Born Keren Ann Zeidel in Caesarea, Israel on 10th March 1974, she lived in the Netherlands and Israel until the age of eleven, when her family moved to France. Her first group, KAB (for Keren Ann Band), lasted three years. In 1997, she wrote the song "Father" for the film K by Alexandre Arcady, in which she also acted a small part. The next year, at the age of twenty-four, she formed Shelby with two other women; the group released one album and had a small success with the song "1+1+1", whose composer Benjamin Biolay became an important collaborator. In 2000 she began her solo career with La biographie de Luka Philipsen -- "Luka" in homage to the Suzanne Vega song, "Philipsen" after her maternal grandmother -- written with and produced by Biolay, who also co-wrote and -produced its follow-up, La disparition. (In return, she helped write his debut album, Rose Kennedy.) The pair also wrote several songs for Henri Salvador's best-selling, prize-winning 2000 comeback album, Chambre avec vue.
Lady & Bird is a collaboration with Bardi Johannsson of the Icelandic group Bang Gang.
Not Going Anywhere, which includes several songs from La disparition re-sung in English, was her first U.S. release, but her American breakthrough came with its follow-up, Nolita. Recorded in Paris and New York, it is named for Nolita, her neighborhood in lower Manhattan; it is sung half in French and half in English.
La Forme Et Le Fond
Keren Ann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les yeux fermes
Laissant mes plumes
Aux âmes désavouées
Je brise les coeurs
Et les questions
Tout en douceur
Je sème le vent, les autans
Et je sauve les apparences
Mais quand je crie, nul n'entend
Nul ne voit à quoi je pense
J'ai bien perdu
Ma peau de fée
Mes taches de rousseur
Mon air désabusé
J'ai vu passer
Main je n'en vois plus
Des anges paumés
Bien trop souvent déchus
Je sème le vent, les autans
Et je sauve les apparences
Mais quand je crie, nul n'entend
Nul ne voit à quoi je pense
In the song "La Forme Et Le Fond", Keren Ann shares a story of a person who appears to be confident and in control, but in reality, is struggling with inner turmoil. The first two lines suggest that this person is moving through life blindly, possibly trying to avoid the pain of reality. The next two lines seem to imply that they are causing harm to others without even realizing it, and they may also be trying to suppress their own questions or doubts.
The chorus continues this theme of putting on a façade to maintain appearances, but feeling unheard and unseen when they try to express their true thoughts and emotions. The line "Je sème le vent, les autans" translates to "I sow the wind, the autans", which is a French expression meaning to cause chaos or trouble. This could be interpreted as the person's way of dealing with their own issues by creating drama or making things difficult for others.
In the final verse, Keren Ann describes the person as having lost their innocence and charm (symbolized by "peau de fée" and "taches de rousseur"). They have also become disillusioned by the frequent loss of the "fallen angels" around them. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the person losing faith in humanity or being repeatedly disappointed by those they care about.
Overall, "La Forme Et Le Fond" is a poignant reflection on the struggle to maintain composure in the face of personal turmoil, and the loneliness of feeling misunderstood.
Line by Line Meaning
Je traîne mes alles
I drag my feet, moving slowly and with a heavy heart
Les yeux fermes
With my eyes closed, unaware of my surroundings
Laissant mes plumes
Leaving behind pieces of myself, scattered and disregarded
Aux âmes désavouées
For those who feel lost and unacknowledged
Je brise les coeurs
I break hearts without remorse
Et les questions
And I leave behind unanswered questions
Tout en douceur
Doing so in a gentle and subtle manner
Sous la forme et le fond
Through both appearance and substance
Je sème le vent, les autans
I spread discord and confusion
Et je sauve les apparences
Keeping up appearances and hiding my true intentions
Mais quand je crie, nul n'entend
But when I cry out, no one hears me
Nul ne voit à quoi je pense
No one can see what I am truly thinking
J'ai bien perdu
I have lost
Ma peau de fée
My youthful and innocent appearance
Mes taches de rousseur
My uniqueness and quirks
Mon air désabusé
My disillusionment and apathy
J'ai vu passer
I have seen
Main je n'en vois plus
But now I see no more
Des anges paumés
Lost angels
Bien trop souvent déchus
Who have fallen too many times
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: KEREN ANN ZEIDEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Launder Chanel
Je traîne mes alles
Les yeux fermes
Laissant mes plumes
Aux âmes désavouées
Je brise les coeurs
Et les questions
Tout en douceur
Sous la forme et le fond
Je sème le vent, les autans
Et je sauve les apparences
Mais quand je crie, nul n'entend
Nul ne voit à quoi je pense
J'ai bien perdu
Ma peau de fée
Mes taches de rousseur
Mon air désabusé
J'ai vu passer
Main je n'en vois plus
Des anges paumés
Bien trop souvent déchus
Je sème le vent, les autans
Et je sauve les apparences
Mais quand je crie, nul n'entend
Nul ne voit à quoi je pense
proutin01
Une de mes préférées toutes périodes genres et artistes confondus.
La fin est juste un paradis auditif
abc123
I first heard this in college during my finals as a senior. I had 2 weeks of class left until graduation. I heard this song on Yahoo Music! in the day on the Chillout music channel. This was back in Summer of 2004. This song played. This song is so trippy and cool. This is my fav song of hers. I wish she did a live version, or does a live version of it.
Launder Chanel
Je traîne mes alles
Les yeux fermes
Laissant mes plumes
Aux âmes désavouées
Je brise les coeurs
Et les questions
Tout en douceur
Sous la forme et le fond
Je sème le vent, les autans
Et je sauve les apparences
Mais quand je crie, nul n'entend
Nul ne voit à quoi je pense
J'ai bien perdu
Ma peau de fée
Mes taches de rousseur
Mon air désabusé
J'ai vu passer
Main je n'en vois plus
Des anges paumés
Bien trop souvent déchus
Je sème le vent, les autans
Et je sauve les apparences
Mais quand je crie, nul n'entend
Nul ne voit à quoi je pense
Dello 54
Ma chanson préférée de toute votre merveilleuse discographie. En espérant que "Bleue", où vous retrouvez notre langue, sera aussi sublime...
MrGleamMusic
J'adore également. Merci de lui avoir laissé un commentaire. Une chanson si importante. La forme et le fond.
Andrew Dutton
Love it !
A B
Splendid!
Chiara Cacciatore
Bellissima.
Preben Hansen
so beautiful...dreamy...
MrGleamMusic
<3