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.
Super Gainsbarre
MC Solaar Lyrics
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Un peintre armé de lettres, un vrai tueur-à-gage
Avec la jeune Huston, il vanne et se pavane
Il flambait des dollars, trente ans avant SwaggMan
Jadis il mélangeait à l'arrière des saloons
Des mélodies châtiées, aux rythmes boum-boum-boum
Et dans les plaines immenses de vieux tubes en faïence
La magie de Gainsbourg a peuplé le silence
Super Gainsbarre, the man with the cabbage head
Super Gainsbarre, he knows the tricks of the trade
Super Gainsbarre (c'est l'homme à la tête de choux)
Super Gainsbarre (c'est l'homme à la tête de choux, choux, choux)
Super Gainsbarre, the man with the cabbage head
Chassé de la cité, le jeune scribe chétif
A tatoué sur le cœur, l'étoile d'un shérif
Il masque ses démons, en ânonnant des psaumes
Qu'il note sur sa paume, dans une Rolls Phantom
Flics, flingues, spliffs, stup' et sing-sing
Bébé et p'tite pépé, pin-up comme bling-bling
On peut frotter des lampes et écumer quinze bars
Ça ne fera pas apparaître le génie d'un Gainsbarre
Super Gainsbarre, the man with the cabbage head
Super Gainsbarre, He knows the tricks of the trade
Super Gainsbarre (c'est l'homme à la tête de choux)
Super Gainsbarre (c'est l'homme à la tête de choux, choux, choux)
Super Gainsbarre, the man with the cabbage head
Super Gainsbarre
Super Gainsbarre
(Super) Super Gainsbarre
Super Gainsbarre
Super Gainsbarre
Super Gainsbarre
L'anamour, Lola rastaquouère
L'homme à la tête de chou, shuba-du-Baloo-ba
Orang-outan, bubble-gum, baby-boom, des pets, des vents, des poums
Oh, di-du-di-du-da (super Gainsbarre)
L'alalamour, Lololala rastaquouère
L'homme à lala-l'homme à la tête de chou, Shuba du Baloo ba
Orang-outan, bubble-gum, baby-boom, des pets, des vents, des poums
Oh di-du-di-du-da (di-du-di-du-da)
The lyrics of MC Solaar's song "Super Gainsbarre" pay homage to the French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, who was known for his eccentric personality and creative genius. The song describes Gainsbourg's influence and impact on the music scene, using vivid imagery and wordplay.
The first verse paints a picture of a wild and untamed Western world, where Gainsbourg is portrayed as a painter armed with letters, a "true hitman." He is seen flaunting wealth and charm alongside the young actress Anjelica Huston. The lyrics suggest that Gainsbourg's artistic contributions transcended time, as he mixed refined melodies with booming rhythms, filling the vast plains of old earthenware records with his magical music.
The chorus refers to Gainsbourg as "Super Gainsbarre" and describes him as a man with a "cabbage head," an idiomatic expression meaning someone who is eccentric or unusual. He is portrayed as someone with an extraordinary talent and knowledge of the music industry.
The second verse tells of Gainsbourg's early struggles as a young, frail writer who embraced the persona of a sheriff by tattooing a star on his heart. He hides his demons by chanting psalms and recording them on his palm, while driving around in a luxurious Rolls Royce Phantom. Despite being surrounded by police, guns, drugs, and flashy lifestyles, the lyrics emphasize that these external factors cannot replicate the genius of Gainsbarre.
The chorus is repeated, reinforcing the idea of Gainsbourg's exceptional abilities.
The final section of the song includes a series of references to some of Gainsbourg's most famous songs, such as "L'anamour," "Lola Rastaquouère," and "L'homme à la tête de chou." The lyrics playfully mention various elements associated with Gainsbourg's persona and style, such as orangutans, bubble gum, baby boom, flatulence sounds, and dynamic beats. These references further emphasize Gainsbourg's unique and influential role in French music.
Overall, the lyrics of "Super Gainsbarre" celebrate Gainsbourg's artistic genius, his mythical status, and his lasting impact on French music and culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Il était une fois dans l'Ouest encore sauvage
Once upon a time in the wild West
Un peintre armé de lettres, un vrai tueur-à-gage
A painter armed with letters, a true hitman
Avec la jeune Huston, il vanne et se pavane
With the young Huston, he jokes and struts
Il flambait des dollars, trente ans avant SwaggMan
He was flaunting dollars, thirty years before SwaggMan
Jadis il mélangeait à l'arrière des saloons
In the past, he mixed in the back of saloons
Des mélodies châtiées, aux rythmes boum-boum-boum
Polished melodies with boom-boom-boom rhythms
Et dans les plaines immenses de vieux tubes en faïence
And in the vast plains of old porcelain tubes
La magie de Gainsbourg a peuplé le silence
The magic of Gainsbourg filled the silence
Super Gainsbarre, the man with the cabbage head
Super Gainsbarre, the extraordinary figure
Super Gainsbarre, he knows the tricks of the trade
Super Gainsbarre, he is an expert in his field
Super Gainsbarre (c'est l'homme à la tête de choux)
Super Gainsbarre (he's the man with the cabbage head)
Super Gainsbarre (c'est l'homme à la tête de choux, choux, choux)
Super Gainsbarre (he's the man with the cabbage head, cabbage, cabbage)
Chassé de la cité, le jeune scribe chétif
Expelled from the city, the young timid scribe
A tatoué sur le cœur, l'étoile d'un shérif
Has tattooed the sheriff's star on his heart
Il masque ses démons, en ânonnant des psaumes
He masks his demons by murmuring psalms
Qu'il note sur sa paume, dans une Rolls Phantom
Which he notes on his palm, in a Rolls Phantom
Flics, flingues, spliffs, stup' et sing-sing
Cops, guns, spliffs, drugs, and prisons
Bébé et p'tite pépé, pin-up comme bling-bling
Baby and little grandpa, pin-up like bling-bling
On peut frotter des lampes et écumer quinze bars
We can rub lamps and scour fifteen bars
Ça ne fera pas apparaître le génie d'un Gainsbarre
That won't make the genius of Gainsbarre appear
L'anamour, Lola rastaquouère
Love, Lola the rasta girl
L'homme à la tête de chou, shuba-du-Baloo-ba
The man with the cabbage head, shuba-du-Baloo-ba
Orang-outan, bubble-gum, baby-boom, des pets, des vents, des poums
Orangutan, bubble gum, baby boom, farts, winds, booms
Oh, di-du-di-du-da (super Gainsbarre)
Oh, di-du-di-du-da (super Gainsbarre)
L'alalamour, Lololala rastaquouère
The lovingnamour, Lololala the rasta girl
L'homme à lala-l'homme à la tête de chou, Shuba du Baloo ba
The man with lala-the man with the cabbage head, Shuba du Baloo ba
Orang-outan, bubble-gum, baby-boom, des pets, des vents, des poums
Orangutan, bubble gum, baby boom, farts, winds, booms
Oh di-du-di-du-da (di-du-di-du-da)
Oh di-du-di-du-da (di-du-di-du-da)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alain Etchart, Eric Heber-Suffrin, Claude M'Barali
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind