He was bor… Read Full Bio ↴Michel Sardou (born January 26, 1947) is a French singer.
He was born in Paris, the son of Fernand Sardou and Jackie Rollin (Jackie Sardou). Contrary to what has been written at the beginning of his career, he is not the grandson of the dramatist Victorien Sardou.
He is known for songs dealing with various social and political issues, such as the rights of women in Islamic countries, clerical celibacy and colonialism. Another sometimes controversial theme found in some of his songs ("Les Ricains," for example) is respect and support for the culture and foreign policies of the United States. Another notable fact about his career is that he has focused his full attention on his homeland, ignoring the prospect of an international audience, although his 1981 single "Les lacs du Connemara" did manage to become a big international hit. A number of his hit songs were written in collaboration with Jacques Revaux, a few others (most notably "En chantant") with Italian singer Toto Cutugno.
Even in the 21st century, Michel Sardou remains immensely popular in France, selling out 18 consecutive dates at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in 2001, while his 2004 album "Du plaisir" went straight to the no. 1 spot on the French album charts.
He has been married three times, first to a French dancer, then to Babette (the mother of his children) and lastly to an lifelong friend who edits the French version of Vogue.
He is currently (2023) at the center of a controversy over a song he wrote fifty years ago: the lakes of Connemara. Juliette Armanet, a French pop starlet answering a question about a song that would made her leave a party and it was LES LACS DU CONNEMARA. Sardou, an idol of the French right, in spite of himself, is stuck between the left which finds him corny and the right which does not support that one attacks its institutions. Music is a strong force and nobody fights harder than those who LOVE certain songs. Amazingly this song has nothing to do with politics.
Atmosphères
Michel Sardou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un flic au commissariat
Une République un syndicat
Qu'il y ait un bout du tunnel qu'il n'y en ait pas
Une mère pour pleurer sur moi
Ca m'fait d'la peine mais je n'y pense pas
C'est d'quel côté la mer
Atmosphères atmosphères
J'ai le vol du bourdon
L'idée qu'il y ait un camp du bien et du mal
Une balance au tribunal
Une étendue un vertical
Qu'il y ait des hommes assez fous pour croire tout çà
Trouver du boulot pour moi
Ca m'fait plaisir mais je n'y pense pas
C'est d'quel côté la mer
A quelle heure est l'avion
J'suis dans un rocking chair
En points de suspension
C'est d'quel côté la mer
Mon passeport est bidon
Atmosphères atmosphères
J'ai le vol du bourdon
J'ai dans la tête des rêveries d'enfant qui planent
J'ai pas dû tirer l' gros lot
J'tire jamais rien sauf des bécanes
J'déboule en ville en visant bien les poubelles
J'fais l'malin devant les filles
Jamais les vraies jamais les belles
C'est d'quel côté la mer
A quelle heure est l'avion
Voyage en solitaire
Dans le bleu d'un lagon
C'est d'quel côté la mer
Mon passeport est bidon
Atmosphères atmosphères
J'ai le vol du bourdon
C'est d'quel côté la mer
A quelle heure est l'avion
J'suis dans un rocking chair
En points de suspension
C'est par où la sortie
Faut qu'j'm'arrache en urgence
Aux questions de survie
J'ai une question d'avance
The song "Atmosphères" by Michel Sardou is a contemplation of the complexity of life and the uncertainty that comes with it. The lyrics explore the conflicting ideas that exist in the world - the existence of God and the absence of God, the presence of good and evil, the justice system versus the individual, and the necessity of work and the indifference towards it. These thoughts are juxtaposed with the seemingly trivial concerns of everyday life such as the direction of the sea, flight schedules, and the comfort of a rocking chair.
The first stanza talks about the conflicting ideas of good and evil, the existence of God, and the justice system. The singer is aware of the concept of a higher power and the need for justice but also acknowledges the existence of corruption and the presence of individuals who believe in the absurd. The second stanza reflects the singer's self-awareness and detachment from reality. He asks trivial questions, and his only concern seems to be his personal comfort. The third stanza conveys the singer's childhood dreams but also alludes to his failure and lack of achievement, which is apparent in his trivial behavior.
The chorus of the song talks about the singer's confusion and indecisiveness in life. The buzzing sound of a bee (the "vol du bourdon") represents the singer's anxiety and lack of focus, as he drifts in and out of thoughts, unable to settle on a particular idea.
Overall, "Atmosphères" is a reflective song that portrays the complexity of life and the difficulty in finding meaning and direction.
Line by Line Meaning
L'idée qu'il y ait un Bon Dieu qu'il n'y en ait pas
Contemplating the possibility of a God's existence or non-existence
Un flic au commissariat
A police officer stationed at the station
Une République un syndicat
A country governed by a Republic, with labor unions
Qu'il y ait un bout du tunnel qu'il n'y en ait pas
Hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel while acknowledging there may not be any
Une mère pour pleurer sur moi
A mother to cry over me
Ca m'fait d’la peine mais je n’y pense pas
It makes me sad but I try not to dwell on it
C'est d'quel côté la mer
Which way is the sea?
A quelle heure est l'avion
What time is the plane?
Atmosphères atmosphères
Atmospheres, moods
J'ai le vol du bourdon
I feel light and buzzing, like the flight of a bumblebee
L'idée qu'il y ait un camp du bien et du mal
The concept of an absolute good and evil
Une balance au tribunal
Having a balance scale in a court of law
Une étendue un vertical
A vast, vertical space
Qu'il y ait des hommes assez fous pour croire tout çà
Acknowledging that some people believe in such things, despite finding it crazy
Trouver du boulot pour moi
Finding work for me
Ca m'fait plaisir mais je n'y pense pas
It makes me happy, but I try not to dwell on it
J'suis dans un rocking chair
I'm in a rocking chair
En points de suspension
With a sense of anticipation, as if awaiting something unknown
Mon passeport est bidon
My passport is fake
J'ai dans la tête des rêveries d'enfant qui planent
Having childlike fantasies floating around in my head
J'ai pas dû tirer l' gros lot
I must not have won the big prize
J'tire jamais rien sauf des bécanes
I never accomplish anything but motorcycles
J'déboule en ville en visant bien les poubelles
Arriving in the city and aiming for the trash cans
J'fais l'malin devant les filles
Trying to impress girls with my behavior
Jamais les vraies jamais les belles
Never the real ones, never the pretty ones
Voyage en solitaire
Traveling alone
Dans le bleu d'un lagon
In the blue of a lagoon
C'est par où la sortie
Which way is the exit?
Faut qu'j'm'arrache en urgence
I need to get out of here urgently
Aux questions de survie
Facing questions of survival
J'ai une question d'avance
I have a question already prepared
Contributed by Ethan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.