His father was a UNESCO employee and his mother is from Guadeloupe. Many of the chansons he sings were written by Étienne Roda-Gil, a long time collaborator. His brother, Gérard Leclerc, is a political commentator on France 2.
For a time he was involved with French actress Miou-Miou, who in 1978 bore him a daughter, Jeanne Herry. Like her father, Jeanne has pursued a career in show business, albeit as an actress and comedian rather than as a singer.
Julien Clerc owes his fame in France to his leading role in the 1969 French language adaptation of the musical Hair. Since then he has sung a great many popular songs, and is generally considered one of the greatest francophone musicians of his generation. In 2003, he was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after transferring the rights to his hugely popular song, Partir, to the UN.
La belle est arrivée
Julien Clerc Lyrics
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Dans un excès de confiance, avoir perdu après.
Adieu le téléphone, les rendez-vous plombés
Adieu toutes les autres, la belle est arrivée.
Adieu la vie des hommes, les Saints du calendrier
Pour le temps qui me reste, la belle est arrivée...
Dans un dernier coup de reins, avoir gagné après.
Il va falloir se battre, il va falloir gagner.
Adieu toutes les autres, la belle est arrivée.
Adieu la vie des hommes, les Saints du calendrier
Pour le temps qui me reste, la belle est arrivée...
Pour que la belle arrive, il faut avoir perdu
Dans un dernier coup de reins, avoir gagné après.
Il va falloir se battre, il va falloir gagner.
Adieu toutes les autres, la belle est arrivée.
In Julien Clerc's song "La belle est arrivée," the lyrics speak to the idea that in order for someone beautiful to come into one's life, one must first experience loss and disappointment. The lyrics suggest that one must go through a period of overconfidence and subsequent defeat to finally attract the arrival of this beautiful person. With this arrival, the singer bids farewell to the phone and any failed rendezvous, as well as to all other potential love interests, as the "belle" has finally arrived.
The song emphasizes the drastic shift in the singer's life with the arrival of this beautiful person. They say goodbye to their previous existence, symbolized by "la vie des hommes" (the life of men) and the saints on the calendar, signifying a departure from the ordinary and traditional aspects of life. The arrival of the "belle" is portrayed as transformative, as the singer acknowledges that their remaining time will be spent with this newfound person who brings beauty and change.
The repetition of the refrain emphasizes the notion that in order for this beautiful person to come into one's life, one must first experience defeat and then fight to win them over. The journey is described as a battle, indicating that it requires effort and determination to attract this person's attention and affection. In the end, the singer celebrates the arrival of the "belle" by saying goodbye to all other potential suitors, as they have finally found the one they have been waiting for.
Overall, the lyrics of "La belle est arrivée" convey the idea that in order to find true love and beauty, one must overcome challenges, embrace defeat, and fight to win the heart of the person they desire. It explores the transformative power of love and the impact it can have on one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour que la belle arrive, il faut avoir gagné
In order for beauty to come, one must have achieved victory
Dans un excès de confiance, avoir perdu après.
In an excess of confidence, one must have lost thereafter.
Adieu le téléphone, les rendez-vous plombés
Farewell to the phone, the sabotaged appointments
Adieu toutes les autres, la belle est arrivée.
Goodbye to all the others, the beauty has arrived.
Adieu la vie des hommes, les Saints du calendrier
Goodbye to the life of men, the saints on the calendar
Pour le temps qui me reste, la belle est arrivée...
For the time that remains, the beauty has arrived...
Pour que la belle arrive, il faut avoir perdu
In order for beauty to come, one must have lost
Dans un dernier coup de reins, avoir gagné après.
In a final burst, one must have won afterward.
Il va falloir se battre, il va falloir gagner.
It will be necessary to fight, it will be necessary to win.
Adieu toutes les autres, la belle est arrivée.
Goodbye to all the others, the beauty has arrived.
Adieu la vie des hommes, les Saints du calendrier
Goodbye to the life of men, the saints on the calendar
Pour le temps qui me reste, la belle est arrivée...
For the time that remains, the beauty has arrived...
Pour que la belle arrive, il faut avoir perdu
In order for beauty to come, one must have lost
Dans un dernier coup de reins, avoir gagné après.
In a final burst, one must have won afterward.
Il va falloir se battre, il va falloir gagner.
It will be necessary to fight, it will be necessary to win.
Adieu toutes les autres, la belle est arrivée.
Goodbye to all the others, the beauty has arrived.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JULIEN CLERC, ETIENNE RODA-GIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind