Les Rita Mitsouko is a French pop rock group formed in 1979 led by guitaris… Read Full Bio ↴Les Rita Mitsouko is a French pop rock group formed in 1979 led by guitarist Fred Chichin and singer Catherine Ringer known for their live performances. The husband and wife duo was one of the most successful musical acts of the 1980's in France.

They began performing in the early 1980's in alternative spaces such as the Pali-Kao, a squatted factory building in Belleville, Paris. Their first hit single was Marcia Baila off the Rita Mitsouko album, a song about the Argentinian choreographer and dancer Marcia Moretto who had died of cancer in 1981 and with whom they had performed on several occasions. This album was creative and eccentric (produced by Conny Plank, sound engineer and producer of Neu! and Kraftwerk) combining elements of punk, rock, cold electro pop and jazz, and coupled with their colorful, wild, over-the-top image caught the interest of some important anglophone listeners.

American record producer and musician Tony Visconti produced the following two albums, The No Comprendo and Marc et Robert, while polishing and perfecting their sound. The American band Sparks collaborated with them on the latter record and Russell Mael sings lead vocals with Ringer on three tracks, Singing in the Shower, Live in Las Vegas and Hip Kit. These two albums feature both French and English lyrics. The most successful singles were C'est comme ça and Andy.

Jean-Baptiste Mondino directed most of their music videos in the 1980's and Jean-Luc Godard filmed a short documentary Soigne ta droite about the group during the recording of The No Comprendo in 1986.

On Wednesday November 28th 2007, Fred Chichin died from cancer while the band had just cancelled their previous concert dates in Paris. He was only diagnosed with the disease two months before.

Mais c'est la mort qui t'a assassinée, Marcia
C'est la mort qui t'a consumée, Marcia
C"est le cancer que tu as pris sous ton bras
Maintenant, tu es en cendres, cendres
La mort, c'est comme une chose impossible
Et même à toi, qui est la vie même, Marcia
Et même à toi qui est forte comme une fusée
C'est la mort qui t'a emmenée

Badluck Queen
Les Rita Mitsouko Lyrics

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Play the game
Feel the flow
No ! you're under pressure
Watch the flame
Feel the glow
No ! You're under pressure

Archduchess of Austria

In a world that's changing
Queen of France
In a world that's bleeding
Daughter of Emperor François
Not a chanceÂ…

Peace and love
But love's in piece
No ! You're under pressure

Sing and dance
What else to do
No ! you're under pressure

Archduchess of Austria
In a world that's changing
Queen of France
In a world that's bleeding
Daughter of Emperor François
Not a chanceÂ…

Oh ! tragic destiny
For that lady
Oh ! Tragic destiny
And glittering personality

Feel the pressure in your body
Feel the pressure in your soul

Feel the pressure in your neck
On your neck Antoinette

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Les Rita Mitsouko's song "Badluck Queen" portray the story of Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French Revolution. The song calls upon the listener to "play the game" and "feel the flow," but quickly changes the tune to reflect the pressure that Antoinette was under during her time as queen. The repetitive lines of "No! You're under pressure" not only emphasize the stressful nature of her position, but also serve to remind the listener of their own stresses in life.

The lyrics also touch on the societal changes occurring during Antoinette's reign, referring to her as the "Archduchess of Austria in a world that's changing" and "Queen of France in a world that's bleeding." These references highlight the political instability and societal unrest that ultimately led to her tragic fate. The song also mentions her father, Emperor François, and how he was unable to help her in her struggles as queen.

Ultimately, the lyrics of "Badluck Queen" offer a somber reflection on the pressures of leadership and the tragic end of a once-powerful woman. Through the repetition of the phrase "No! You're under pressure," the song is able to evoke a sense of empathy towards Antoinette and serve as a reminder to listeners of the many pressures in their own lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Play the game
Participate in life

Feel the flow
Go with the natural rhythms of life

No ! you're under pressure
Life has many challenges

Watch the flame
Observe the world around you

Feel the glow
Experience the beauty of life

Archduchess of Austria
Royalty and privilege

In a world that's changing
The world is always evolving

Queen of France
High status and authority

In a world that's bleeding
The world is filled with pain and suffering

Daughter of Emperor François
Noble heritage and lineage

Not a chanceÂ…
But life's outcomes are never certain