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.
Noël D'Espoir
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Des chants, des couleurs et des encensoirs
Moi dans mon soulier, j'ai trouvé la foi
J'ai vu la montagne s'ouvrir devant moi
Moi dans mon soulier, j'ai trouvé la paix
La joie, l'harmonie et l'accord parfait
De se retrouver comme au premier jour
Moi dans mon soulier, j'ai trouvé l'amour
De rêves en rêves, de larmes en larmes
De rires en rires et de petits bonheurs
Au jour le jour volé
De brumes en brumes, de gris novembres
En doux avril, de Noëls en Noëls
Tous nos espoirs s'allument
De siècles en siècles, de guerres en guerres
De peines en peines, de traités en traités
Bien souvent mal traités
De vrais Noëls, de trêves en trêves
Que reste-t-il de Noëls en Noëls
De ces lumières qui brillent
Moi dans mon soulier, il y a l'espoir
En des temps nouveaux qu'on peut entrevoir
Moi dans mon soulier, il y a la foi
Pour changer le monde, mais quand donner quoi?
Moi dans mon soulier, il y a la paix
Dans une aube neuve que l'on attendait
De se retrouver comme au premier jour
Nous dans nos souliers, il y a l'amour
L'amour
L'amour
The lyrics to Madeleine Peyroux's song "Noël D'Espoir" convey a message of hope, faith, love, and peace. The singer shares her personal experience, stating that in her shoe (symbolizing her own journey or perspective), she has found songs, colors, and incense. These elements represent a sense of joy, harmony, and perfect alignment. She also finds faith, and as she mentions the mountain opening before her, it suggests a transformative experience and a sense of enlightenment.
In her shoe, she discovers peace, and with it, the joy and harmony of being reunited with something precious (possibly a loved one or a lost part of herself). Finally, in her shoe, she finds love, symbolizing the ultimate expression of connection and fulfillment. The lyrics highlight the power of these emotions and experiences to bring light and meaning to our lives.
The song also explores the cyclical nature of life and the passage of time. It mentions dreams, tears, laughter, and small pleasures, highlighting the ups and downs of daily existence. It suggests that in the midst of uncertain and changing times ("brumes en brumes, de gris novembres"), the celebration of Christmas and its promises of hope and peace continue to illuminate our path. The lyrics question what remains of these Christmas lights and traditions throughout the centuries and the challenges faced ("de siècles en siècles, de guerres en guerres").
Overall, "Noël d'Espoir" is a reflection on the enduring power of hope, faith, love, and peace, especially during times of uncertainty and turmoil. It emphasizes the importance of internalizing these values and embodying them to make a positive change in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Moi dans mon soulier, j'ai trouvé ce soir
Tonight, I have found in my shoe
Des chants, des couleurs et des encensoirs
Songs, colors, and censers
Moi dans mon soulier, j'ai trouvé la foi
In my shoe, I have found faith
J'ai vu la montagne s'ouvrir devant moi
I saw the mountain open before me
Moi dans mon soulier, j'ai trouvé la paix
In my shoe, I have found peace
La joie, l'harmonie et l'accord parfait
Joy, harmony, and perfect agreement
De se retrouver comme au premier jour
To meet again like on the first day
Moi dans mon soulier, j'ai trouvé l'amour
In my shoe, I have found love
De rêves en rêves, de larmes en larmes
From dreams to dreams, from tears to tears
De rires en rires et de petits bonheurs
From laughs to laughs and small joys
Au jour le jour volé
Stolen day by day
De brumes en brumes, de gris novembres
From mists to mists, from gray Novembers
En doux avril, de Noëls en Noëls
In sweet April, from Christmases to Christmases
Tous nos espoirs s'allument
All our hopes light up
De siècles en siècles, de guerres en guerres
From centuries to centuries, from wars to wars
De peines en peines, de traités en traités
From sorrows to sorrows, from treaties to treaties
Bien souvent mal traités
Often mistreated
De vrais Noëls, de trêves en trêves
Real Christmases, from truces to truces
Que reste-t-il de Noëls en Noëls
What remains of Christmases
De ces lumières qui brillent
Of these shining lights
Moi dans mon soulier, il y a l'espoir
In my shoe, there is hope
En des temps nouveaux qu'on peut entrevoir
In new times that we can glimpse
Moi dans mon soulier, il y a la foi
In my shoe, there is faith
Pour changer le monde, mais quand donner quoi?
To change the world, but when to give what?
Moi dans mon soulier, il y a la paix
In my shoe, there is peace
Dans une aube neuve que l'on attendait
In a new dawn that we have waited for
De se retrouver comme au premier jour
To meet again like on the first day
Nous dans nos souliers, il y a l'amour
In our shoes, there is love
L'amour
Love
L'amour
Love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jean Drejac, Michel Legrand
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kurt
on The Summer Wind
Unbelievable Saxophon solo!