He released his debut album, Plume, in 2011, and was the second-place finisher in that year's Francouvertes competition. He has toured extensively, including appearances at the Francofolies de La Rochelle, Osheaga and SXSW festivals.
He followed up with Fox in November 2012. Ouellet garnered three nominations at the Félix Awards in 2013, including Best Male Singer, Best Single for "L'Amour" and Pop Album of the Year.Fox won the Juno Award for Francophone Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2014.
While his own music follows a folk-pop style with some reggae and African music influences, he is also a frequent collaborator with several hip hop groups, including CEA and Movèzerbe.
His third album, Trente, was released in March 2016. He followed up later the same year with Aikido, a downloadable free mini-album.
Prelude
Karim Ouellet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mais je me fou de faire rire les oiseaux de malheurs (les oiseaux de malheurs x2)
Aussi vrai que je respire, Je n'est plus peur
Je ne veux plus te dire ce que tu connais par coeur
ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh
ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh
Je commence par me prendre la tête à deux mains
Il y en aura toujours pour me dire que je n'est rien fait de bien
j'aimerais vous dire je n'est pas fait ça pour rien
ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh
ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh
ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh ouh
The lyrics of Karim Ouellet's song Prélude talk about the singer's mindset regarding the opinions of others. He acknowledges that there will always be people who say he has his mind somewhere else, but he doesn't care about making the naysayers happy. He is confident in himself and is no longer afraid. He also mentions that he doesn't want to keep repeating the things that people already know about him.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "ouh ouh ouh" several times, without any discernible words. It seems to represent a deep feeling or emotion that cannot be expressed through words.
In the second verse, Ouellet talks about taking matters into his own hands and not worrying about what other people say about him. He acknowledges that people will always have something negative to say, but he wants to focus on the present and not worry about the future. He also says that he is doing what he is doing for a reason, and hopes that others see that.
Overall, the song seems to be about self-confidence, not letting the opinions of others bring you down, and focusing on the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Il y en aura toujours pour me dire que j'ai la tête ailleurs
People will always tell me that I am not fully present in the moment.
Mais je me fou de faire rire les oiseaux de malheurs
But I do not care about pleasing negative people.
Aussi vrai que je respire, Je n'est plus peur
As true as my breathing, I am no longer afraid.
Je ne veux plus te dire ce que tu connais par coeur
I no longer want to repeat what you already know by heart.
Je commence par me prendre la tête à deux mains
I start by taking a moment to collect my thoughts.
Il y en aura toujours pour me dire que je n'est rien fait de bien
People will always criticize what I have done.
On ne sais jamais de quoi sera fait demain
We never know what the future holds.
j'aimerais vous dire je n'est pas fait ça pour rien
I would like to tell you that I did not do this for nothing.
Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Linda Maltais
L’album Trente , je l’écoute tout le temps et partout. Bravo Calme Karim. J’aime tes beats inovateurs. Et que dire de tes paroles qui me rejoignent beaucoup. Ok