Matthieu Tota, is the son of professional footballer André Tota and his mother is Brigitte Tota. His parents divorced in 1998 when he was just 13. As a child, he studied at an elementary school in Hohberg, and later at Collège Paul-Émile Victor in Mundolsheim, and Lycée Aristide Briand in Schiltigheim near Strasbourg. As a young man, football (soccer) became his first ambition and he wanted to be a professional player. But he opted for music.
Matthieu Tota explained about the origin of his name Pokora in an interview during the documentary Mis à jour broadcast on 26 August 2010 about him on NRJ 12 television station. He said he was searching for an artistic name and happened to be talking to his grand mother of Polish origin and the importance of humility came up. So he asked her how do we say humility in Polish language and she said "pokora". So Matthieu immediately decided to call himself Pokora. Matt came form his name Matthieu. So he became to be known by his stage name Matt Pokora.
He earned some public attention as a member of French R&B group, Mic Unity. In fall 2003, he participated in the third season of Popstars, a French talent reality television show broadcast on M6. The concept of the program was to present possible candidates the winners of which would take part in the formation of a boy band or girl band. He was a crowd and jury favourite, and became a member of a boy band called Linkup formed with Lionel and Otis, two other winners in 2003 Popstars. The female winners were formed into another group Diadems formed of Marylore, Angel, Pookie, Ophélie and Alexandra. In the final showdown, the boy band including Mattieu Tota won the series over the girl band Diadems, who ended up runners-up.
Their first Linkup single "Mon Étoile" was very successful topping French charts, and the debut album Notre Étoile was moderately successful. However the second single release "Une seconde d'éternité" was much less successful despite good sales.
The band tried again their hand in a collaboration with the British boy band Blue making a bilingual English/French version with Blue based on the latter's song "Bubblin'". The bilingual English/French Blue/Linkup version was entitled "You & Me Bubblin". Soon afterwards, Linkup disbanded due to poor performance of sales on releases
In 2004, soon after the break-up of Linkup, Mattieu started working preparing for a solo career collaborating with the producers Kore & Skalp.
Under the stage name Matt Pokora, he released his first eponymous solo album originally entitled Matt Pokora. In 2005, he was forced to change his chosen name after a lawsuit from French R&B singer Matt Houston. As a result, he changed his stage name to M. Pokora and re-released the album as M. Pokora.
The debut single from M. Pokora was the very successful. Called "Showbiz (The Battle)" it was a Top 10 hit in France, and also charted in Belgium and Switzerland. The second single Elle me contrôle featuring Sweety reached #6 in France and Pokora received two NRJ Music Awards for the single. Yet a third successful single was released called "Pas sans toi". The album released on Universal was certified gold.
He also started collaborating with Hakim Ghorab who became his long-time choreographer and took part in many of his music videos. He also developed a close collaboration with music video director Karim Ouaret who directed most of his successful videos.
Player
M. Pokora Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Souriant, toujours bien sapé
Un peu fougueux mais j'crois qu'ça leur plaît
J'reste gentleman même quand j'me fais j'ter
C'est ça être un player
Hey girl, je viens toucher les sommets (un player)
Je veux tous les yeux fixés sur moi
Qui c'est MP, c'est notre player
Oui c'est MP, bourreau des coeurs
Qui c'est MP, c'est notre player
Nanananana
Les sponsors pleuvent, j'suis convoité
Les filles crient mon nom, me courent après
J'ai l'équipe de choc, celle qui fait rêver
C'est ça être un player
Hey girl, on pourra pas m'détrôner (hey girl)
Trop d'ambition, je suis un player
J'veux tous les yeux fixés sur moi
Refrain x2
Ladies the in house tonight tonight
Ce soir y'a after party chez Mister right
De Paris à L.A, Pokora dans tes écouteurs (Ouais, ouais !)
Ladies the in house tonight tonight
Ce soir y'a after party chez Mister right
De Paris à L.A, c'est poko pokoworld
Refrain x3
Yeah Bionix/MP
J'suis un un un un player !
