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.

Espérer
Michel Sardou Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Si tu es différent de tous ceux qui s'accrochent aux tarots, au bon dieu
L'horizon n'est pas loin, tu en verras la fin
Tu iras mieux

Si le monde ne va pas où tu vas
Si la vie n'est pas celle que tu crois
Si nulle part où aller, si personne à aimer que la nuit devant toi

Espérer, parce que la terre est belle
Quand une étoile s'éteint, elle n'éteint pas le ciel
Espérer, et encore et encore
A fatiguer la mort, à la faire hésiter

Si les hommes te font peur, te font taire
Parce qu'ils aiment juste l'amour à faire
Même si rien n'est normal, même si tout est fatal
C'est la vie, c'est l'enfer

Espérer, parce que ça vaut la peine
C'est pas toujours la haine, c'est aussi de l'amour
Espérer, parce que tu es en vie
Même si t'as pas choisi, ni l'endroit, ni le jour

Espérer, parce que la terre est belle
Quand une étoile s'éteint, elle n'éteint pas le ciel
Espérer, espère avec ton cœur
La réponse est en toi, la question est ailleurs

Espérer
Espérer

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michel Sardou's "Espérer" exude positivity and hope in the face of the various challenges of life. The song encourages listeners to believe in themselves even if they feel different from those around them. The opening line "Si tu es différent de tous ceux qui s'accrochent aux tarots, au bon dieu" translates to "If you are different from everyone else who clings to fortune telling, to God." Sardou is telling the listener that being different can be a good thing, and they should not be discouraged by the societal norms that surround them.

The song's central message revolves around the notion of hope. The lyrics suggest that even if things seem bleak and the future is uncertain, it is important to keep hoping for the best. Throughout the song, Sardou stresses the importance of perseverance and persistence. He encourages the listener to never give up, even when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This is epitomized in the chorus, which repeats "Espérer, et encore et encore/A fatiguer la mort, à la faire hésiter," meaning "Hope, and again and again/To tire death, to make it hesitate."

In conclusion, Michel Sardou's "Espérer" is a song of hope and encouragement. It tells listeners to believe in themselves and never give up, even when the odds seem insurmountable. The message of perseverance and the need for hope in the face of adversity makes this song a timeless classic that still resonates with people today.

Line by Line Meaning

Si tu es différent de tous ceux qui s'accrochent aux tarots, au bon dieu
If you are different from those who cling to tarot cards and to God

L'horizon n'est pas loin, tu en verras la fin
The horizon is not far away, you will see the end of it

Tu iras mieux
You will get better

Si le monde ne va pas où tu vas
If the world does not go where you are going

Si la vie n'est pas celle que tu crois
If life is not what you think it is

Si nulle part où aller, si personne à aimer que la nuit devant toi
If there is nowhere to go, no one to love, only the night ahead of you

Espérer, parce que la terre est belle
Hope, because the earth is beautiful

Quand une étoile s'éteint, elle n'éteint pas le ciel
When a star goes out, it does not extinguish the sky

Espérer, et encore et encore
Hope, again and again

A fatiguer la mort, à la faire hésiter
To tire out death, to make it hesitate

Si les hommes te font peur, te font taire
If men scare you, silence you

Parce qu'ils aiment juste l'amour à faire
Because they only love to make love

Même si rien n'est normal, même si tout est fatal
Even if nothing is normal, even if everything is fatal

C'est la vie, c'est l'enfer
It is life, it is hell

Espérer, parce que ça vaut la peine
Hope, because it is worth it

C'est pas toujours la haine, c'est aussi de l'amour
It is not always hatred, it is also love

Espérer, parce que tu es en vie
Hope, because you are alive

Même si t'as pas choisi, ni l'endroit, ni le jour
Even if you did not choose the place or the day

Espérer, espère avec ton cœur
Hope, hope with your heart

La réponse est en toi, la question est ailleurs
The answer is within you, the question is elsewhere

Espérer
Hope

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVY SARDOU, FLORENT BIDOYEN, MICHEL SARDOU, THIERRY BLANCHARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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