Michel Sardou (born January 26, 1947) is a French singer.

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.

Casino
Michel Sardou Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

J'ai eu des illusions et puis des certitudes
Et, comme au casino, j'ai tout perdu d'un coup
Le rouge au lieu du noir, le mauvais numéro
Le quart d'heure du chanceux et, tout à coup, le trou

Lorsque j'étais enfant, j'étais admiratif
On me croyait idiot parce qu'inoffensif
C'est comme au casino, deux paires, c'est rien du tout

Mais ca ramasse un pot et beaucoup de jaloux

Et puis j'ai joué l'amour, un jeu épouvantable
J'ai misé sur toujours et banco sur la table
Mais, comme au casino, la boule va où elle veut
Le tapis était vert, elle avait les yeux bleus

À n'importe quel âge, la gloire est un problème
On le résout toujours en brûlant ceux qu'on aime
C'est comme au casino, on joue la martingale
Et puis sort le zéro et le rideau final

Et puis sort le zéro et le rideau final

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michel Sardou's song "Casino" convey the idea that life can be compared to a game of chance played in a casino. The singer had illusions and certainties, but they vanished all of a sudden, just like when you lose everything after a single wrong bet. The references to the colors (red instead of black) and the numbers chosen (the wrong one) express the idea that our choices in life can lead us to failure. The mention of the lucky guy who suddenly disappears reinforces this idea.

The song also makes a comparison between the game of chance and some aspects of human relationships. The singer mentions his belief in love, which he considered a horrible game played by rules that are beyond his control. Even though he had hopes of a lasting relationship, life decided otherwise, as he metaphorically mentions the ball going wherever it wants, regardless of his expectations. The reference to the green table and the blue eyes of his lover denote the idea of a beautiful dream, which unfortunately did not come true.

The final words of the song refer to the fame, which like the game of chance, can make you win or lose. People solve the problem of fame by blaming and burning those they love, just like in a casino, where players try to outsmart fate until the final curtain falls. The overall message of the song is that life can be compared to a game of chance in which we can win or lose, but ultimately we all end up with the number zero.

Line by Line Meaning

J'ai eu des illusions
I once had illusions and dreams

Et puis des certitudes
But then I became certain of things

Et, comme au casino,
And just like in a casino,

J'ai tout perdu d'un coup.
I lost everything in one go.

Le rouge au lieu du noir,
I chose red instead of black,

Le mauvais numéro,
I picked the wrong number,

Le quart d'heure du chanceux
I had a lucky moment,

Et, tout à coup le trou.
But then suddenly I was out of luck.

Lorsque j'étais enfant,
When I was a child,

J'étais admiratif.
I was full of admiration.

On me croyait idiot
But people thought I was foolish