One of MC Solaar's first claims to fame was the rap he did on a level one French language education tape: "Comment t'appelles-tu?".
MC Solaar's first single, Bouge de là, was a French hit in 1990 that went platinum, as was his first album, Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempo. His second album, Prose Combat, may be his most acclaimed.
As a rapper MC Solaar is known for the complexity and poetry of his songs, which rely on wordplay, lyricism, and philosophical inquiry. The music is based on dance rhythms and sensual grooves. In the English-speaking world, Solaar was signed by London acid jazz label Talkin' Loud and invited to record with British group Urban Species and Guru, a member of the famous and highly-acclaimed New York group Gang Starr.
MC Solaar gained new fans in North America in early 2004, when his 2001 song La Belle Et Le Bad Boy was featured on the final episode of the popular television series Sex and the City. MC Solaar remains best-known outside of France for his work on Guru's Jazzmatazz project and as a guest rapper on the Missy Elliott track All N My Grill. Out of Guru and Solaar's collaboration, the single Le Bien, Le Mal (The Good, The Bad) was a popular Hip Hop/Dance crossover hit receiving playtime on MTV.
I Need Gloves
MC Solaar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need gloves, I need gloves
Est-ce qu'une femme mannequin est une mannequine?
Elle ne le sait pas mais rêve de faire du mannequinat
D'anonyme, seule et belle, abandonnée, orpheline
La féline en défilé, la fille sort de l'orphelinat
Il faut toujours faire des plans sur la comète
Ça se fête, entre modèles et kilowatts
Mais même la saoul lit et elle voit la lie des malades au mains moites
Harcelée par un gros client aux manières de porc
La fille se fige, il a cassé ma chaîne en or
Donc elle jab au menton, enchaîne gauche-gauche-droite
Fait un signe aux copines puis se barre de la boîte
Marche sous la pluie jusqu'à Wooster Street
Digicode, tour de clé, puis elle fall asleep
Elle a appris à défiler grâce au mannequinat
Et elle va se défiler grâce à l'orphelinat
J'aimais bien cette institution
Même s'il a fallu qu'j'm'en aille (I need gloves)
Le dimanche c'était équitation
Le lundi c'est muay-thaï, le mercredi boxe thaï
J'aimais bien cette institution
Même s'il a fallu qu'j'm'en aille (I need gloves)
Le dimanche c'était équitation
Le jeudi c'est muay-thaï, le samedi boxe thaï
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves
Le lendemain, coup de fil à neuf heures
Taxi jaune pour downtown elle a très très peur
Son parapluie est à l'agence, elle porte un survêt blanc
C'est son beau-père qui l'attend et il est pas content
Dans le building, il y a le mec d'hier soir
Qui la montre du doigt et la fusille du regard
En déchirant une photo sans hésitation
Elle avec une chaîne en or devant une pension
Flashback, un jeune lui avait dit "vas-y!
S'il y a de la pluie je serais ton parapluie
Si le soleil est brûlant je serais ton parasol
Et tu pourras défiler dans la mégalopole"
Donc il jab au menton, enchaîne gauche-gauche-droite
Tibia sur le crâne et en anglais "get out"
Il est devenu booker après l'orphelinat
Pour la protéger pendant le mannequinat
J'aimais bien cette institution
Même s'il a fallu qu'j'm'en aille (I need gloves)
Le dimanche c'était équitation
Le jeudi c'est muay-thaï, le samedi boxe thaï (gloves)
I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need gloves, I need gloves
I need love
The song "I Need Gloves" by MC Solaar tells the story of a woman who went from being an orphan to a successful model. The opening lines of the song speak to her vulnerability, as she repeatedly sings "I need gloves." The lyrics then go on to explore her journey to becoming a model, as well as the challenges she faces in the industry.
The woman in the song initially dreams of becoming a model, but she is alone and orphaned. She eventually finds success and becomes the star of a Victoria's Secret fashion show. However, her success is marred by the unwanted advances of a client, who she fights off before leaving the party. She then walks home in the rain to her apartment, highlighting her resilience and independence.
The second verse of the song reflects on the woman's past experiences at an orphanage. MC Solaar describes the activities she enjoyed, such as horseback riding and Muay Thai boxing. Despite having to leave the orphanage, the woman looks back fondly on her time there.
Overall, "I Need Gloves" is a powerful anthem that celebrates the strength and independence of a woman who has overcome adversity to achieve her dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I need gloves, I need gloves
The repeated phrase emphasizes the title of the song and suggests the singer's need for gloves.
