In this song, Dutronc manages to paint a remarkably correct picture of the French capital in the early morning hours in the late 1960's.
Dutronc's "La fille du père Noël" and David Bowie's "Jean Genie" share a riff likely derived from the Yardbirds' accelerated version of Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man." The Belgian singer Arno recorded a medley of the Dutronc and Bowie songs ("Jean Baltazaarr") with the American singer Beverly Jo Scott that makes clear their similarities.
In 1973, Dutronc began a second career as an actor in the film Antoine et Sébastien, directed by Jean-Marie Périer, a career that would afterward occupy the greater share of his attention. Directors for whom he has worked include Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Lelouch and Maurice Pialat. He has also returned to recording in recent years.
Also in 1973, "Et moi, et moi, et moi" was adapted with English lyrics by Ray Dorset, leader of Mungo Jerry. "Alright Alright Alright" became a UK No. 3 hit for the group.
Interestingly, the early Dutronc songs usually had a classic late-sixties freakbeat backing (provided by session musicians) that has managed to win Jacques Dutronc a new audience in the hip retro clubs of the UK and USA in the late 1990s, and this continues today. (Ironically, most of the people who will be dancing to the likes of "Le Cactus" will have no idea what the words actually mean). Because of this, he is celebrated in the 1997 Cornershop song "Brimful of Asha" thus: "Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogie/The Heavy Hitters and the Chichi music."
He currently lives in the town of Monticello on the island of Corsica.
L'ère de rien
Jacques Dutronc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les patrons sont à la peine
Les patrons sont à la traîne
À l'usine y a plus personne
Au bureau le téléphone sonne
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
Les syndicats sont débordés
C'est le monde à l'envers
Le début d'une autre ère
On va enfin changer d'air
Et chanter un nouvel air
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
Le caviar est sur le bar
La langouste sur le comtroir
Et chacun rote le homard
Dans la fumée des cigares
C'est la fête y a plus de boulot
Les ouvriers sont au bistrot
Les retraités et les prolos
Ont pris les cafés d'assaut
Mais c'est par pour boire de l'eau
Le champagne coule à flot
Ça les change de leur pernod
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
Les patrons sont dans la rue
Ils crient leur déconvenue
Rendez-nous nos ouvriers
On n'est pas faits pour bosser
Les CRS vont nous charger
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
L'Ère de rien
C'est la fête y a plus de boulot
On va enfin changer d'ère
The song "L'ère de rien" by Jacques Dutronc paints a picture of a world turned upside down, where the bosses are struggling on the assembly line, the president is overwhelmed, and the workers are out celebrating. The lyrics highlight a shift in power dynamics, where the employees seem to have the upper hand, and the bosses are left pleading for their workers to return. The chorus of "L'Ère de rien" (the Era of Nothing) emphasizes the sense of aimlessness and uncertainty during this time of change.
The first two stanzas focus on the state of affairs in the workplace, where the bosses are struggling to keep things afloat. The jobs have disappeared, the phones are ringing off the hook with no one to answer them, and the bosses are lagging behind. The next stanza paints a picture of an opulent party, where the rich indulge in caviar and lobster while the workers take over the cafes. The champagne flows freely, and the sense of celebration is palpable.
The final stanza takes a somewhat darker turn, as the bosses take to the streets to demand the return of their workers. The chorus repeats the theme of uncertainty and chaos, suggesting that this shift in power dynamics is leading to a new era of nothing. The song seems to be a commentary on the ever-changing nature of power and its impact on different classes of people.
Line by Line Meaning
Les patrons sont à la chaîne
Bosses are on the assembly line, working hard like their employees.
Les patrons sont à la peine
Bosses struggle like everyone, just in their own way.
Les patrons sont à la traîne
Bosses are falling behind, unable to keep up with change.
À l'usine y a plus personne
Factories are empty, workers have been laid off.
Au bureau le téléphone sonne
Phones are ringing constantly in offices, calling for an end to the status quo.
L'Ère de rien
The era of nothing, an empty time of change.
Le président est dépassé
The President is overwhelmed, unable to keep up with the needs of the people.
Les syndicats sont débordés
Unions are overrun with demands, unsure how to support workers.
C'est le monde à l'envers
The world has been turned upside down, nothing is as it seems.
Le début d'une autre ère
The start of a new era, one that will change everything.
On va enfin changer d'air
We are finally going to have a breath of fresh air, free from the past.
Et chanter un nouvel air
And sing a new song, one of hope and change.
Le caviar est sur le bar
Caviar is on the bar, a symbol of decadence and luxury.
La langouste sur le comptoir
Lobsters are on display, a reward for those who can afford them.
Et chacun rote le homard
And everyone belches after eating the lobster, a sign of excess.
Dans la fumée des cigares
Amidst the smoke of cigars, the rich and powerful celebrate.
C'est la fête y a plus de boulot
It's a party, but there are no jobs left.
Les ouvriers sont au bistrot
Workers have retreated to the bar, no longer wanting to be a part of this world.
Les retraités et les prolos
Retirees and working-class people now flood the cafes.
Ont pris les cafés d'assaut
They have taken over the cafes by storm, demanding more from life.
Mais c'est pas pour boire de l'eau
But it's not just to drink water, they want to indulge and live life fully.
Le champagne coule à flot
Champagne flows freely, symbolizing excess and extravagance.
Ça les change de leur pernod
This is a change from their usual drinks, a sign of their newfound wealth.
L'Ère de rien
The era of nothing, where everything is changing and nothing is certain.
Les patrons sont dans la rue
Bosses are now in the streets, protesting the loss of their power.
Ils crient leur déconvenue
They voice their frustration and disappointment.
Rendez-nous nos ouvriers
They demand that their workers be returned to them.
On n'est pas faits pour bosser
We were not made to work, our purpose is greater than that.
Les CRS vont nous charger
Police will come to break up the protest.
L'Ère de rien
The era of nothing, where power is shifting and nothing is certain.
L'Ère de rien
The era of nothing, where everything is changing and nothing is certain.
L'Ère de rien
The era of nothing, where everything is changing and nothing is certain.
L'Ère de rien
The era of nothing, where everything is changing and nothing is certain.
L'Ère de rien
The era of nothing, where everything is changing and nothing is certain.
C'est la fête y a plus de boulot
It's a party, but there are no jobs left.
On va enfin changer d'ère
We are finally going to have a breath of fresh air, free from the past.
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.