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

Femme de moyen âge
Les Rita Mitsouko Lyrics

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Femmes de moyen âge
Femmes d'age moyen
Des rides davantage
Sont notre destin

Femme de moyen âge
Femme d'âge moyen
Moi y'en a moyen âge

Moi j'ai les moyens

Femme de moyen âge lalalala
Moi je nage
Je nage, je nage
Moyen âge
Je nage je nage

Femmes de mauvais âge
Derrière leurs voilages
Pour tout paysage
Elles zonzont la maisonnée
Pas droit au voyage
Pas droit à...
Oh
Elles sont cadenassées

Femmes de moyen âge lalalala
Femmes en cage
En cage en cage

Femmes de moyen âge
Femme d'age moyen
La sagesse aménage
La moyenne se tient

Femme de moyen âge
Femme d'âge moyen
Moi y'en a moyen âge
Moi j'ai les moyens

Exquise tendresse
Du milieu de la vie
On a encore la jeunesse
Et on a mûri
Les rides font leurs traces
Et sont le reflet du coeur
Vertige du temps qui passe

Moyen âge
Je nage je nage!

Overall Meaning

The song "Femme de moyen âge" by Les Rita Mitsouko is an ode to the middle-aged women who have experienced life with all its ups and downs. The lyrics describe the inevitability of wrinkles and aging, as well as the limitations that society places on middle-aged women. The singer emphasizes that despite the difficulties, she embraces her age and has the means to navigate through it.

The chorus of "Femmes de moyen âge" repeats the phrase "Je nage je nage," which translates to "I swim, I swim." This metaphorical swimming represents the singer's ability to navigate through life's challenges with grace and dignity. The song also calls attention to societal pressures on middle-aged women, particularly the expectation that they should adhere to traditional gender roles and remain confined to their homes. The line "Femmes en cage" (women in cages) suggests that middle-aged women are confined by society's expectations and are denied the freedom to explore and experience the world.

Les Rita Mitsouko's "Femme de moyen âge" is a testament to the power and beauty of middle-aged women. It celebrates their resilience and ability to navigate the complexities of life. The song's lyrics also challenge societal norms that relegate middle-aged women to the margins and highlights the need for greater recognition and respect for women at this stage in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Femmes de moyen âge
Women of middle age

Femmes d'age moyen
Women of average age

Des rides davantage
More wrinkles abound

Sont notre destin
Are our destiny

Femme de moyen âge
Woman of middle age

Femme d'âge moyen
Woman of average age

Moi y'en a moyen âge
Me, I am middle-aged

Moi j'ai les moyens
I have the means

Femme de moyen âge lalalala
Woman of middle age lalalala

Moi je nage
I swim

Je nage, je nage
I swim, I swim