1) French rock band
Kaolin is a french rock band, with various musical influences but french lyrics. Their music style can be sometimes quite similar to post-rock and at other times a rageful power pop, always underlined by a fine melodic talent, which protects the band from a hasty and simplistic categorization.
Originating in Montlucon, they remain attached to their native Auvergne region and continue to rehearse in this city. Throughout their young career (2 EPs self-produced and 2 LPs), they were lucky to collaborate with Valentins, Paul Corkett (The Cure, Placebo) and Dave Fridmann (Mogwai, Flaming Lips, Weezer...).
Their new album is mainly sung in french, and contains a song inspired by "I want you" by Bob Dylan called "Partons vite", which is now a hit in France.
2) South African singer
The song "Stranger" is from the South African singer Kaolin Thompson.
Sous Ce Pli
Kaolin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je fonde ma raison.
Si lucide que j'entends tous ces sons.
Cet acide me donne forcément,
L'ivresse douce où coule
Tout mon sang
J'aspire et c'est le ciel qui
L'inverse n'étant donné qu'aux enfants.
Mais elle est...
Sous ce pli,
Je tends ma raison.
Si docile qu'elle entend tous ces sons.
Cet acide me donne forcément
L'ivresse douce où coule
Tout mon sang
J'aspire et c'est le ciel qui descend.
L'inverse n'étant donné qu'aux enfants.
Mais elle laisse dire.
Mais elle laisse dire.
The lyrics of Kaolin's song Sous Ce Pli are open to interpretation. The first two lines suggest that the singer has found a reason to live or to carry on with their life, and that they are so clear-headed that they can hear all the sounds around them. It can be argued that the "pli" (fold) refers to some sort of emotional or mental folding, that helped the singer find their bearings. There is an insinuation that this fold or crease is something permanent, perhaps a scar or a memory that is constantly with the singer.
Moving on to the chorus, the lyrics mention an "acide" (acid) that is giving the singer a sweet or mild form of drunkenness. It seems that this acid is both a pleasure-inducing and life-affirming substance, as it makes everything flow within the singer. The line "J'aspire et c'est le ciel qui descend" (I breathe in and it's the sky that descends) suggests that the singer is reaching for something spiritual or transcendental. It's possible that the singer is using the acid to reach a heightened state of consciousness, where they can connect with a divine or cosmic energy. The last line of the chorus "L'inverse n'étant donné qu'aux enfants" (The opposite being given only to children) might refer to the idea that adults cannot experience a true reversal or renewal, that they can only hope for a temporary respite or illusion.
The last two lines of the song "Mais elle laisse dire" (But she lets them speak) can be interpreted in different ways. It could mean that the singer is ignoring or dismissing the outside noises, that they have found a way to stay calm despite everything that is going on around them. Or it could mean that the singer is choosing to listen to the noise, to let others speak their mind, perhaps because they have found a way to use the noise to their advantage. Regardless of the interpretation, it's clear that the singer has found a way to cope and to find meaning in their life, using their own unique strategy.
Line by Line Meaning
Sous ce pli,
Under this fold,
Je fonde ma raison.
I found my reason.
Si lucide que j'entends tous ces sons.
So clear that I hear all these sounds.
Cet acide me donne forcément,
This acid necessarily gives me,
L'ivresse douce où coule
The sweet drunkenness where flows
Tout mon sang
All my blood.
J'aspire et c'est le ciel qui
I aspire and it's the sky which
Descend.
Descends.
L'inverse n'étant donné qu'aux enfants.
The opposite being only given to children.
Sous ce pli,
Under this fold,
Je tends ma raison.
I stretch my reason.
Si docile qu'elle entend tous ces sons.
So docile that it hears all these sounds.
Mais elle est...
But she is...
Cet acide me donne forcément
This acid necessarily gives me
L'ivresse douce où coule
The sweet drunkenness where flows
Tout mon sang
All my blood.
J'aspire et c'est le ciel qui descend.
I aspire and it's the sky which descends.
L'inverse n'étant donné qu'aux enfants.
The opposite being only given to children.
Mais elle laisse dire.
But she lets them say.
Mais elle laisse dire.
But she lets them say.
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.