Peyroux started singing at the age of fifteen, when she discovered street musicians in the Latin Quarter in Paris. She joined a group called the Riverboat Shufflers, first passing round the hat, and then singing. At sixteen she joined the The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band, spending two years touring Europe performing songs by the likes of Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and others, which provided the basis for her first album, Dreamland.
Dreamland was released in 1996, and gained widespread attention. Time called it "the most exciting, involving vocal performance by a new singer this year". Dreamland, is a brilliant recording, as Peyroux's distinctive voice is not hindered by overly intricate arrangements. Most of the accompaniment on the record is light and sparse, the way it should be for a singer with such a unique voice. Peyroux soon found herself opening for Sarah McLachlan and Cesária Évora, and made appearances at jazz festivals and on the Lilith Fair tour.
In May 2002 she joined multi-instrumentalist William Galison, and together they appeared at such venues as the Bottom Line, Joe's Pub, and the Tin Angel. In 2003 the duo released a seven-song EP entitled Got You on My Mind, which they sold at shows and online. Got You on My Mind was re-released by William Galison in August 2004; the original EP was expanded by the addition of four tracks by Gallison.
Peyroux released her own sophomore effort, Careless Love, in September 2004. The album received generally positive reviews.
Her new album, Half the Perfect World, was released on September 12, 2006. She collaborated with several artists, including Jesse Harris, Walter Becker, Larry Klein (who also produced the album), and K.d. lang, with whom Peyroux duets on a cover of the Joni Mitchell song, "River".
On July 12, 2007, she was awarded Best International Jazz Artist at the BBC Jazz Awards.
Blue Alert
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
She comes so close
You feel her then
She tells you No and No again
Your lip is cut on the edge of her pleated skirt
Visions of her drawing near
Arise, abide, and disappear
You try to slow it down
It doesn't work
It's just another night I guess
All tangled up in nakedness
You even touch yourself
You're such a flirt
Blue Alert
You know how nights like this begin
The kind of knot your heart gets in
Any way you turn is going to hurt
There's perfume burning in the air
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
Blue Alert
She breaks the rules so you can see
She's wilder than you'll ever be
You talk religion but she won't convert
Her body's twenty stories high
You try to look away, you try
But all you want to do is get there first
Blue Alert
You know how nights like this begin
The kind of knot your heart gets in
Any way you turn is going to hurt
There's perfume burning in the air
Bits of beauty everywhere
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
Blue Alert
Blue Alert...
The song "Blue Alert" by Madeleine Peyroux is a complex piece on the various ways desires and passions can consume and overpower us, leading us to leave our comfort zone for the sake of something uncertain. The lyrics depict the story of a man who is enamoured by a woman who goes against the norm and challenges him in various ways. The use of the phrase "blue alert" throughout the song can be seen as a notification of urgency and the heightened state of emotions the characters are experiencing.
The opening lines convey a sense of beauty and chaos mixing together as the scent of perfume disperses in the air alongside some shrapnel of war. The woman gets closer to the singer, ultimately becoming his love interest, but also acts as a warning sign. She tells him "no" repeatedly, suggesting the danger that comes with pursuing her. The line "Your lip is cut on the edge of her pleated skirt" implies that the woman he desires has sharp edges and that being with her challenges him in more ways than one.
The song seems to be about desire, yearning, and the willingness to pursue an experience even when complications arise. It is a beautiful piece that captures the heightened state of emotions one feels when pursuing someone who is both desirable and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
There's perfume burning in the air
The air is filled with a fragrant smell
Bits of beauty everywhere
The surroundings are beautiful
Shrapnel flying, soldier hit the dirt
In the midst of beauty and fragrance, violence erupts
She comes so close
A feeling of intimacy is shared
You feel her then
There's a fleeting moment of connection
She tells you No and No again
Despite the connection, she rejects your advances
Your lip is cut on the edge of her pleated skirt
Her rejection hurts you physically and emotionally
Blue Alert
The sense of danger and uncertainty is heightened
Visions of her drawing near
You can't stop thinking about her
Arise, abide, and disappear
Your thoughts of her come and go
You try to slow it down
You attempt to control your feelings
It doesn't work
Your efforts are futile
It's just another night I guess
This experience is nothing new for you
All tangled up in nakedness
You're overcome with desire and vulnerability
You even touch yourself
You can't resist the temptation
You're such a flirt
Your behavior is suggestive and insincere
Blue Alert
The danger and uncertainty persist
You know how nights like this begin
You're familiar with this pattern of desire and rejection
The kind of knot your heart gets in
The emotional pain of rejection is intense
Any way you turn is going to hurt
There's no easy way out of this situation
She breaks the rules so you can see
She challenges societal norms and expectations
She's wilder than you'll ever be
She's unapologetically herself
You talk religion but she won't convert
Your differences in beliefs are insurmountable
Her body's twenty stories high
Her physical presence is overwhelming
You try to look away, you try
You're intimidated by her
But all you want to do is get there first
You're still drawn to her despite the rejection
Blue Alert
The danger and uncertainty persist
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANJANI THOMAS, LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!