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.
Déjà Vu
Michel Sardou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Une phrase prononcée malgré soi,
Un vol d'oiseaux au ras des pierres,
Une soirée soudain sans lumière.
On se rappelle et puis, plus rien
Sitôt que la lumière revient.
Ce sont des choses qu'on n'dit jamais.
Cette impression de déjà vu,
D'être déjà passé par là.
Je suis sûr d'avoir entendu,
Avant ce soir, cette chanson-là.
Était-ce en rêve?
Était-ce en vrai?
Je sais d'avance que je savais.
C'est un miroir qui nous renvoie
L'image inversée d'autrefois.
C'est une maman qu'on voit sourire
Entre le sommeil et dormir.
En un éclair on se souvient,
Et puis ça passe, et puis plus rien.
Ce sont des choses qu'on n'dit jamais.
D'ailleurs, personne ne nous croirait.
Cette impression de déjà vu,
D'être déjà passé par là.
Je suis sûr d'avoir entendu,
Avant ce soir, cette chanson-là.
Était-ce en rêve?
Était-ce en vrai?
Je sais d'avance que je savais.
Cette impression de déjà vu,
D'être déjà passé par là.
Je suis sûr d'avoir entendu,
Avant ce soir, cette chanson-là.
Était-ce en rêve?
Était-ce en vrai?
Je sais d'avance que je savais.
The lyrics of Michel Sardou's song Déjà Vu explore the feeling of experiencing something that feels both familiar and unknown, as if it has been lived before. The song starts off by describing a house, as a place that can hold memories that bring about this sensation of déjà vu. The imagery in the song, such as the flight of birds or a sudden darkness that envelopes a room, adds to the haunting and mysterious quality of the feeling. The lyrics also touch on the idea that some things are left unsaid, and are even harder to explain to others.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the feeling of déjà vu experienced by the singer is not just limited to physical surroundings, but rather extends to intangible things such as music. The singer recalls having heard the song before, even though they are experiencing it for the first time that night. The lyrics suggest that this sensation may be connected to a dimly remembered dream, or perhaps to some kind of premonition or foresight.
Overall, Déjà Vu is a contemplative and introspective song that explores themes of memory, perception, and the mysterious ways in which the mind works.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est une maison, c'est un endroit,
It's a house, it's a place,
Une phrase prononcée malgré soi,
A sentence spoken unconsciously,
Un vol d'oiseaux au ras des pierres,
A flock of birds flying close to the stones,
Une soirée soudain sans lumière.
An evening suddenly without light.
On se rappelle et puis, plus rien
We remember and then nothing,
Sitôt que la lumière revient.
As soon as the light comes back.
Ce sont des choses qu'on n'dit jamais.
These are things we never say.
D'ailleurs personne ne nous croirait.
Besides, no one would believe us.
Cette impression de déjà vu,
This feeling of déjà vu,
D'être déjà passé par là.
Having already been there.
Je suis sûr d'avoir entendu,
I'm sure I've heard
Avant ce soir, cette chanson-là.
That song before tonight.
Était-ce en rêve?
Was it a dream?
Était-ce en vrai?
Was it real?
Je sais d'avance que je savais.
I know in advance that I knew.
C'est un miroir qui nous renvoie
It's a mirror that reflects back to us
L'image inversée d'autrefois.
The inverted image of the past.
C'est une maman qu'on voit sourire
It's a mother we see smiling
Entre le sommeil et dormir.
Between sleep and being awake.
En un éclair on se souvient,
In a flash we remember,
Et puis ça passe, et puis plus rien.
And then it passes, and then nothing.
Cette impression de déjà vu,
This feeling of déjà vu,
D'être déjà passé par là.
Having already been there.
Je suis sûr d'avoir entendu,
I'm sure I've heard
Avant ce soir, cette chanson-là.
That song before tonight.
Était-ce en rêve?
Was it a dream?
Était-ce en vrai?
Was it real?
Je sais d'avance que je savais.
I know in advance that I knew.
Cette impression de déjà vu,
This feeling of déjà vu,
D'être déjà passé par là.
Having already been there.
Je suis sûr d'avoir entendu,
I'm sure I've heard
Avant ce soir, cette chanson-là.
That song before tonight.
Était-ce en rêve?
Was it a dream?
Était-ce en vrai?
Was it real?
Je sais d'avance que je savais.
I know in advance that I knew.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEAN PIERRE HENRI EUGEN BOURTAYRE, LAURENT BOURTAYRE, MICHEL CHARLES SARDOU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind