Louise Attaque is a French band founded in 1994. Its style could be describ… Read Full Bio ↴Louise Attaque is a French band founded in 1994. Its style could be described as something between chanson and folk-rock, although it has evolved since their first album Louise Attaque, which sold more than 2 million copies without any tv or radio promotion.

Several of the group's albums were produced by Gordon Gano, lead singer of Violent Femmes, a band which Louise Attaque often cite as an influence and for whom their own band is named: "Louise" is a feminine name, taken from Louise Michel –a french anarchist militant in France in the nineteenth century– and "attaque" connotates violence, it literally means "attack" in French –in reference of the Violent Femmes.

History

Climb to the top (1990-2001)

Caravage (1990-1994)
Lead singer and guitarist Gaëtan Roussel and bassist Robin Feix met in high school in Montargis. They moved to Paris after graduation where they met drummer Alexandre Margraff and formed a rock band : Caravage (named after the famous Italian painter Caravaggio). After briefly hiring a lead guitarist, the band met violinist Arnaud Samuel while recording in a Parisian studio.

Louise Attaque's phenomenal success (1997-2001)
Louise Attaque was formed in 1994. The name means "Louise Attacks" in French and is in reference of Louise Michel, a 19th century anarchist, and of the American rock band The Violent Femmes (which means "violent women" in French). The Violent Femmes leader, Gordon Gano, has agreed to produce Louise Attaque's debut self-titled album.

Louise Attaque was released in april 1997, receiving a strong positive critical response. Despite low initial radio airplay, the reputation of the group spread rapidly, garnering particular praise for its innovative violin-based folk/rock compositions and witty lyrics. By the end of the year, Louise Attaque had already become a phenomenon, and with the help of a highly successful tour throughout France, the band had sold more than 400 000 units. Louise Attaque eventually went on to sale an impressive 2.5 million copies in France, a record for any French rock album (even outselling Noir Désir's highly popular 666667 Club album, released in 1996).

It took almost three years until Louise Attaque 's sophomore album Comme On A Dit was released (in january 2000), still produced by Gordon Gano. The album met expectations of fans and critics alike, a complex and daring effort that still evoked Louise Attaque 's now famous trademark. It was noted, however, that Comme On A Dit was darker than the debut album, and consequently less radio friendly. It still sold 700 000 copies in France. Yet in 2001, after touring for five months and appearing in various rock festivals, the band split up, explaining that they were temporarily out of inspiration and tired of the hype and pressure surrounding them.

From separation to reunion (2001-2005)

Tarmac & Ali Dragon
Louise Attaque actually broke in two different groups. Singer Gaëtan Roussel and violinist Arnaud Samuel formed Tarmac, while bassist Robin Feix and drummer Alexandre Margraff formed Ali Dragon. Tarmac is the name of a building products company, whose name is often used to refer to asphalt (bitume in French). The group aims to explore the starker sounds of acoustic instruments, while Ali Dragon has turned towards underground experimental music featuring jam sessions (mostly electro and hip-hop).

À Plus Tard Crocodile
The four members of the group reunited in 2003 to pen a few songs, though at this point they didn't know whether they would release their material. After recording for a few weeks in the Electric Ladyland studios in New York, Louise Attaque finally decided to release a (highly anticipated) third album. À Plus Tard Crocodile was released in september 2005. The title is in reference of the rock and roll song See You Later Alligator (funnily enough, "à plus tard crocodile" is a calque of the American catchphrase, which gives an unidiomatic expression in French).
À Plus Tard Crocodile was said to be quite a departure from Louise Attaque 's previous work, a lighter and more varied album. Still, the group met with critical and chart success once again.

Sean Penn Mitchum
Louise Attaque Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sapé comme un prince
Au moment idéal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le bénéfice
Sans pouvoir ni province
Le moral inégal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le précipice

Ma quête d'identité
(Dans) ma tête difficile
De se détendre
De s'allonger
Ce qui brille
Prendra mes doigts
L'étoile du sud
La panthère rose, etcetera

Sapé comme un prince
Maverick dans mes rêves
L'exemple unique
Sean Penn Mitchum

Que ma vie m'accorde une trêve
Que ma vie s'accorde
Que mes nuits débordent de rêves
Que ma vie s'accorde

Sapé comme un prince
Au moment idéal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le bénéfice
Sans pouvoir ni province
Le moral inégale
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le précipice

Que ma vie m'accorde une trêve
Que ma vie s'accorde
Que mes nuits débordent de rêves
Que ma vie s'accorde

Assis sur une nappe de pétrole
Il vaut cher
Moi d'où je suis
Sur mon banc assis
Je vois la mer qui n'a pas de prix

Tum tulum tum tum
Tum tum tum tum

Assis sur une nappe de pétrole
Il vaut cher
Moi d'où je suis
Si mon banc décolle
Il me libère

Sapé comme un prince
Maverick dans mes rêves
L'exemplaire l'unique

Que ma vie m'accorde une trêve
Que ma vie s'accorde
Que mes nuits débordent de rêves
Que ma vie s'accorde

Sans pouvoir ni province
Le moral inégal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le précipice
D'où je suis
Sur mon banc magique
Ce qui brille prendra mes doigts
Des tissus, des couleurs
Des impressions
Et tout autour

L'étoile du sud
De la musique, etcetera

Overall Meaning

The song "Sean Penn Mitchum" by Louise Attaque is a reflection on the pursuit of identity and success, as well as the reckless abandon that often comes with it. The first verse speaks of the singer's pursuit of profit and the precipice he is approaching, all while feeling emotionally unstable. He finds it difficult to relax or enjoy things that don't have a certain shine or glamour to them. He mentions iconic figures of masculinity like Sean Penn and Robert Mitchum, saying he dreams of emulating their confidence and success. The chorus repeats a desire for his life to grant him a reprieve and for his nights to be overflowing with dreams.

The second verse brings up a theme of environmental exploitation, as the singer notes how valuable oil is while also reflecting on the beauty of the sea. The bridge returns to the idea of the singer's worth being tied up in material possessions and the hope for a magical solution to all his problems.

Overall, the song seems to be a warning against pursuing riches and fame at the cost of one's own emotional wellbeing and the planet's health.

Line by Line Meaning

Sapé comme un prince
Dressed like royalty

Au moment idéal
At the perfect time

Fils, fonce
Son, charge ahead

Je file vers le bénéfice
I'm headed for profit

Sans pouvoir ni province
Without power or resources

Le moral inégal
Uneven mood

Je file vers le précipice
I'm headed for the precipice

Ma quête d'identité
My search for identity

(Dans) ma tête difficile
In my troubled mind

De se détendre
To relax

De s'allonger
To stretch out

Ce qui brille
What shines

Prendra mes doigts
Will take my fingers

L'étoile du sud
The southern star

La panthère rose, etcetera
The pink panther, etcetera

Maverick dans mes rêves
Maverick in my dreams

L'exemple unique
The unique example

Sean Penn Mitchum
Sean Penn Mitchum

Que ma vie m'accorde une trêve
May my life give me respite

Que ma vie s'accorde
May my life align

Que mes nuits débordent de rêves
May my nights be overflowing with dreams

Assis sur une nappe de pétrole
Sitting on an oil slick

Il vaut cher
It is worth a lot

Moi d'où je suis
Me, where I am

Sur mon banc assis
Sitting on my bench

Je vois la mer qui n'a pas de prix
I see the priceless sea

Tum tulum tum tum
Sounds

Assis sur une nappe de pétrole
Sitting on an oil slick

Si mon banc décolle
If my bench takes off

Il me libère
It will set me free

L'exemplaire l'unique
The unique example

Sans pouvoir ni province
Without power or resources

Le moral inégal
Uneven mood

Je file vers le précipice
I'm headed for the precipice

D'où je suis
Where I am

Sur mon banc magique
On my magic bench

Ce qui brille prendra mes doigts
What shines will take my fingers

Des tissus, des couleurs
Fabrics, colors

Des impressions
Prints

Et tout autour
And all around

L'étoile du sud
The southern star

De la musique, etcetera
Music, etcetera

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (FRANCE)
Written by: ROBIN FEIX, ALEXANDRE MARGRAFF, GAETAN ROUSSEL, ARNAUD SAMUEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ysgramor1415

6y↑12

Sapé comme un prince
Au moment idéal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le bénéfice
Sans pouvoir ni province
Le moral inégal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le précipice
Ma quête d'identité
(Dans) ma tête difficile
De se détendre
De s'allonger
Ce qui brille
Prendra mes doigts
L'étoile du sud
La panthère rose, etcetera
Sapé comme un prince
Maverick dans mes rêves
L'exemple unique
Sean Penn Mitchum
Que ma vie m'accorde une trêve
Que ma vie s'accorde
Que mes nuits débordent de rêves
Que ma vie s'accorde
Sapé comme un prince
Au moment idéal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le bénéfice
Sans pouvoir ni province
Le moral inégale
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le précipice
Que ma vie m'accorde une trêve
Que ma vie s'accorde
Que mes nuits débordent de rêves
Que ma vie s'accorde
Assis sur une nappe de pétrole
Il vaut cher
Moi d'où je suis
Sur mon banc assis
Je vois la mer qui n'a pas de prix
Tum tulum tum tum
Tum tum tum tum
Assis sur une nappe de pétrole
Il vaut cher
Moi d'où je suis
Si mon banc décolle
Il me libère
Sapé comme un prince
Maverick dans mes rêves
L'exemplaire l'unique
Que ma vie m'accorde une trêve
Que ma vie s'accorde
Que mes nuits débordent de rêves
Que ma vie s'accorde
Sans pouvoir ni province
Le moral inégal
Fils, fonce
Je file vers le précipice
D'où je suis
Sur mon banc magique
Ce qui brille prendra mes doigts
Des tissus, des couleurs
Des impressions
Et tout autour
L'étoile du sud
De la musique, etcetera