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.
J
Michel Sardou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sourire un peu
Lorsque j'ai peur
Oh, je crois en Dieu
Quand je serai tout nu et tout froid
Quel que soit le lieu ou l'endroit
Avant de plonger dans la nuit
Bien sûr que je croirai en lui
Même si ça n'est pas
Vraiment celui
Que tous les prophètes
Ont promis
S'il ne ressemblait pas du tout
À ce jeune homme blond et doux
Qu'un peuple a cloué sur la croix
Au fond ça n'changerait rien pour moi
Pour avoir trop aimé le vin
Surtout les vins
Dorés du Rhin
Les filles au sang chaud du midi
Pour avoir juré et trahi
Je suis un très mauvais chrétien
J'y crois lorsque j'en ai besoin
Quand on n'pourra plus rien pour moi
Bien sûr que je croirai en toi
The lyrics of "J" by Michel Sardou testify to his belief in God despite being a "bad Christian" as he puts it. He speaks of his fear and ultimately his faith in God "Quand je serai tout nu et tout froid" - "When I am naked and cold". Sardou acknowledges that God may not be what many prophets have promised, but that doesn't matter to him. He states that his experience with drinking and women, and even his personal failures, haven't diminished his belief in God. It's only in his moments of need that he calls upon God for help, as he says "J'y crois lorsque j'en ai besoin" - "I believe when I need to".
The song may be interpreted as a confession of Sardou's beliefs in God in order to find peace and comfort in his later life. It's a recognition that despite his own flaws and shortcomings, there is still hope for his soul in the afterlife. Sardou reconciles his faith in God, despite not being a perfect Christian, and finds solace in his belief.
Line by Line Meaning
Même si ça vous fait
Sourire un peu
Lorsque j'ai peur
Oh, je crois en Dieu
Even if it makes you smile a little when I'm scared, I believe in God
Quand je serai tout nu et tout froid
Quel que soit le lieu ou l'endroit
Avant de plonger dans la nuit
Bien sûr que je croirai en lui
When I am naked and cold, no matter where or when, before I plunge into the night, I will definitely believe in him
Même si ça n'est pas
Vraiment celui
Que tous les prophètes
Ont promis
Even if he is not exactly the one that all the prophets have promised
S'il ne ressemblait pas du tout
À ce jeune homme blond et doux
Qu'un peuple a cloué sur la croix
Au fond ça n'changerait rien pour moi
Even if he did not resemble at all that young, blond and gentle man whom a people nailed to the cross, it would not change anything for me
Pour avoir trop aimé le vin
Surtout les vins
Dorés du Rhin
Les filles au sang chaud du midi
Pour avoir juré et trahi
Je suis un très mauvais chrétien
J'y crois lorsque j'en ai besoin
For having loved wine too much, especially the golden wines of the Rhine, and for having sworn and betrayed with hot-blooded girls of the Midi, I am a very bad Christian. I believe in him only when I need to
Quand on n'pourra plus rien pour moi
Bien sûr que je croirai en toi
When no one can help me anymore, of course, I will believe in you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michel Sardou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scorpius
Cette chanson aurait pu être écrite il y a 2 heures, elle serait toujours autant d'actualité si ce n'est plus encore, 40ans après. Hallucinant.
edith chesneau
Elle a été écrite en 1976 et près de 50 ans plus tard rien n'a changé.
Scorpius
@edith chesneau Exactement😉
Nicole
@Scorpius j ' ajoute qu il a interprété à l 'Olympia en 1976 avec les Chansons Les villes de solitude /je vous ai bien eus / Je suis pour / Le france / Le rire du sergent / rien et je rajoute j ' accuse
Yves Denoual
Je suis tout à fait daccord avec vous
Fran Hub
Rien ne va jamais en s'ameliorant.... :(
Catherine Pelissier
Verité inhumaine 50 ans sont passés... Ce texte fort résonne sur une planéte a l'agonie. Devin... Monsieur sardou
Alex Adam
Un texte de vérité, certains donneurs de leçons devraient l'étudier par cœur et la chanter tous les jours de leur vie
gfamad
La phrase qui conclue la chanson est incroyable. Elle termine la chanson dans une apothéose, un résumé qui a lui seul dit tout. Ce final est un coup de génie que je n'ai jamais retrouvé ailleurs. Bravo Mr Sardou !
Frédéric Roman
Mais quel puissance émanant de se personnage tellement puissant
Regarder moi cette homme qui transpire de re-dou-ta-bi-li-té !