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.
Du Plaisir
Michel Sardou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les mauvais souvenirs
J'ai pris du plaisir
J'ai tout connu
Le meilleur et le pire
J'ai pris du plaisir
Qu'elles aient été
Et belles à mourir
Même si certaines
M'ont rendu malheureux
Ce fut un plaisir
Du plaisir, du plaisir
Si simple et si vrai
Du plaisir, du plaisir
Et mourir après
A chaque porte
Difficile à ouvrir
J'ai pris du plaisir
Oser parler
Quitte à me faire haïr
J'ai pris du plaisir
A chaque marche
Qu'il me fallait gravir
Mais sans me trahir
A chaque page
Qui se laissait noircir
J'ai pris du plaisir
Du plaisir, du plaisir
Si simple et si vrai
Du plaisir, du plaisir
Et mourir après
Sur chaque ride que tracent mes souvenirs
Reste le plaisir
Savoir recevoir même apprendre à offrir
Encore du plaisir
Toutes ces notes impossibles à chanter
J'ai pris du plaisir
Pouvoir m'excuser autant que pardonner
J'y prends du plaisir
Être là ce soir et pouvoir vous le dire
Ça me fait plaisir
The song "Du Plaisir" by Michel Sardou speaks to the value of pleasure in one's life. The first verse speaks to the idea that one can experience both happy and sad moments in life but still derive pleasure from them. The second verse highlights the idea that pleasure can come from taking risks and testing oneself, as indicated by the references to difficult doors and climbing stairs. The chorus reinforces the simplicity and truth of pleasure and even suggests that dying after experiencing it would be satisfactory.
The third verse expands on the idea that pleasure can be found in skillfully navigating tricky interpersonal situations such as apologizing and forgiving, and how these experiences can be joyful. The final verse brings the song full circle by reflecting that memories of pleasure remain when all else may be forgotten. Ultimately, the song suggests that pleasure is a valuable reminder of the richness of one's life experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Les jours heureux
Referring to happy days, the good times of life
Les mauvais souvenirs
Pointing to the bad memories, the negative aspects of life
J'ai pris du plaisir
Implying that he received enjoyment despite the ups and downs of life
J'ai tout connu
Expressing that he experienced everything that life has to offer
Le meilleur et le pire
Conveying having gone through the best and the worst aspects of life
Qu'elles aient été
Indicating that certain women, despite their personality traits or life experiences, provided him with pleasure
Ou de glace ou de feu
Acknowledging the wide range of personalities the women had
Et belles à mourir
Highlighting that these women were stunningly beautiful
Même si certaines
Even though some of these women had a negative impact on him
M'ont rendu malheureux
Suggesting that his interaction with certain women brought him to unhappiness
Ce fut un plaisir
Despite any issues, he still found pleasure in his interactions with these women
Du plaisir, du plaisir
Reiterating that the enjoyment he received was simple and true
Si simple et si vrai
Affirming that the pleasure he experienced was not complicated
Et mourir après
Indicating that he would be content with death following these experiences
A chaque porte
Referring to every opportunity or challenge in his life
Difficile à ouvrir
Implying that these opportunities were challenging to attain
J'ai pris du plaisir
Expressing that despite the difficulties, he still found pleasure in his experiences
Oser parler
Acknowledging that speaking his mind was challenging for him
Quitte à me faire haïr
Referring to the negative consequences of being honest and authentic
A chaque marche
Pointing to his personal growth, moving up the ladder of life
Qu'il me fallait gravir
Referring to the challenges and obstacles he needed to overcome
Mais sans me trahir
Highlighting that he remained authentic, true to himself
A chaque page
Referring to each chapter in his life
Qui se laissait noircir
Referring to the opportunities he had to write his life story
Du plaisir, du plaisir
Reiterating that he enjoyed every moment despite the challenges
Sur chaque ride que tracent mes souvenirs
Pointing to memories that serve as a reminder of a life lived
Reste le plaisir
Suggesting that despite age or memory, the pleasure associated with those memories lingers
Savoir recevoir même apprendre à offrir
Learning to give and take in life, finding pleasure in both
Encore du plaisir
Stating that he still experienced pleasure in his life
Toutes ces notes impossibles à chanter
Referring to difficult moments in his life, challenging to overcome
J'ai pris du plaisir
Expressing that despite the difficulties, he still found pleasure in his experiences
Pouvoir m'excuser autant que pardonner
Referring to the importance of forgiveness and the pleasure of making amends
J'y prends du plaisir
Suggesting that finding pleasure in forgiveness and making amends is rewarding
Etre là ce soir et pouvoir vous le dire
Acknowledging the importance of being present in the moment and expressing oneself
Ca me fait plaisir
Expressing sincere pleasure in being able to communicate these thoughts
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: J KAPLER, MICHEL SARDOU, THIERRY BLANCHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind