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.
Monsieur Menard
Michel Sardou Lyrics
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Agrégé de sciences naturelles,
Ni beau, ni laid, ni gros, ni grand,
C'est un célibataire modèle.
Monsieur Ménard sort du lycée,
Une serviette en cuir à la main.
Il s'est fait un peu chahuter.
Ils sont pas marrants, les gamins.
Entre Ménard et ses élèves,
C'est entre la haine et l'amour,
Entre le cauchemar et le rêve,
Entre le fer et le velours.
Monsieur Ménard a 50 ans.
Il se sent pourtant un vieil homme.
C'est vrai que, depuis tout ce temps,
Il n'a rien appris à personne.
C'était un jour, en terminale,
Pour une histoire assez banale,
J'ai cru qu'il allait me frapper,
Alors j'ai cogné le premier.
J'ai donné un grand coup de tête,
Pour frimer devant les copains.
Je lui ai cassé ses lunettes.
Ils sont pas marrants, les gamins.
Monsieur Ménard est maintenant
Un professeur à la retraite.
Il doit vieillir paisiblement
Et il m'a oublié peut-être,
Mais moi je n'oublierai jamais.
Ses bons yeux tristes dans les miens,
Ses bons yeux tristes qui disaient,
"Ils sont pas marrants les gamins,
Ils sont pas marrants les gamins.
The song Monsieur Ménard by Michel Sardou talks about a 50-year-old teacher named Monsieur Ménard who teaches natural sciences. He is an average-looking man who is not married, and he carries a leather briefcase. Monsieur Ménard has a difficult time with his students, as they are often disrespectful towards him. The relationship between Monsieur Ménard and his students is complex, as the lyrics state that it is between hate and love, nightmare and dream, iron and velvet. The lyrics also suggest that Monsieur Ménard has not been able to impart any knowledge to his students in all those years.
The song then goes on to describe a specific incident between Ménard and one of his students. The student, who is the singer of the song, describes how he thought Ménard was going to hit him, so he hit him first and broke his glasses. The incident has stayed with the student, and he remembers Ménard's sad and lonely eyes that seemed to say, "They are not funny, these kids."
Overall, the song Monsieur Ménard talks about the complexities of the student-teacher relationship and the challenges that certain teachers face in their profession. It highlights the fact that sometimes, despite a teacher's best efforts, they may not be able to connect with their students or impart knowledge effectively.
Line by Line Meaning
Monsieur Ménard a 50 ans,
Mr. Menard is fifty years old,
Agrégé de sciences naturelles,
He has an advanced degree in natural sciences,
Ni beau, ni laid, ni gros, ni grand,
He is neither handsome nor ugly, nor fat nor tall,
C'est un célibataire modèle.
He is a model bachelor.
Monsieur Ménard sort du lycée,
Mr. Menard leaves the high school,
Une serviette en cuir à la main.
Carrying a leather briefcase.
Il s'est fait un peu chahuter.
He's been teased a bit.
Ils sont pas marrants, les gamins.
The kids aren't funny.
Entre Ménard et ses élèves,
Between Menard and his students,
C'est entre la haine et l'amour,
There is love and hate,
Entre le cauchemar et le rêve,
Between a nightmare and a dream,
Entre le fer et le velours.
Between iron and velvet.
Monsieur Ménard a 50 ans.
Mr. Menard is fifty years old.
Il se sent pourtant un vieil homme.
However, he feels old.
C'est vrai que, depuis tout ce temps,
It's true that, all this time,
Il n'a rien appris à personne.
He hasn't taught anyone anything.
C'était un jour, en terminale,
It was one day, in senior year,
Pour une histoire assez banale,
For a quite ordinary story,
J'ai cru qu'il allait me frapper,
I thought he was going to hit me,
Alors j'ai cogné le premier.
So I hit him first.
J'ai donné un grand coup de tête,
I gave him a big headbutt,
Pour frimer devant les copains.
To show off in front of my friends.
Je lui ai cassé ses lunettes.
I broke his glasses.
Ils sont pas marrants, les gamins.
The kids aren't funny.
Monsieur Ménard est maintenant
Mr. Menard is now
Un professeur à la retraite.
A retired professor.
Il doit vieillir paisiblement
He must age peacefully,
Et il m'a oublié peut-être,
And perhaps he's forgotten me,
Mais moi je n'oublierai jamais.
But I'll never forget.
Ses bons yeux tristes dans les miens,
His kind, sad eyes in mine,
Ses bons yeux tristes qui disaient,
His kind, sad eyes said,
"Ils sont pas marrants les gamins,
"The kids aren't funny,
Ils sont pas marrants les gamins."
"The kids aren't funny."
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHEL CHARLES SARDOU, PIERRE DELANOE, PIERRE JEAN MAURICE BILLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind