Happy Birthday
Michel Sardou Lyrics

The lyrics of Michel Sardou's song "Happy Birthday" paint a vivid picture of a glamorous and opulent world, defined by the icons of popular culture and the fleeting pleasures of excess. The first verse evokes a sense of nostalgia for a time when the voices of Frank Sinatra and the image of Madonna's skirt passing by on the radio evoked a sense of excitement and possibility. The mention of Hollywood and Monaco, places synonymous with wealth and fame, adds to this atmosphere of extravagance. Yet, as the verse progresses, the tone shifts, and the scent of "poudre" (powder) suggests a darker, more sinister underbelly to this world of casinos and cocktail parties.

The second verse contrasts sharply with the first, as the dreamlike quality of the earlier imagery gives way to a more harsh and disillusioned reality. The sunsets of autumn are no longer a source of wonder, and even the newspapers, which once seemed to hold the promise of adventure and romance, now cynically seek to cut down those who aspire to greatness. The mention of "gosses" (kids) hints at the naivety that underpins the glittering facade of this world, a naivety that the adults in charge are all too willing to exploit.

Throughout the song, Sardou conveys a sense of the transience and fragility of the pleasures of the life he describes. The contrast between the island paradise of the Grenadines and the broken glass and shattered dreams of the second verse highlights this theme. Ultimately, the chorus seems to suggest that all this excess and spectacle is futile, as the singer acknowledges that his time is running out, and even the memories of yesterday are slipping away.