The group made itself known in 2004 with the release of its first album, "Le Compte Complet." Critics welcomed the disc with positive reviews, which allowed the group to become instantly famous in the Québécois music scene. Several of its songs, such as "Le Métronome" and "La Valérie," were prominent mainstays on several Québec radio stations. For the production of the album, the group turned to Martin Pelland from fellow Montreal band The Dears.
In the months that followed the release of their first album, Malajube launched a tour across Québec, participating in several major festivals, such as Les FrancoFolies de Montréal.
In February 2006, the quartet released its sophomore album, Trompe-l’œil, which also received a warm welcome on the part of Québec media. Collaborations with singer Pierre Lapointe, Québecois rap group Loco Locass, and the use of a wide variety of instruments has contributed to the album's success. Trompe-l'œil also began to attract attention in English Canada in July, when it was shortlisted for the inaugural Polaris Music Prize, and in the United States in October, when it was a featured review on Pitchfork Media. In 2006, they won three Félix Award at the 28th edition of the Gala de l'ADISQ: two for Trompe-l’œil, "Best alternative album" and "Best cover art" while they were proclaimed "Revelation of the year 2006".
Their third album, Labyrinthes, was released on February 10th 2009.
Their song "Montreal -40° C" was featured in a Rogers Wireless commercial, and Ton Plat Favori was in a Zellers commercial.
Le bataillon
Malajube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La tête en fête dans un camion
Francis s'occupera du canon
Mathieu du bazooka et moi
Du laser oui je serai roi
L'ami ira mains nues au front
Et tous ensemble nous rejoindrons
Non!
Tu pensais jamais passer à l'action
La tête en fête comme un champion
Le vice s'en mêle comme de raison
Et même le plus tranquille
Ne pourrait dire non
À une française sans son jupon
Ah Bon
The lyrics of Malajube's "Le bataillon" is a commentary on the toxically masculine desire for adventure, thrill, and action, ultimately leading to violence and war. The song begins with a call to arms, a desire to leave behind the humdrum of daily existence and embark on something greater. The singer, along with his friends Francis and Mathieu, has already assigned themselves with weapons - a canon, a bazooka, and a laser - and the singer claims the title of "roi" or king of the laser. The lyrics here suggest an intense desire for power and control, and the thrill of the danger that comes with wielding such weapons.
However, the singer's friend is not so eager to join in, opting to go "mains nues" or unarmed, to the battlefront - highlighting the dangerous aspect of this desire for violent adventure. Nevertheless, the singer and his friends are determined to join the "bande," or battalion, and participate in the violence and chaos of the front lines. But the chorus interrupts this fantasy with a firm "Non!" or no, as if to highlight the danger and foolishness of such a fantasy.
The second verse takes a more cynical approach to this desire for adventure, highlighting the way in which it can be perverted by the baser desires of the male ego, such as vice and sexual conquest. The lines "Et même le plus tranquille/Ne pourrait dire non/A une française sans son jupon/Ah Bon" suggest that even the most peaceful and tranquil of men would be unable to resist a French woman without her skirt. This lyric is critical of the way in which masculinity is often equated with sexual conquest and aggression.
Overall, the lyrics of "Le bataillon" is a critique of the dangerous and violent aspects of masculinity, and the ways in which this desire for adventure and power can be warped by toxic and destructive impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
Nous prendrons les armes et partirons
We will take arms and depart
La tête en fête dans un camion
We will be joyful in the truck
Francis s'occupera du canon
Francis will take care of the canon
Mathieu du bazooka et moi
Mathieu and I will handle the bazooka
Du laser oui je serai roi
I will be the king of laser
L'ami ira mains nues au front
Our friend will go unarmed to the front
Et tous ensemble nous rejoindrons
And all together we will join
La bande que dis-je le bataillon
The gang or rather the battalion
Non!
No!
Tu pensais jamais passer à l'action
You never thought you would take action
La tête en fête comme un champion
Being joyful like a champion
Le vice s'en mêle comme de raison
Vice is involved as usual
Et même le plus tranquille
And even the most peaceful
Ne pourrait dire non
Could not say no
À une française sans son jupon
To a French woman without her petticoat
Ah Bon
Ah well
Contributed by Alex N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.