As her father, who emigrated from France to Québec at an early age, was also a musician, Marie-Mai began her interest in music in her early years when practising piano lessons and also participated in musical theatre. Shortly, she began singing and her grandmother noticed her talent. In the following years, she would help Marie-Mai improve her singing abilities even further. At that time, her grandmother suggested to her that she audition for a new competition, Star Académie. Prior to this, in 2001, she would start to perform in shows at Montreal's Théâtre Musical in the Passion intense show.
She became a finalist in the 2003 edition, in which she was immediately noticed by her pop-rock style. She finished third behind Marie-Elaine Thibert, the runner-up of the competition and Wilfred Le Bouthillier, the eventual winner.
After the Star Académie tour that ended in 2004, she was part of Rent, a rock opera musical which was held at the Olympia Theatre in Montreal.
On July 1, 2009, Marie-Mai performed "Mentir" and "Emmène-Moi" for Canada Rocks The Capital held in Ottawa.
On February 28, 2010, she performed "Emmène-Moi" during the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Her debut album Inoxydable, produced by Fred St-Gelais, was released on September 28, 2004. Over 120,000 albums were sold in Quebec alone while the album was released in France in 2006. Several singles had reached high in the Quebec charts including the songs "Il faut que tu t'en ailles" and "Encore une nuit" which reached the top of the Radio Énergie charts.
In the fall of 2006, Marie-Mai had already reached the international stage, when she opened for Garou for four shows at the Olympia in Paris where several international acts made their mark at the landmark music hall. Additional stops in the European Tour included Switzerland, Belgium, Romania and Russia. In an interview with TVA's correspondent in Paris, Claude Charron, Marie-Mai mentioned she was thrilled about the experience and was amazed by the public reception in Paris. She also added that despite being a short experience each night (she opens with 30-minute performance), she enjoys every single moment of it and would stay there forever on the stage.
Her second album, Dangereuse Attraction (also produced by Fred St-Gelais), was released in August 2007. She mentioned in the interview with Charron that she hopes for success similar to her debut album Inoxydable. The first song from her next album is "Qui prendra ma place" (Who Will Take My Place) and already reached number 1 in the Francophone Chart of Radio NRJ (formerly Radio Énergie). Marie-Mai mentions that her second album is much more personal than Inoxydable. Her song "Tôt Ou Tard" is a cover of Alexz Johnson's "Waste My Time" on the album Songs from Instant Star. Over 80,000 albums were sold.
Marie-Mai provided guest vocals on David Usher's songs "Kill the Lights," on Wake Up and Say Goodbye, and "Je Repars," on The Mile End Sessions. She also provided guest vocals for Simple Plan's new song "Jet Lag" which is from their fourth album Get Your Heart On!, released on June 21 2011.
Tous les chemins
Marie-Mai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quand le doute l'emporte quand revienne mes peurs
Quand le poids que je porte t'apporte temps de douleur
Quand les larme l'emporte qu'il est loin le bonheur
Quand j? ai besoin de me refaire
Quand le monde est a l'envers
Tous les chemins me conduise dans tes bras
Je me sens a l'abris loin de les vautour
Y a plus que toi qui m?entour
Quand les point repère se confonde au brouliare
Quand je ferme les paupières et que Vien le cafard
Comme une nuit ne porte plus conseil
Je m'étant vers ton soleil
Tous les chemins me ramène a toi
Tous les chemins me conduise dans tes bras
Je me sens a l'abris loin de tout les vautours
Je ne craint plus pire tu m'inspire chaque jour
Je me sens a l'abris loin de tout les vautours
Ha plus que toi qui m'entoure
Tous les chemins...
(Merci à Josée pour cettes paroles)
The lyrics of Marie-Mai's song Tous les chemins speak of finding solace in someone's arms amidst the chaos and confusion of life. The singer describes moments when she feels lost and overwhelmed, when doubts and fears consume her, when the weight of her burdens brings her pain, and when tears flow freely because happiness seems so far away. However, in these moments of need, she knows that she can turn to her loved one and find comfort and protection. She sees her partner as a beacon of light in the darkness and a guiding force when everything else seems to fall apart. For her, all roads lead to this person, and being in their embrace is like being in a safe haven away from the vultures that circle outside.
The theme of the song is one of reliance and trust in a significant other, a recognition that sometimes, we all need someone to hold us and remind us that everything will be okay. The lyrics suggest that the singer has found that person and values their presence in her life. The repetition of the phrases "Tous les chemins me ramène à toi" and "Je me sens à l'abris loin de tout les vautours" emphasize the central ideas of the song and create a sense of intimacy and emotional connection.
Overall, Marie-Mai's Tous les chemins is a poignant and heartfelt expression of love and the need for human connection. It reminds us that even during our darkest moments, there is hope and that we can find solace in the arms of the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand je ferme la porte quand je perd mes couleur.
When I close the door and lose my colors.
Quand le doute l'emporte quand revienne mes peurs
When doubt takes over and my fears return.
Quand le poids que je porte t'apporte temps de douleur
When the weight I carry brings you pain.
Quand les larme l'emporte qu'il est loin le bonheur
When tears take over and happiness seems far away.
Quand j? ai besoin de me refaire
When I need to start over.
Quand le monde est a l'envers
When the world is upside down.
Tous les chemins me ramène a toi
All roads lead me back to you.
Tous les chemins me conduise dans tes bras
All roads lead me to your arms.
Je me sens a l'abris loin de les vautour
I feel safe from the vultures.
Y a plus que toi qui m?entour
There's no one but you around me.
Quand les point repère se confonde au brouliare
When the landmarks are lost in the fog.
Quand je ferme les paupières et que Vien le cafard
When I close my eyes and the blues come.
Comme une nuit ne porte plus conseil
As a night no longer brings advice.
Je m'étant vers ton soleil
I turn towards your sun.
Je ne craint plus pire tu m'inspire chaque jour
I no longer fear the worst, you inspire me every day.
Ha plus que toi qui m'entoure
There's no one but you around me.
Tous les chemins...
All roads...
Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.