Est-ce qu'une femme mannequin est une mannequine?
The singer questions whether a female model is called a 'mannequine' and introduces the theme of modeling.
Elle ne le sait pas mais rêve de faire du mannequinat
The singer asserts that a young girl dreams of becoming a model despite being unaware of it.
D'anonyme, seule et belle, abandonnée, orpheline
The girl is described as anonymous, beautiful, and abandoned, highlighting her vulnerability and setting up her backstory as an orphan.
La féline en défilé, la fille sort de l'orphelinat
The girl transforms into a feline catwalk model and leaves the orphanage.
Il faut toujours faire des plans sur la comète
The singer advises to make ambitious plans and pursue them, like reaching for the stars.
Ce soir elle est la vedette du défilé Victoria's Secret
The girl becomes the star of a Victoria's Secret fashion show.
Ça se fête, entre modèles et kilowatts
The occasion is celebrated among models and flashy lights.
Mais même la saoul lit et elle voit la lie des malades au mains moites
Even while drunk, the girl reads and recognizes the unsavory characters with sweaty hands in the industry.
Harcelée par un gros client aux manières de porc
The girl is harassed by a large client who acts like a pig, exposing the dark side of the modeling industry.
La fille se fige, il a cassé ma chaîne en or
The girl freezes as the client breaks her gold chain, an object of sentimental value and a symbol of her innocence.
Donc elle jab au menton, enchaîne gauche-gauche-droite
The girl fights back with a jab to his chin and throws a series of punches.
Fait un signe aux copines puis se barre de la boîte
The girl signals her friends and leaves the nightclub for safety.
Marche sous la pluie jusqu'à Wooster Street
The girl walks in the rain to Wooster Street.
Digicode, tour de clé, puis elle fall asleep
She enters a building with a passcode, locks the door, and falls asleep.
Elle a appris à défiler grâce au mannequinat
The girl learned how to walk the runway through modeling.
Et elle va se défiler grâce à l'orphelinat
The girl will leave the modeling industry behind thanks to her background in the orphanage.
Le lendemain, coup de fil à neuf heures
The next day, she receives a call at nine o'clock.
Taxi jaune pour downtown elle a très très peur
She takes a yellow cab to downtown but is very frightened.
Son parapluie est à l'agence, elle porte un survêt blanc
Her umbrella is at the agency, and she wears a white tracksuit.
C'est son beau-père qui l'attend et il est pas content
Her stepfather awaits her, and he is not pleased.
Dans le building, il y a le mec d'hier soir
The guy from last night is also in the building.
Qui la montre du doigt et la fusille du regard
He points at her and gives her an angry glare.
En déchirant une photo sans hésitation
He tears up a photo of the girl without hesitation.
Elle avec une chaîne en or devant une pension
The photo is of her wearing a gold chain in front of a boarding house.
Flashback, un jeune lui avait dit 'vas-y!
The girl has a flashback to a young man who encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
S'il y a de la pluie je serais ton parapluie
He promised to be her umbrella in the rain.
Si le soleil est brûlant je serais ton parasol
He promised to be her parasol in the harsh sun.
Et tu pourras défiler dans la mégalopole
He promised that she can walk the runway in the big city.
Donc il jab au menton, enchaîne gauche-gauche-droite
The man is punched and kicked by the girl before she tells him to get out in English.
Tibia sur le crâne et en anglais 'get out'
She kicks him in the head with her shin and commands him to leave in English.
Il est devenu booker après l'orphelinat
The young man who encouraged her earlier became her agent/booker after she left the orphanage.
Pour la protéger pendant le mannequinat
He became her protector while she was modeling.
J'aimais bien cette institution
The artist liked the orphanage where the girl grew up.
Même s'il a fallu qu'j'm'en aille (I need gloves)
The singer left the orphanage despite liking it and now needs gloves for their current situation.
Le dimanche c'était équitation
Sunday was reserved for horseback riding.
Le lundi c'est muay-thaï, le mercredi boxe thaï
On Mondays and Wednesdays, the singer trains in muay-thaï and Thai boxing, respectively.
Le jeudi c'est muay-thaï, le samedi boxe thaï (gloves)
On Thursdays and Saturdays, the singer also trains in muay-thaï and Thai boxing with gloves.
I need gloves
The repeated phrase emphasizes the title of the song and suggests the singer's need for gloves in their current situation.
I need love
The song ends on a repetitive phrase that contrasts with the title, suggesting that the artist needs something more than just protection and training.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Eric Kroczynski, Claude M'Barali
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind