The son of a composer, with brothers and sisters who had successful careers of their own in musical entertainment, Jean Sablon studied piano at the Lyceé Charlemagne in Paris. He left before graduating to enroll at the Paris Conservatoire in order to concentrate on a vocal career. He started in the cabarets of Paris at the age of 17, and was subsequently accompanied on his first album by the pianist/composer Mireille, whose song Couchés dans le foin became a great success. Later, he partnered the wildly popular Mistinguett at the Casino de Paris and boosted his career considerably. He was the first cabaret singer to use a microphone in his stage act. In the 1920s he spent time in Brazil where his recordings remain extremely popular today.
In 1937 he won the Grand Prix du Disque for the song "Vous qui passez sans me voir," written for him by Charles Trenet and Johnny Hess. That same year, he went to the United States, where he sang on live radio broadcasts for CBS and made several records in the English language. On Broadway, he worked with luminaries such as Cole Porter and George Gershwin. He returned to Paris but with the German occupation of France in World War II, he went back to America for the duration.
Jean Sablon became one of the most widely acclaimed male French singers, considered second only in overall lifetime popularity to Maurice Chevalier. His records sold in the millions around the world and he is frequently referred to as the French equivalent of America's Bing Crosby. During his career, he recorded with some of the world's top musicians, including Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. Sablon is credited with arranging Reinhardt's debut in a fashionable cabaret in 1933. He is also recognized for his talents as a lyricist and a composer. Sablon appeared in a number of motion pictures and television films performing as a vocalist or pianist, his last coming in 1984 when he sang "April in Paris" in Mistral's Daughter, the popular American TV miniseries filmed in France.
Jean Sablon died in 1994 and was interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse in Paris.
paris tu n'as pas changé
Jean Sablon Lyrics
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Quand tout à coup le train ralentit
Et que le porteur de bagage
Vous crie par ici la sortie
On se bouscule vers la porte
On se sent le coeur tout battant
Et puis un taxi nous emporte
On regarde on est tout content
Paris tu n'as pas changé mon vieux
Paris tu n'as pas changé tant mieux
Toujours les mêmes ciels
Toujours les mêmes yeux
Et toujours ton sourire merveilleux
Paris tu n'as pas changé mon vieux
Paris tu n'as pas changé tant mieux
Tu n'as pas grossi
Tu n'as pas maigri
Tu es toujours le même Paris
Des petits détails par-ci par là
Une affiche que l'on ne connaît pas
Tiens encore un nouveau cinéma
On s'émerveille à chaque pas
Paris tu n'as pas changé mon vieux
Paris tu n'as pas changé tant mieux
Tu n'as pas maigri
Tu n'as pas grossi
Tu es toujours le même Paris
Bien sûr c'est charmant l'Amérique
C'est très émouvant le Canada
Il faudra que je vous explique
Des tas de trucs que j'ai vu là-bas
Il y a des gens très sympathiques
Je suis sûr que ça vous plaira
Mais en arrivant d'Amérique
J'ai trois petits mots à vous dire tout bas
Paris tu n'as pas changé tant mieux
Paris tu n'as pas changé mon vieux
Toujours les mêmes ciels
Toujours les mêmes yeux
Et tout ces petits chapeaux si merveilleux
Paris tu n'as pas changé mon vieux
Paris tu n'as pas changé tant mieux
Tu n'as pas maigri
Tu n'as pas grossi
Tu es toujours le même Paris
Tu es toujours le même Paris
The song "Paris tu n'as pas changé" by Jean Sablon describes the feeling of returning to Paris after a long trip abroad. The song starts with the excitement of arriving and leaving the train station with a porter carrying the luggage. The singer describes the rush to get out and the joy of catching a taxi, and then the lyrics explain the singer’s reaction after coming back to the city. The chorus repeats the line “Paris tu n'as pas changé” meaning Paris you haven't changed, and then emphasizes the same sentimental feeling in the succeeding lines.
The lyrics emphasize the unchanged beautiful Paris: the sky, the people's eyes, and their beautiful smiles. They also capture the singer's amazement in finding small changes such as a new cinema or a poster they had never seen before. The song emphasizes that Paris is unique, and no other place can replace it. Although the singer acknowledges that America and Canada are charming, he still remains loyal to Paris and considers it his home.
Additionally, the song is an ode to the 1930s Parisian lifestyle and culture, which was a period of immense cultural innovation, culinary finesse, and artistic expression. It portrays the city's charm and beauty, making it the perfect place for lovers and dreamers.
Line by Line Meaning
Après de longs mois de voyage
After traveling for many months
Quand tout à coup le train ralentit
When suddenly the train slows down
Et que le porteur de bagage
And the baggage handler
Vous crie par ici la sortie
Yells to you to exit here
On se bouscule vers la porte
We rush towards the door
On se sent le coeur tout battant
Our hearts are beating rapidly
Et puis un taxi nous emporte
And then a taxi takes us away
On regarde on est tout content
We look around and are so happy
Paris tu n'as pas changé mon vieux
Paris, you haven't changed my friend
Paris tu n'as pas changé tant mieux
Paris, you haven't changed, that's great
Toujours les mêmes ciels
Always the same skies
Toujours les mêmes yeux
Always the same eyes
Et toujours ton sourire merveilleux
And always your wonderful smile
Des petits détails par-ci par là
Small details here and there
Une affiche que l'on ne connaît pas
A poster we don't know
Tiens encore un nouveau cinéma
Look, another new cinema
On s'émerveille à chaque pas
We marvel at every step
Bien sûr c'est charmant l'Amérique
Of course, America is charming
C'est très émouvant le Canada
Canada is very moving
Il faudra que je vous explique
I'll have to explain to you
Des tas de trucs que j'ai vu là-bas
All the things I saw there
Il y a des gens très sympathiques
There are very nice people
Je suis sûr que ça vous plaira
I'm sure you'll like it
Mais en arrivant d'Amérique
But upon returning from America
J'ai trois petits mots à vous dire tout bas
I have three little words to tell you quietly
Et tout ces petits chapeaux si merveilleux
And all those wonderful little hats
Tu es toujours le même Paris
You are still the same Paris
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mireille, Jean NOHAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind