Their cover of Claude François' Alexandrie Alexandra gets a little success, a success too predictable to the band taste that chooses to focus on their own (funny) songs and release a first album in 1989. Their lyrics reflect their state of mind, rather crazy. No political content, Les VRP are not serious (except maybe about French language with which they love to play with).
Les VRP are then absorbed in the rising French alternative rock scene (Mano Negra, Wampas, Satellites, etc…) and end up working with other bands from this scene on some of their songs (Stellamentable with the belgian duet Sttellla, La misère des voix vulgaires with Gina et les Pires, Sidney with the Babylon Fighters). the year 1990 sees the release of their 2nd album. Les VRP play in the famous concert hall L'Olympia and then go traveling with their one of a kind show in Europe, Japan, Canada or Senegal. Their success is growqing fast, most of their concerts are sold out and they play in many festival sharing the bill with more serious but equally successfull acts such as Mano Negra or Noir Désir.
Their third and final album is Vacances Prolongées (Prolounged Holidays released in 1992) and tells what the band has decided to do : split up at the peak of their fame! They decide to do so by fear of becoming another gimmick band and not having fun doing so. In 1993, playing at the Zenith in Montpellier, they say their farewell in a concert at the end of which their throw their instruments into the audience. They never came back since.
MUSIC
Two acoustic guitars are the only classical instruments Les VRP used. The other are all made up of various objects : contre-bassine for Stéphane (broom stick, rope and a plastic bucket make a sort of double bass), a brush to wash dishes, a suitcase, some spoons for the percussionist Marc, a toy piano for Gilbert and a little more whenever needed (cans, etc...).
Their music is quite hard to define, it mixes classic French chanson with humour both on musical an lyrical sides of it.
Above all, Les VRP were a live band though they often said being even more at ease in small bars or even on the street. They loved to improvise, play with the audience, etc... Each concert was a new experience for the band and those watching it. Nevertheless each of their three albums remain a quite enjoyable experience (even more if you understand French).
Line-up:
Stéphane (dit « Néry ») : chant, contrebassine, instruments divers...
Gilbert : chant, ukulélé, xylophone, instruments divers...
Gilberd : chant, piano d'enfant (« Michelsonne »), accordéon, instruments divers...
Marc : chant, harmonica, percussions, instruments divers...
Fabrice : chant, guitare, banjo, instruments divers...
Salope
Les VRP Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fourrure factice, et blondeur décolorée,
Une vielle actrice, du cinéma délaissée
Fait des caprices à une cour avinée
Entre ses cuisses, aux reflets ammoniaqués
Triste pubis, un p'tit micheton affairé
S'en fout qu'elle jouisse, est la pour palper du blé
Pendant qu'elle tisse, des monceaux d'insanités.
Tentures épaisses, on ne l'entend pas gueuler
La nuit d'ivresse, a vu les corps s'allonger
Les mains qui cessent, d'effleurer ces peaux usées.
Laissant les fesses, de la vielle carne imbibée
Soudain se dresse, le micheton bien décidé
Tant de richesse, dans ce salon surchargé
Vole en vitesse, et s'enfuit par l'escalier.
Bouffée d'angoisse, la vieille s'est précipitée
Talon qui casse, elle s'effondre dans l'escalier
Puis se ramasse, au milieu de la chaussée
Crache sa vinasse, la gueule collée au paves.
Triste carcasse, sous cet orage étalée
La pluie efface, sur son visage abîmé
Les quelques traces, d'un maquillage fatigue
Tandis que passent, quelques passants dégoûtés.
Un drap qui glisse, sur un corps inanimé
Par la police, au petit jour retrouve
Une vieille actrice, du cinéma délaissée
Part en coulisses, de sa vie qu'elle a ratée
Trop de délices, et de plaisirs fabriques
Entre ses cuisses, son corps s'est laisse aller
S'offrant aux vices, de journalistes attires
Dernier supplice, pour bafouer sa dignité...
..SALOPE!!!
The lyrics to Les VRP's song Salope describe a former actress who has fallen from grace and is left to sell her body for money. The lyrics are graphic and unapologetic, describing her artificial appearance, her flippant attitude towards pleasure and her eventual demise. She is portrayed as a tragic figure, driven to prostitution due to a lack of options, yet the song also mocks her and labels her as a "salope" or whore. The lyrics can be seen as a commentary on the objectification and exploitation of women in the entertainment industry, as well as society's tendency to dehumanize those who are deemed "undesirable."
The song's vivid imagery and blunt language make it a controversial piece of music, and opinions on its meaning and message are divided. Some view it as a critique of the sex industry, while others see it as an endorsement of misogynistic attitudes towards women. Ultimately, the song can be interpreted in a number of ways, and its impact on listeners will depend on their personal experiences and beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Les bas qui plissent, couchée sur un couvre-lit
The wrinkled stockings, lying on a bedspread
Fourrure factice, et blondeur décolorée,
Fake fur and faded blondness,
Une vielle actrice, du cinéma délaissée
An old actress, abandoned by the cinema
Fait des caprices à une cour avinée
Makes whims at a drunken court
Entre ses cuisses, aux reflets ammoniaqués
Between her thighs, with ammonia reflexes
Triste pubis, un p'tit micheton affairé
Sad pubis, a busy john
S'en fout qu'elle jouisse, est la pour palper du blé
He doesn't care if she enjoys, he's here to grab some money
Pendant qu'elle tisse, des monceaux d'insanités.
While she weaves piles of insanities.
La vue qui baisse, par tant d'alcools mélangés
The view that drops, from so many mixed alcohols
Tentures épaisses, on ne l'entend pas gueuler
Thick hangings, we can't hear her scream
La nuit d'ivresse, a vu les corps s'allonger
The night of drunkenness saw the bodies elongate
Les mains qui cessent, d'effleurer ces peaux usées.
The hands that stop caressing these worn-out skins.
Laissant les fesses, de la vielle carne imbibée
Leaving the buttocks of the soaked old flesh
Soudain se dresse, le micheton bien décidé
Suddenly, the determined john stands up
Tant de richesse, dans ce salon surchargé
So much wealth, in this overloaded living room
Vole en vitesse, et s'enfuit par l'escalier.
Steals in haste and runs away by the stairs.
Bouffée d'angoisse, la vieille s'est précipitée
A breath of anxiety, the old woman rushed
Talon qui casse, elle s'effondre dans l'escalier
Heel that breaks, she collapses on the staircase
Puis se ramasse, au milieu de la chaussée
Then she picks herself up, in the middle of the road
Crache sa vinasse, la gueule collée au paves.
Spits out her wine, her face stuck to the pavement.
Triste carcasse, sous cet orage étalée
Sad carcass, spread out under this storm
La pluie efface, sur son visage abîmé
The rain erases, on her damaged face
Les quelques traces, d'un maquillage fatigue
The few traces of tired make-up
Tandis que passent, quelques passants dégoûtés.
While some disgusted passersby go by.
Un drap qui glisse, sur un corps inanimé
A sheet that slides, on an lifeless body
Par la police, au petit jour retrouve
Found by the police, at dawn
Une vieille actrice, du cinéma délaissée
An old actress, abandoned by the cinema
Part en coulisses, de sa vie qu'elle a ratée
Goes backstage, from the life she missed
Trop de délices, et de plaisirs fabriques
Too many delights, and manufactured pleasures
Entre ses cuisses, son corps s'est laisse aller
Between her thighs, her body let go
S'offrant aux vices, de journalistes attires
Offering herself to the vices of attracted journalists
Dernier supplice, pour bafouer sa dignité...
Final torment, to undermine her dignity...
..SALOPE!!!
..BITCH!!!
Contributed by Emily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Georges Abitbol
C est ce genre de musique qui me file des frissons , du grands talents dans le paroles et dans l histoire! Quand a l'interpretation ... sublime !! Merci les VRP !!
bombur59
Elle est merveilleuse cette chanson.
Louis Merdal
Chef d'œuvre.
Jean-Christophe Guyot
Moi qui suit pas trop musique Française, baaah ça, j'ai adoré!
Toschilmaz
Bellissima, anche per un italiano
anthony j
Tout une époque
Eric 23
Ah j'ai une envie de Champagne !
FRontline 67
Elles sont nombreuse en se moment. :'o
Kenpaï Shi
<3