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
Oum Khalsoum
Les Rita Mitsouko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ce chameau dum dum
Le seul qui n'ait pas connu
Oum Khalsoum
Comment auriez-vous souhaité
Rencontrer cet endroit?
Et qu'est ce que vous pensez
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
Un grand espoir
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
Un grand espoir
Ce soir
Dehors
Ici
Rien n'arrivera
Qui ferait briller ses yeux
Imaginez
Ils resteront fermés
Rien
Rien du tout
Rien
Pas un baiser
Rien
Rien ne la réveillera jamais
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
Un grand espoir
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
Un grand espoir
Ce soir
L'amoureux Colin vient
Rempli de tendresse et d'amour
Pour me faire la cour
Je le sens
Je le vois bien
Viendrez-vous nous coltiner
Demain en fin de matinée?
Viendrez-vous nous coltiner
Demain en fin de matinée?
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
Un grand espoir
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
Un grand espoir
Ce soir
The lyrics to Les Rita Mitsouko's song Oum Khalsoum touch on themes of love, hope, and longing. The first verse speaks of a camel that has not known Oum Khalsoum, a famous Egyptian singer from the mid-20th century. The camel may represent something or someone that has not experienced the beauty and passion of art, as Oum Khalsoum was known for her powerful and emotional performances. The second verse asks how one would like to experience a certain place, and mentions a person named Paul Trémoit, whose significance is unclear.
The third verse speaks of longing and disappointment. The phrase "rien ne la réveillera jamais" (nothing will ever wake her up) may refer to someone who has died or to a dream that will never come true. The singer has a "grand espoir" (great hope) but it is unclear what this hope is for. The fourth verse introduces the character of Colin, who is described as being filled with tenderness and love. It seems that the singer is asking someone to join them and Colin, possibly on a date or a romantic outing.
Overall, the lyrics of Oum Khalsoum are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. The themes of love, longing, and hope are universal, but the specific references to Oum Khalsoum and Paul Trémoit may be lost on some listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Avez-vous vu
Have you seen
Ce chameau dum dum
This stupid camel
Le seul qui n'ait pas connu
The only one who hasn't heard of
Oum Khalsoum
Oum Khalsoum
Comment auriez-vous souhaité
How would you have wished
Rencontrer cet endroit?
To encounter this place?
Et qu'est ce que vous pensez
And what do you think
De Paul Trémoit?
About Paul Trémoit?
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
I have without too many stories
Un grand espoir
A great hope
Dehors
Outside
Ici
Here
Rien n'arrivera
Nothing will happen
Qui ferait briller ses yeux
That would make her eyes sparkle
Imaginez
Imagine
Ils resteront fermés
They will remain closed
Rien
Nothing
Rien du tout
Absolutely nothing
Pas un baiser
Not a kiss
Rien
Nothing
Rien ne la réveillera jamais
Nothing will ever wake her up
L'amoureux Colin vient
The lover Colin comes
Rempli de tendresse et d'amour
Full of tenderness and love
Pour me faire la cour
To court me
Je le sens
I feel it
Je le vois bien
I see it clearly
Viendrez-vous nous coltiner
Will you come to hang out with us
Demain en fin de matinée?
Tomorrow late morning?
J'ai sans trop d'histoires
I have without too many stories
Un grand espoir
A great hope
Ce soir
Tonight
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laurent Vanderbeque
Intemporel ! Magnifique !
Mehdi Teixeira
Je suis Fan de cette Femme j aimerai tellement qu elle puisse m enseigné cette art de chanté 🙈
RoisinElektra
J'ai sans trop d'histoire un grand espoir