J'suis un quoi ? (Player)
J'suis un quoi ? (Player)
J'suis un quoi ? (Player)
Un player... That's right !
Un player !
The lyrics of "Player" by M. Pokora describe the singer's confident and charming persona, portraying him as a ladies' man who always looks his best and is admired by many. He describes himself as a "player" who remains a gentleman even when he's not interested in someone, and who always aims to be in the spotlight. Throughout the song, he talks about how popular he is with girls, how successful he is, and how he refuses to let anyone bring him down. The chorus repeats the phrase "Je suis un player" ("I am a player") multiple times, emphasizing the importance of this identity to him.
The song appears to be an anthem for M. Pokora himself, as he has often been referred to as a "player" by the media and fans. The lyrics also reflect the singer's confidence and ambition, traits that he has been known for throughout his career. Overall, "Player" is a catchy and upbeat song that celebrates M. Pokora's success and popularity, while expressing his determination to always be the best.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis un player (x5)
I am a player (repeated five times)
Souriant, toujours bien sapé
Smiling, always well-dressed
Un peu fougueux mais j'crois qu'ça leur plaît
A bit impetuous but I think they like it
J'reste gentleman même quand j'me fais j'ter
I remain a gentleman even when I get rejected
C'est ça être un player
That's what it means to be a player
Hey girl, je viens toucher les sommets (un player)
Hey girl, I come to reach the heights (a player)
J'ai d'l'ambition je sais que ca te plait girl
I have ambition, I know that you like it girl
Je veux tous les yeux fixés sur moi
I want all the eyes fixed on me
Qui c'est MP, c'est notre player
Who's MP, he's our player
Oui c'est MP, bourreau des coeurs
Yes, it's MP, heartbreaker
Les sponsors pleuvent, j'suis convoité
The sponsors pour in, I'm coveted
Les filles crient mon nom, me courent après
The girls scream my name, run after me
J'ai l'équipe de choc, celle qui fait rêver
I have the dream team, the one that makes dreams
Hey girl, on pourra pas m'détrôner (hey girl)
Hey girl, you can't overthrow me (hey girl)
Trop d'ambition, je suis un player
Too much ambition, I am a player
Refrai x2
Chorus repeated twice
Ladies the in house tonight tonight
Ladies, we're in the house tonight tonight
Ce soir y'a after party chez Mister right
Tonight there's an after party at Mister Right's
De Paris à L.A, Pokora dans tes écouteurs (Ouais, ouais !)
From Paris to L.A., Pokora in your headphones (Yeah, yeah!)
C'est poko pokoworld
It's poko pokoworld
Refrain x3
Chorus repeated thrice
J'suis un un un un player !
I am a a a a player!
J'suis un quoi ? (Player)
What am I? (A player)
Un player... That's right !
A player... That's right!
Un player !
A player!
Contributed by Parker B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
elnara7
Il danse trop bien.
PENOUKOU Ansfrid
Matt Pokora c'est le meilleur juste après lui c'est le Brésil que je veux visiter plus tard c'est mon plus grand rêve , avec toute ma famille béninoise j'adore les brésiliennes j'aime bien les regarder, et puis avant lui une chanteuse féminine préférée qui est Laura Pausini une grande chanteuse italienne, cette femme a beaucoup de talent, elle est super forte et elle est adorable, fan de football, mais pour les gagnants . J'adore le Brésil, j'aime ce pays, mais je ne suis jamais allé, j'espère un jour aller là-bas, parce que je kiff beaucoup ce pays depuis plusieurs années déjà.
Blue
Je l'adores !
Paloma-vidéos
la classe!!!<3
Magdalena G
<3
stephanie ARNAUD
il est craquent
SebascarvtsProds
Yes, Is Player! :D
Hudaonfleek
P'tain à l'anciienne j'étais faan xD
nanou13190
a l'ancienne
Sameen Moinuddin
who speaks english here?