Jacques Dutronc (born April 28, 1943 in Paris) is a French singer, composer… Read Full Bio ↴Jacques Dutronc (born April 28, 1943 in Paris) is a French singer, composer, and actor. He is married to the singer Françoise Hardy, as of March 30, 1974, with whom he had already had a son (Thomas Dutronc, born 1973).

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.

Le fond de l'air est frais
Jacques Dutronc Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho, laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho, laïho!
Moi, sous mes pantalons
Je porte des caleçons longs
C'est ceux de mon tonton
Qu'a du poil au menton

Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho, laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho, laïho!

Lorsque je vins sur terre
Le ciel était couvert
Dans mon berceau ouvert
Je chantais à mon père
"Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho, laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho, laïho!"
J'ai eu pour mes étrennes
Une paire de bas de laine
C'est ceux de tante Germaine
Une ancienne cheftaine

Quand j'étais militaire
J'avais un brigadier
Qui voulait me faire taire chaque fois que je chantais
"Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho! Laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho! Laïho!"
J'ai une grosse casquette
Qui me tient chaud à la tête
Ça me donne une belle silhouette
Et je crains plus la tempête

Quand j'invite une jeune fille
C'est juste pour jouer aux quilles
Si elle se déshabille, alors je m'égosille
"Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho! Laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho! Laïho!"

"Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho! Laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho! Laïho!"

"Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho! Laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho! Laïho!"

"Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho! Laïho!
Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho! Laïho!"

"Le fond de l'air est frais
Laïho! Laïho!

Il n'y a plus de saison
Laïho! Laïho!"

Overall Meaning

Jacques Dutronc's song "Le fond de l'air est frais" is a quirky tune that seems to be a simple observation about the temperature but is layered with playful and witty verses. The song's chorus, "Le fond de l'air est frais, Laïho, laïho!" translates to "The bottom of the air is cool, Laïho, laïho!" The singer remarks that there no longer seems to be any defined seasons, the pantaloons he wears in the cold keep him warm and sometimes belonged to his uncle, and the socks he receives for presents from his aunt are perfect for the weather.

Dutronc paints a picture of a man uninterested in dressing for fashion or impressing anyone. The singer is practical and prefers functionality over style, even suggesting that his hat is necessary because it gives him a "nice silhouette." The lyrics about the military commander who tries to shut him up are also amusing, as he can only respond by singing the chorus louder. The verse about inviting women over to play bowling seems to be a euphemism to avoid intimacy, but he still can't help but shout out the catchy chorus.

While the song can be spliced in many ways, it comes off lighthearted and humorous in its entirety, almost like teasing and sprinkling in some witty comments. Overall, "Le fond de l'air est frais" presents a man who is not swayed by the changing weather or opinions of others, but can always find comfort in practicality and a catchy melody.

Line by Line Meaning

Le fond de l'air est frais
The air is chilly and cold

Laïho, laïho!
A nonsensical expression, possibly meant to sound like a refrain or chorus

Il n'y a plus de saison
The seasons don't seem to follow their usual patterns

Moi, sous mes pantalons
Me, underneath my pants

Je porte des caleçons longs
I wear long underwear

C'est ceux de mon tonton
It's my uncle's underwear

Qu'a du poil au menton
That has a hairy chin

Lorsque je vins sur terre
When I came to earth

Le ciel était couvert
The sky was cloudy

Dans mon berceau ouvert
In my open crib

Je chantais à mon père
I sang to my father