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.
Les Gens Du Show Business
Michel Sardou Lyrics
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Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Les gens du show business
Juste après minuit
Pour apaiser leur tristesse
Un long carnet d'adresses
Où des filles ont écrit
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Les nuits du show business
Sont peuplées d'auditions
Et de très jolies promesses
Signées sur l'édredon
On a déjà la musique
Et l'idée de la chanson
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Elles entrent, on sait déjà
Qu'elles ont une jolie voix
Au tout premier baiser elles vont enregistrer
Et là sur la moquette elles sont déjà vedettes
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
Et puis, à mots couverts
On prend le dernier verre
Maintenant, il faut partir
J'ai besoin de dormir
À peine dans le taxi leur carrière est finie
Les gens du show business
Juste après minuit
Pour apaiser leur tristesse
Sortent de leur table de nuit
Un long carnet d'adresses
Où des filles ont écrit
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là pour vous aider
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
Je serai là pour vous aider
The song "Les Gens Du Show Business" portrays the behind-the-scenes reality of the show business world where the people who work in the field, including producers and managers, use women to satisfy their needs. The song tells the story of the women who have written their phone numbers in the long address books of these men, just to be called upon whenever a need arises. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the availability of these women to the men of show business, stating "Call me whenever you want, I'll be there whenever you want."
The second verse sheds light on the nights of show business, which are said to be filled with auditions and promises that are written on the bedsheets of hotel rooms. The music is already there and the idea for the song is there too, but what's missing is a woman to sing it. That's when the women from the long address book are called upon to come to the hotel room and record a song. They're promised stardom, and with the first kiss, they become stars. However, their careers are short-lived, and as soon as they leave the hotel room and get into a taxi, their brief moment of fame is over.
The song sheds light on the dark side of the show business world where women are exploited for the benefit of men in power. The chorus's repeated line of "Call me whenever you want, and I'll be there" emphasizes the women's availability and highlights how little value they hold beyond being at the disposal of men.
Line by Line Meaning
Appelez-moi quand vous voudrez
I am at your beck and call, just give me a ring whenever you need me
Je serai là quand vous voudrez
I will always be there for you, no matter the circumstances
Les gens du show business
The people in the entertainment industry
Juste après minuit
Late at night, usually after midnight
Pour apaiser leur tristesse
To ease their sadness or loneliness
Sortent de leur table de nuit
They take out their address book from under their pillow
Un long carnet d'adresses
A large book of contacts
Où des filles ont écrit
Where girls have written down their phone numbers
Les nuits du show business
The nights of the entertainment industry
Sont peuplées d'auditions
Are filled with auditions
Et de très jolies promesses
And very pretty promises
Signées sur l'édredon
Sealed on the bedspread
On a déjà la musique
We already have the music
Et l'idée de la chanson
And the idea for the song
Elles entrent, on sait déjà
When they enter, we already know
Qu'elles ont une jolie voix
That they have a pretty voice
Au tout premier baiser elles vont enregistrer
At the very first kiss, they will record
Et là sur la moquette elles sont déjà vedettes
And there on the carpet, they are already stars
Et puis, à mots couverts
And then, speaking in veiled terms
On prend le dernier verre
We have one last drink
Maintenant, il faut partir
Now, it's time to leave
J'ai besoin de dormir
I need to sleep
À peine dans le taxi leur carrière est finie
Their career is already over as soon as they leave in the taxi
Je serai là pour vous aider
I will be there to help you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Yves Dessca, Jacques Abel Jules Revaud, Michel Charles Sardou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind