After having worked with the group of Vigon, Lemons, he created the group King Set in 1966 with his friend and guitarist Alain Goldstein. Two radio successes make known his voice and his talent for the rhythm: an original composition, Apesanteur (Weightlessness), in 1967, and Jezebel in 1968. His solo career began slowly with a 45t at the end of 1968 under the name of Michel Kingset, the following in 1970 under his own name. He has to wait until 1974 to find a large audience with two simultaneous "tubes": Say to me and Super Nana.
Juste une bouffée d'air pur
Michel Jonasz Lyrics
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et la vie qui passe comme un rêve
il faut l’éternité pour comprendre un regard
Les chevaux rue Brancion marchaient vers l’abattoir
et c’est mon enfance qui s’achève
le ciel si bleu d’azur la neige sur le trottoir
les reflets de lune sur la grève
Les fers battent le pavé ils disent le grand départ
le dernier jour qui s’achève
il faut savoir aimer pour comprendre un regard
J’aimerais revoir encore ces chevaux du hasard
et les instants de clarté brève
le ciel si bleu d’azur la neige sur le trottoir
Juste une bouffée d’air pur dans la douceur du soir
et la vie qui passe comme un rêve
et la vie qui passe comme un rêve
The lyrics to Michel Jonasz's song "Juste une bouffée d'air pur" describe a longing for a moment of clarity and purity in the midst of the chaos and transience of life. The title phrase, "juste une bouffée d'air pur," translates to "just a breath of fresh air," which symbolizes the singer's desire for a brief moment of respite from the overwhelming nature of existence. The first verse sets the scene of a peaceful evening, with life passing by like a dream. The line "il faut l'éternité pour comprendre un regard" emphasizes the importance and depth of human connection, suggesting that it takes an eternity to truly understand someone through their gaze.
The second verse introduces a darker image, with horses on their way to slaughter representing the singer's childhood coming to an end. Despite this, the vivid description of the blue sky and snow on the sidewalk suggests that there is still beauty to be found in the world. The repetition of "il faut l'éternité pour saisir un regard" emphasizes the complexity of human experience and the difficulty of truly understanding it.
The final verse brings the song to a close, with the sound of horseshoes hitting the pavement representing the departure of life. The line "il faut savoir aimer pour comprendre un regard" emphasizes the importance of love and empathy in understanding others. The singer expresses a longing to revisit the past and experience moments of clarity once again.
Line by Line Meaning
Juste une bouffée d’air pur dans la douceur du soir
Finding a moment of calm and purity in the tranquil evening atmosphere
et la vie qui passe comme un rêve
Reflecting on how fleeting and ephemeral life can seem
il faut l’éternité pour comprendre un regard
Realizing that truly understanding another person's gaze requires a depth of perception that can only come with timelessness
Les chevaux rue Brancion marchaient vers l’abattoir
Remembering a stark and devastating image of horses being led to slaughter
et c’est mon enfance qui s’achève
Feeling a sense of closure and finality as the memories of childhood fade
le ciel si bleu d’azur la neige sur le trottoir
Picturing a vivid scene of bright blue skies contrasting with snow-covered pavement
Il faut l’éternité pour saisir un regard
Further contemplating the deep understanding necessary to truly perceive another's gaze
les reflets de lune sur la grève
Reflecting on the subtle and evocative beauty of moonlight reflecting over a seashore
Les fers battent le pavé ils disent le grand départ
Recalling a somber and mournful moment of departure as horseshoes clatter on the pavement
le dernier jour qui s’achève
Feeling a sense of closure and finality as the ending of a significant day approaches
il faut savoir aimer pour comprendre un regard
Recognizing that the depth and breadth of love is necessary to truly understand another person's gaze
J’aimerais revoir encore ces chevaux du hasard
Longing to revisit a significant image from the past, specifically the chance encounter with those doomed horses
et les instants de clarté brève
Recalling moments of sudden and striking clarity
le ciel si bleu d’azur la neige sur le trottoir
Repeating the earlier image, perhaps as a way to reinforce its significance
Juste une bouffée d’air pur dans la douceur du soir
Ending the song with a repeat of the opening image, now imbued with a deeper sense of longing and nostalgia
et la vie qui passe comme un rêve
Closing the song with a final reflection on the impermanence of life and the way it can feel like a dream slipping away
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: MICHEL JONASZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind