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.
Ma Première Femme Ma Femme
Michel Sardou Lyrics
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Sans revenir sur nos amours,
Elle se laisse aller à son tour
Au jeu d'une amitié fragile.
Ça se passera ou mal ou bien
Et dans le lieu qui lui convient.
Au pire on se verra pour rien,
J'ai bien peur de l'avoir perdue
Au pire moment que j'ai connu,
Celui du temps de mes débuts,
Au seuil des années difficiles.
Parce que j'avais la tête ailleurs,
Vouloir la gloire et le bonheur,
Tout ce qui s'attache au vainqueur,
Au prix d'offenses indélébiles.
J'ai beau refaire
Et redéfaire ma vie,
J'appelle toujours
Ma première femme
Ma femme.
Peut-être bien
Qu'elle aussi s'en souvient.
J'appelle toujours
Ma première femme
Ma femme.
Au fond de moi, je m'étais dit
"Quand les enfants auront grandi,
Tout se confondra dans l'oubli.
Le temps nous rendra moins hostiles."
Avec le passé, les regrets.
La plaie ne se ferme jamais.
Il y a des soirs où je me hais
Mais je me connais versatile.
J'ai beau refaire
Et redéfaire ma vie,
J'appelle toujours
Ma première femme
Ma femme.
Peut-être bien
Qu'elle aussi s'en souvient.
J'appelle toujours
Ma première femme
Ma femme.
In the song "Ma Première femme ma femme," Michel Sardou explores the complexity of emotions that one experiences after a failed relationship. He begins by expressing his wish that his ex-wife could eventually move on from the pain of their past relationship and find solace in a new friendship. He acknowledges that it may not be easy, but hopes that they can meet again and share a sense of comradery despite their past hurt.
Sardou then reflects on the regret and guilt he feels for losing his ex-wife during a difficult time in his life. He recognizes that he was focused on his own ambitions and desires, neglecting her in the process. He acknowledges that the damage he inflicted on their relationship was permanent, and despite his attempts to move on and rebuild his life, he still refers to her as his "first wife" and regards her as his own.
Throughout the song, Sardou grapples with the unresolved feelings and regrets he has for his failed marriage. He recognizes the importance of cherishing the memories and experiences they shared, even as he moves forward with his life. In the end, he remains uncertain about whether his ex-wife shares these feelings, but his love and respect for her remains intact.
Line by Line Meaning
J'aimerais qu'un matin ou un jour,
I wish that one morning or one day,
Sans revenir sur nos amours,
Without revisiting our love,
Elle se laisse aller à son tour
She will let herself go in turn
Au jeu d'une amitié fragile.
To the game of fragile friendship.
Ça se passera ou mal ou bien
It will either go well or badly
Et dans le lieu qui lui convient.
And in a place that suits her.
Au pire on se verra pour rien,
At worst we will see each other for nothing,
Nous ferons un geste inutile.
We will make an useless gesture.
J'ai bien peur de l'avoir perdue
I'm afraid I lost her
Au pire moment que j'ai connu,
At the worst moment I ever faced,
Celui du temps de mes débuts,
That time when I was starting out,
Au seuil des années difficiles.
At the threshold of difficult years.
Parce que j'avais la tête ailleurs,
Because my head was elsewhere,
Vouloir la gloire et le bonheur,
Wanting glory and happiness,
Tout ce qui s'attache au vainqueur,
All that is attached to the winner,
Au prix d'offenses indélébiles.
At the cost of unforgivable offenses.
J'ai beau refaire
I keep redoing
Et redéfaire ma vie,
And undoing my life,
J'appelle toujours
I still call
Ma première femme
My first wife
Ma femme.
My wife.
Peut-être bien
Maybe
Qu'elle aussi s'en souvient.
She also remembers.
J'appelle toujours
I still call
Ma première femme
My first wife
Ma femme.
My wife.
Au fond de moi, je m'étais dit
Deep inside, I had told myself
"Quand les enfants auront grandi,
"When the children have grown up,
Tout se confondra dans l'oubli.
Everything will merge into oblivion."
Le temps nous rendra moins hostiles."
Time will make us less hostile."
Avec le passé, les regrets.
With the past, come regrets.
La plaie ne se ferme jamais.
The wound never fully heals.
Il y a des soirs où je me hais
There are evenings where I hate myself
Mais je me connais versatile.
But I know myself to be fickle.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEAN PIERRE HENRI EUGEN BOURTAYRE, MICHEL CHARLES SARDOU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind