In 1975, after a failed stint at managing & relaunching the image of the notoriously hard living and chaotic band the New York Dolls, Malcolm nurtured the formation of one of the most infamous punk bands in history, The Sex Pistols. He became their manager, and controlled their contracts, as well as most importantly to him, their image in the media. The venture ended in a disastrous US tour, and a film called "The Great Rock And Roll Swindle" that featured McLaren, and glorified his untraditional Situationist PR approach and manipulative Svengali-esque role in the band's career.
In the '80s, after the Sex Pistols had long broken up, Malcolm became the manager of another band, Adam and the Ants which veered away from punk's coarse format via new romantic pirate garb and poly rhythmic African style drumming. When Adam Ant rebelled and left the band, Malcolm repackaged the musicians with a 14 year old Anglo/Burmese girl named Annabella Lwin to form the band Bow Wow Wow. He soon used his headline making skills to propel the band and their underage lead singer to the top of the charts with a nude album cover scandal.
In the early 1980's, Malcolm began producing his own records, beginning with the hits "Buffalo Gals" and "Double Dutch" from the groundbreaking 1983 album "Duck Walk" which used NYC hip hoppers and scratch DJ's The World Famous Supreme Team, as its foundation. Future members of Art of Noise performed on, produced, and/or jointly composed various tracks. He next turned to opera, masterminding a pop adaptation of "Madam Butterfly" on the album "Fans" using an assortment of female vocalists, and skilled musician Robby Kilgore on the tracks.
McLaren has released numerous other albums and tracks since, including contributions to the movie soundtracks of Carry On Columbus, and Kill Bill 2, but his musical career peaked with his 1980's works. McLaren's original "Double Dutch" era material has since been reappropriated and sampled by sucessful artists including Mariah Carey, Eminem, Amerie and De La Soul.
In his later years, McLaren occasionally contributed to newspapers and magazines, directed and produced films and appeared on British reality television programmes. He died on the morning of 8 April 2010, following a battle with cancer.
Paris Paris
Malcolm McLaren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love to love, Paris Paris
Feelings so close to my heart
Barman dans le shaker, d'abord de l'élégance
Un trait de Sacré-Coeur et deux doight de Doisneau
Une Piaf, quelques moineaux et Joséphine Baker...
Prenons un dernier verre pres Bateau lavoir
Une Sinone de Beauvoir et deux singes en hiver...
Last night was made for love
Mettez trois notes de jazz dans un quatier latin
Un menu sur l'ardoise un fond d'un bar-tabac
Et la résille d'un bas sur un genou qu on croise
Oh Baby, just take my frozen hands and hear me say
Don't let me turn to sand and blow away
Though this crowded desert called Paris
I feel love, Paris Paris
Love to love, Paris Paris
Feelings so close to my heart
Un zeste de Javanaise, un tour de
Moulin Rouge et deux de Notre-Dame
Nappé de macadam, décoré d'un chaland
D'Anvers ou d'Amsterdam un canal, Arletty
Oh Baby, just hold this lonely fan and hear him say
Don't let me turn to sand and blow away
Though this crowded desert called Paris
Sans doute la seule femme qui pouvait dire
"Paname"
I feel love, Paris Paris
Love to love, Paris Paris
Feelings so close to my heart
Mettez trois notes de jazz dans un quatier latin
Un menu sur l'ardoise un fond d'un bar-tabac
Et la résille d'un bas sur un genou qu on croise
I feel love, Paris Paris
Love to love, Paris Paris
Feelings so close to my heart
Saupoudrez, pour finir, de poussière do métro
Mais n'en prenez pas trop, Paris perdrait son âme
The song "Paris Paris" by Malcolm McLaren is a whimsical tribute to the city of Paris. The opening lyrics "I feel love, Paris Paris, love to love, Paris Paris, feelings so close to my heart" express the artist's immediate affection and attachment to the city. He uses various references to Parisian culture and landmarks throughout the song. For example, the line "Barman dans le shaker, d'abord de l'élégance" refers to the elegance and sophistication of Parisian bartenders. The lines "Un trait de Sacré-Coeur et deux doigt de Doisneau, une Piaf, quelques moineaux et Joséphine Baker" reference the famous landmarks and cultural icons of Paris including the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, photographer Robert Doisneau, and famous performers like Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker.
The song goes on to mention various other Parisian icons including Jacques Prevert, the famous writer and poet, and Simone de Beauvoir, the philosopher and writer. The lines "Un zeste de Javanaise, un tour de Moulin Rouge et deux de Notre-Dame, nappe de macadam, décoré d'un chaland d'Anvers ou d'Amsterdam un canal, Arletty" reference different aspects of Parisian culture including the Moulin Rouge and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The chorus of the song repeats twice, emphasizing the artist's love for Paris and the way the city is close to his heart. The final lines of the song "Saupoudrez, pour finir, de poussière do métro, mais n'en prenez pas trop, Paris perdrait son âme" provide a warning against taking too much of the city's essence, lest it lose its soul.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel love, Paris Paris
The artist is expressing their deep love and admiration for Paris.
Love to love, Paris Paris
The artist has a strong desire to express their love in Paris.
Feelings so close to my heart
The artist's love for Paris is a deeply personal and emotional connection.
Barman dans le shaker, d'abord de l'élégance
The artist envisions a sophisticated Parisian bartender mixing elegance into their drinks.
Un trait de Sacré-Coeur et deux doight de Doisneau
The artist describes the creation of a representation of Paris through images of the Sacré-Coeur basilica and Robert Doisneau's photography.
Une Piaf, quelques moineaux et Joséphine Baker...
The artist sees Paris as a place that pays tribute to its famous music icons, such as Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker.
Là une de Prévert, mais sans raton-laveur
The artist appreciates the poetry of Jacques Prévert, but without the stereotypical portrayals of Paris, like a raccoon-wearing character.
Prenons un dernier verre pres Bateau lavoir
The artist invites the listener to have one last drink by the Seine River and the historic Bateau Lavoir artistic hub in Montmartre.
Une Sinone de Beauvoir et deux singes en hiver...
The artist references Simone de Beauvoir's feminist philosophy and the 1962 movie 'Two Women in the Snow' as important cultural symbols of Paris.
Last night was made for love
The artist suggests that Paris is a place that can set the mood for a romantic evening.
Mettez trois notes de jazz dans un quatier latin
The artist evokes the image of jazz notes playing in the Latin Quarter of Paris, creating an exotic musical atmosphere.
Un menu sur l'ardoise un fond d'un bar-tabac
The artist describes the simple pleasures of Paris, such as a chalkboard menu in a small tobacco bar.
Et la résille d'un bas sur un genou qu on croise
The artist appreciates the chic yet subtle fashion of seeing a woman wearing fishnet stockings and a skirt in Paris.
Oh Baby, just take my frozen hands and hear me say
The artist emphasizes the physical coldness of Paris and wishes for someone to listen to their heartfelt words.
Don't let me turn to sand and blow away
The artist expresses fear of being forgotten, much like sand that gets blown away by the wind.
Though this crowded desert called Paris
Paris may seem busy and overwhelming, but it still holds an emotional pull for the artist.
Un zeste de Javanaise, un tour de Moulin Rouge et deux de Notre-Dame
The artist suggests adding a combination of French landmarks, such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Moulin Rouge cabaret, into the mix of Parisian experiences.
Nappé de macadam, décoré d'un chaland
The artist sees the streets of Paris as coated with black asphalt and decorated with the visitors to the city.
D'Anvers ou d'Amsterdam un canal, Arletty
The artist finds two canals, one in Antwerp and one in Amsterdam, reminiscent of the riverbanks of Paris. Arletty, a famous French actress, is also mentioned as a symbol of the city's art and culture.
Oh Baby, just hold this lonely fan and hear him say
Again, the artist desires to be heard and understood in Paris, even when they feel isolated and alone.
Sans doute la seule femme qui pouvait dire "Paname"
The artist admires the ability of an unknown woman who can confidently say the nickname of Paris, 'Paname,' which was popularized by music hall performers.
Saupoudrez, pour finir, de poussière do métro
The artist finishes off the image of Paris by sprinkling a bit of metro dust on top, acknowledging the everyday grit and rawness of the city.
Mais n'en prenez pas trop, Paris perdrait son âme
The artist warns against overdoing any artistic or cultural influences on Paris that would dilute its very essence and character.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEIGH GORMAN, DAVID MCNEIL, MALCOLM MCLAREN, DIDIER MAKAGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Robin_Hood054
Anyone from 2024 listening this to masterpiece .
@philippinnell7154
love it @@agnieszkabedowska6710
@JPA64
In this right moment..
@PioSzu88
We all 😊
@anett1473
❤
@kwacou4279
Thank you France for creating the most beautiful language ever ❤️
@user-lg3vz9fu1k
This is a eternal and sentimental song for generations.Hello from New Jersey USA.Pozdrawiam🇺🇸🇵🇱
@1jackbean
OMG! Where has this fab arrangement been hiding all these years, the beautiful Catherine D, that accent and voice...well done j'taime
@cycuac
Jedna z niewielu piosenek gdzie w tej samej chwili czujemy wielką radość i smutek. MEGA !!!!!!
@isabellaadamczyk2058
Tak, masz racje...❤