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.
I Balli Populari
Michel Sardou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il giovane operaio di tutte le cita
La sera giorni festa a ballare se ne va
Verete rientro il ballo stringente forte a se
La solida rachela con i occhiolini pinti in blu
Girono e come girono tu l'ho vedrai
Amico vieni anche tu
Potrai guardare e scherzare
Sui balli popolari
Bevi un bicchiere
E un altro ancora se ti va
C'e sempre chi paghera
Ai novi amici che ti fai ai balli popolari
Se il tango della nonna
L'orchestra suonera
Vedrai ogni ragazza
Anche da solla ballera
Ma ognuno se ne infischia
Di cio che l'altro fa
E senza complimento
Molto meglio ti vera
Girono e come girono tu l'ho vedrai
Amico vieni anche tu
Tra noi se tu ti ragiungi
Potrai guardare e scherzare
Sui balli popolari
Bevi un bicchiere
E un altro ancora se ti va
C'e sempre chi paghera
Ai novi amici che ti fai ai balli popolari
Ognuno vuole sentire
La sua canzone ma
L'orchestra suona sempre
Solo quello che sa fa
E quando a mezzanotte
Il barman dorma gia
C'e ancora una coppietta
Che da sole girera
Girono e come girono tu l'ho vedrai
Amico vieni anche tu
Tra noi se tu ti ragiungi
Potrai guardare e scherzare
Sui balli popolari
Bevi un bicchiere
E un altro ancora se ti va
C'e sempre chi paghera
Ai novi amici che ti fai ai balli popolari
La la la...
In Michel Sardou's song "I Balli Populari," the singer describes a night spent at a popular dance event. The setting is a festive occasion in a city where a young worker goes out to dance. He informs the audience that when he returned, he danced extensively with the pretty Rachel who had painted blue eyes. He invites his friend to come and join them as they watch and joke around during the popular dances. As they drink and socialize, their new friends offer to pay for their drinks. He also reveals that each person wants to hear their favorite song, even though the orchestra plays only what they know how to do. The night continues until the barman falls asleep, and the dance floor is empty except for one couple still dancing.
The song's lyrics reveal the simplicity and joy of popular dance, emphasizing that the goal is to have fun while sharing common experiences. People, regardless of their backgrounds, come together to enjoy and celebrate in shared cultural practices. The singer encourages the audience to join in and enjoy the party, irrespective of their skills or status, as everyone participating is accepted without judgment.
Overall, the song I Balli Populari is a tribute to the universal joy of gathering and celebrating through dance. It is a song that emphasizes acceptance, fun, and emotional connections. No one is left out, and everyone is welcomed, regardless of their differences.
Line by Line Meaning
Il giovane operaio di tutte le cita
The young worker from all the cities
La sera giorni festa a ballare se ne va
Goes to dance on festive evenings
Verete rientro il ballo stringente forte a se
Will return with the dance strongly tight to oneself
La solida rachela con i occhiolini pinti in blu
The solid Rachel with blue painted eyelets
Girono e come girono tu l'ho vedrai
They spin and as they spin you will see
Amico vieni anche tu
Friend, come along too
Tra noi se tu ti ragiungi
Among us if you join us
Potrai guardare e scherzare
You can watch and joke around
Sui balli popolari
At the folk dances
Bevi un bicchiere
Drink a glass
E un altro ancora se ti va
And another one if you want
C'e sempre chi paghera
There's always someone who will pay
Ai novi amici che ti fai ai balli popolari
For the new friends you make at the folk dances
Se il tango della nonna L'orchestra suonera
If the grandmother's tango is played by the orchestra
Vedrai ogni ragazza Anche da solla ballera
You'll see every girl even dancing alone
Ma ognuno se ne infischia Di cio che l'altro fa
But everyone doesn't care about what others do
E senza complimento Molto meglio ti vera
And without any fuss, you'll have a better time
Ognuno vuole sentire La sua canzone ma
Everyone wants to hear their own song but
L'orchestra suona sempre Solo quello che sa fa
The orchestra always plays what it knows how to do
E quando a mezzanotte Il barman dorma gia
And when at midnight the bartender is already asleep
C'e ancora una coppietta Che da sole girera
There's still a couple that will dance alone
La la la...
Contributed by Samantha N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TikTokFunny
En italien mais il nous surprend a chaque fois
Rémi
Il giovane operaio di tutte le cita
La sera giorni festa a ballare se ne va
Verete rientro il ballo stringente forte a se
La solida rachela con i occhiolini pinti in blu
Girono e come girono tu l'ho vedrai
Amico vieni anche tu
Tra noi se tu ti ragiungi
Potrai guardare e scherzare
Sui balli popolari
Bevi un bicchiere
E un altro ancora se ti va
C'e sempre chi paghera
Ai novi amici che ti fai ai balli popolari
Se il tango della nonna
L'orchestra suonera
Vedrai ogni ragazza
Anche da solla ballera
Ma ognuno se ne infischia
Di cio che l'altro fa
E senza complimento
Molto meglio ti vera
Girono e come girono tu l'ho vedrai
Amico vieni anche tu
Tra noi se tu ti ragiungi
Potrai guardare e scherzare
Sui balli popolari
Bevi un bicchiere
E un altro ancora se ti va
C'e sempre chi paghera
Ai novi amici che ti fai ai balli popolari
Ognuno vuole sentire
La sua canzone ma
L'orchestra suona sempre
Solo quello che sa fa
E quando a mezzanotte
Il «barman» dorma gia
C'e ancora una coppietta
Che da sole girera
Girono e come girono tu l'ho vedrai
Amico vieni anche tu
Tra noi se tu ti ragiungi
Potrai guardare e scherzare
Sui balli popolari
Bevi un bicchiere
E un altro ancora se ti va
C'e sempre chi paghera
Ai novi amici che ti fai ai balli popolari
La la la...