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 métronome
Malajube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mais nous sommes plus forts que lui
La technique est bonne mais un peu déchue (et décousue)
Le Métronome, on l'a détruit
Plus on savonne plus nos chansons puent le poisson cru
On aime Rémy (ah! ah!)
Une copie carbone, une bande de malotrus (non rien de plus)
Tant qu'on pourra chanter
Tant qu'on pourra danser
Tant qu'on pourra frapper dans nos mains
Tant qu'on pourra rêver
Tant qu'on pourra crier
Tant qu'on pourra nuire aux sangliers
Non-non-non-non-nooooon !
(Tant qu'on pourra nuire aux sangliers)
[Répéter le refrain]
(Merci à Jessica pour cettes paroles)
The lyrics of Malajube's Le Metronome carry a certain rebellious, anti-establishment vibe, with the titular metronome symbolizing the constraints of conformity and convention. The singer claims victory over the mechanical device, stating that while its technique may be good, theirs is better, albeit somewhat erratic. The line "Plus on savonne plus nos chansons puent le poisson cru" roughly translates to "The more we soap, the more our songs smell like raw fish," indicating a willingness to embrace imperfection and a rejection of superficiality.
The chorus is a rallying cry, a declaration of intent to continue singing, dancing, dreaming, and even harming wild boars (an obscure reference whose significance is up for interpretation), as long as they can. The final "Non-non-non-non-nooooon !" adds emphasis to this attitude of defiance and freedom.
Overall, Le Metronome is a testament to the power of music as a means of self-expression, and a rejection of rigid structures that restrict creativity and individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Le Métronome nous a vaincus
We have been defeated by the Metronome
Mais nous sommes plus forts que lui
But we are stronger than it
La technique est bonne mais un peu déchue (et décousue)
The technique is good but a little bit lost (and disjointed)
Le Métronome, on l'a détruit
We have destroyed the Metronome
Plus on savonne plus nos chansons puent le poisson cru
The more we polish, the more our songs smell like raw fish
On aime Rémy (ah! ah!)
We love Rémy (ah! ah!)
Une copie carbone, une bande de malotrus (non rien de plus)
A carbon copy, a bunch of ruffians (nothing more)
Le Métronome, je l'ai dans l'but !
I've got the Metronome in my sights!
Tant qu'on pourra chanter
As long as we can sing
Tant qu'on pourra danser
As long as we can dance
Tant qu'on pourra frapper dans nos mains
As long as we can clap our hands
Tant qu'on pourra rêver
As long as we can dream
Tant qu'on pourra crier
As long as we can shout
Tant qu'on pourra nuire aux sangliers
As long as we can harm the wild boars
Non-non-non-non-nooooon !
No-no-no-noooooo!
(Tant qu'on pourra nuire aux sangliers)
(As long as we can harm the wild boars)
[Répéter le refrain]
[Repeat the chorus]
(Merci à Jessica pour cettes paroles)
(Thanks to Jessica for these lyrics)
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anawhatsme
14 years, 314,000 views, but less than 800 likes.
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has been listening on repeat.
tarnishedmercury
i wont embarrass myself by using my terrible french lol i wish they would play this band on english radio stations. they're effin awesome.
Alexandra Grenier
ça c'est un des meilleurs clips qu'ils ont fait, J'ADORE!!!!
N
12 années plus tard tu as tjrs raison ✌🏼
fuaijie
i found one of their cds in atlanta! i was so happy i bought it, even though i already had it on itunes :)
0sugarmarie
Yeah! i found some Malajube video on YouTube!!! c'est vraiment le meilleur groupe ever! gotta love them!
kokaew wongpichet
i never learn frenchbut i really love your songs and your videos are sooooooooooooooooooooooo impressive i love them!
Louve Wolfsbane
It is, and they are awesome. Listen to their other songs. Those guys are genius. :)
morewater14
These guys rock!
HabsGamer
longue vie malajube vous etes trop fort