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.
Le Chant Des Hommes
Michel Sardou Lyrics
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Reflets jaloux des yeux à l’encre noire
Aucun effort pour savoir qui nous sommes
On plait ou on ne plait jamais aux hommes
Tous ces passants ont aussi mal que toi
La peur de vivre et de n’vivre qu’une seule fois
Avoir été ne leur suffit jamais
C’est le chant des hommes
Le chagrin des hommes
Le destin qui sonne
De leur naissance jusqu’à leur fin
Des histoires des chemins
On ne sait jamais rien
On recherche une main
Entre tout et rien
Serais-je fidèle à ce que je crois
Si un jour vient le moment du choix
Si je pouvais savoir l’avenir
Serais-je meilleure ou serais-je pire
Et tous ces reves que l’on a trahis
Qu’en reste-t-il quand tout est fini
Suis-je aussi bien que mes parents me voient
Suis-je aussi fort que mes parents le croient
C’est le chant des hommes
Le chagrin des hommes
Le destin qui sonne
De leur naissance jusqu’à la fin
Mais que l’on ait mon âge ou 20 ans
Du passé ou bien du présent
Ces questions sont les memes
De tous les temps
Que l’on soit un homme une femme
Que l’on vive avec ou sans âme
On veut tous y répondre
Obstinément
Mais le cœur des hommes
La question en somme
Ce qui les fait rever
C’est le besoin d’aimer
C’est le chant des hommes
Le chagrin des hommes
Le destin qui sonne
De leur naissance jusqu’à la fin
C’est le chant des hommes
Le chemin des hommes
Le destin qui sonne
De leur naissance jusqu’à la fin
The lyrics to Michel Sardou's song Le Chant Des Hommes are a poignant reflection on the universal struggles and questions that all humans face throughout their lives, regardless of age, gender, or social status. The opening lines of the song speak to the way in which the gaze of others serves as a mirror that reflects our own fears and insecurities back at us. The song goes on to explore deeper questions about identity, the nature of existence, and the legacy that we leave behind.
One recurring theme in the song is the idea that we are all searching for something - whether it is a sense of purpose, a meaningful connection with others, or simply a sense of belonging in the world. The chorus, which repeats the phrases "c'est le chant des hommes" and "le chagrin des hommes," speaks to the shared experience of grief and longing that unites us all.
Despite the heavy themes of the song, there is also a sense of hope and resilience that runs throughout. The final lines of the song speak to the human desire for love and connection, reminding us that even in the face of life's many uncertainties, we can still find joy and meaning in the relationships that we forge with one another.
Overall, Le Chant Des Hommes is a powerful meditation on the human experience, and a testament to the enduring capacity of the human spirit to endure and overcome even the most difficult challenges of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Tous ces regards fuyant sont des miroirs
Every averted gaze is a mirror, reflecting envious black-eyed looks. We do not make an effort to know ourselves, and whether or not we please others doesn't matter
Tous ces passants ont aussi mal que toi
All of these pedestrians experience pain as well, having a fear of living and only being able to live once. Having lived before is not enough for them, and they only see what disappears
C’est le chant des hommes
This is the song of men
Des histoires des chemins
Stories of paths we do not know, searching for a guiding hand between everything and nothing
Serais-je fidèle à ce que je crois
Would I remain faithful to what I believe in if the time for choice comes?
Et tous ces reves que l’on a trahis
And all of these dreams we betrayed, what remains of them when everything is said and done?
Mais que l’on ait mon âge ou 20 ans
Whether you're my age, or twenty years old, from the past or living in the present, the questions are the same, all through the ages
Que l’on soit un homme une femme
Whether you're a man or a woman, living with or without a soul, we all want to find our own answers persistently
Mais le cœur des hommes
But the heart of men
Ce qui les fait rever
What makes them dream
C’est le besoin d’aimer
Is the need for love
Le chemin des hommes
This is the path of men
Le destin qui sonne
The destiny that echoes
De leur naissance jusqu’à la fin
From their birth to their end
Lyrics © AMS PUBLISHING, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Thierry BLANCHARD, Michel SARDOU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind