Born in Pertuis, Vaucluse, Torr won her first singing contest at age fifteen, in 1962, winning the first year's On Chante dans mon Quartier contest in Avignon. Michèle was a tall beautiful woman with actress-like expression, and easily wins the audience over by singing the Édith Piaf song Exodus. Mireille Mathieu was runner-up that year with Les cloches de Lisbonne by Maria Candido. Then in 1963, at age sixteen, Michèle won a recording contract with the Mercury label, and opened for Jacques Brel at the Paris Olympia. She released three EPs (four songs each) throughout 1964, which were aimed at radio and juke-box play. Torr's release of Dans mes bras, oublie ta peine in 1964 was a big hit. Further releases of both original French material, and French covers of British and American hits, proved to be hit and miss. This setting the tone for Torr's career throughout the 60's, as she tried to find her niche. The Mercury contract ended in 1972.
Torr had continued to record and release singles during the early and mid 1970s like Une vague bleue, a big hit, but she achieved the biggest successes of her career at the end of the decade with Emmène-moi danser ce soir, La séparation and Discomotion. Through the 1980s she continued to release successful singles and albums and was a regular on television. Her career stalled in the 1990s, with much less new material being released, although compilations of earlier work kept her in the public eye.
On 3 March 2008, she released her album Ces années-là on the Sony BMG Import label.
On 12 November 2012, she released an album of religious songs Chanter c'est Prier on the Sony Music France S.M.A.R.T. label.
As of 2015, She continues to tour worldwide on the French music nostalgia circuit, with almost a concert a month.
Jezebel
Michèle Torr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She probably had less than every one of us
But when she knew how to walk she knew
How to bring the house down
Can't blame her for her beauty
She wins with her hands down
Jezebel, what a belle
How did you get that?
"Do you really want to know", she said
It would seem she's on her way
It's more, more than just a dream
She put on her stockings and shoes
Had nothing to lose, she said it was worth it
Reach for the top
And the sun is gonna shine
"Every winter was a war", she said
"I want to get what's mine"
Jezebel, Jezebel
Won't try to deny where she came from
You can see it in her pride
And the raven in her eyes
Try show her a better way
She'll say, "You don't know what you've been missing"
By the time she blinks you know she won't be listening
"Reach for the top", she said
"And the sun is gonna shine"
"Every winter was a war", she said
"I want to get what's mine"
The lyrics to Michèle Torr's song Jezebel is an ode to a woman who has fought for and earned every achievement she has in life. Jezebel is not someone who was born with a privileged upbringing. Instead, Torr implies that she may have had less than everyone else, yet she knew how to bring the house down from the moment she learned to walk. Jezebel's beauty is just one of her assets that sets her apart, but the song acknowledges that it is not what defines her success.
The next stanza is a conversation between Jezebel and someone who asks how she achieved all her success. Jezebel implies that it wasn't an easy path, but she did it through hard work and dedication. She puts on her stockings and shoes, and decides to reach for the top. Torr uses the metaphor of the sun shining to imply that Jezebel is reaching for the top and is bound to succeed. Her past may have been a war but now she wants to get what is hers.
Overall, the lyrics are a celebration of Jezebel's achievements, and the song encourages listeners to reach for the top and believe that they too can achieve success.
Line by Line Meaning
Jezebel wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth
It appears that Jezebel didn't have an easy life and may have had less than others.
She probably had less than every one of us
Jezebel likely had less money or possessions than anyone else around her.
But when she knew how to walk she knew how to bring the house down
Jezebel has a talent for commanding attention and impressing others with her actions, even from a young age.
Can't blame her for her beauty
Jezebel shouldn't be criticized for being attractive.
She wins with her hands down
Jezebel is so good at something that she easily wins without trying hard.
Jezebel, what a belle
Jezebel is quite stunning and impressive.
Looks like a princess in her new dress
Jezebel is dressed impeccably and looks like royalty.
How did you get that?
Someone is curious about how Jezebel obtained her dress.
"Do you really want to know", she said
Jezebel is challenging the person who asked the question to see if they are truly interested in knowing the answer.
It would seem she's on her way
Jezebel is making progress towards something she desires.
It's more, more than just a dream
Jezebel's goal is something that she cares deeply about and is working hard to achieve.
She put on her stockings and shoes
Jezebel is dressing up and getting ready to go somewhere important.
Had nothing to lose, she said it was worth it
Jezebel took a chance, even though it could lead to losing something, because she thinks it is worth it to pursue her goal.
Reach for the top
Jezebel thinks one should aim high in life.
And the sun is gonna shine
Jezebel is optimistic that if you work hard, good things will happen and everything will turn out fine.
"Every winter was a war", she said
Jezebel has faced many difficult challenges in her life.
"I want to get what's mine"
Jezebel thinks she deserves to be rewarded for her hard work.
Jezebel, Jezebel
Repeating her name emphasizes her importance and significance.
Won't try to deny where she came from
Jezebel is proud of her background and won't hide it.
You can see it in her pride
Jezebel has self-confidence and poise.
And the raven in her eyes
Jezebel has piercing, intense eyes that convey her strength and determination.
Try show her a better way
Someone attempts to introduce Jezebel to another method or strategy.
She'll say, "You don't know what you've been missing"
Jezebel is confident that her current approach is the best one and is skeptical of others' suggestions.
By the time she blinks you know she won't be listening
If you don't catch Jezebel's attention quickly, you won't have a chance to persuade her to try something else.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STUART MATTHEWMAN, HELEN ADU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A Little Less Conversation
Magnifique chanson J'adore cette chanson avec ( bleu et une vague bleu ) malheureusement rare aussi magnifique voix magnifique chanteuse et magnifique vidéo merciiiiiiiiii et grand bravo pour cette rareté.
Brunopiafou Brunopiafou
Merci. D'apprécier.. il y a aussi celle de 1973 différente,mais bloqué aussitôt.
capitole100
bien !!!!!!!!!!!! merci de l'avoir posté
Lubéron
Bonjour Brunopiafou,
Une chanson très difficile à interpréter et pourtant cela semble tellement simple pour Michèle, c'est cela le talent sans aucun doute...
Si je ne m'abuse, il me semble que Daniel Mecca l'accompagnait déjà à la guitare, un fidèle jusqu'à aujourd'hui encore!
Bise à toi Brunopiafou.
Brunopiafou Brunopiafou
j aime beaucoup aussi.tres tonique.. c'est la version retenue pour l olympia 80 .. bises
A Little Less Conversation
Un enfant c'est comme çà c'est vrai magnifique aussi
Lubéron
@Brunopiafou Brunopiafou
Complètement d'accord avec toi.
Bises.
Brunopiafou Brunopiafou
merci , le debut d'un repertoire plus adapté et bien merité.
Christophe
Période Jean Albertini.. pour moi la meilleure de Michèle Torr. Merci pour cette vidéo
Brunopiafou Brunopiafou
merci christophe, je confirme , d'ailleurs le grand succes est venu avec.