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.
Préservation
Michel Sardou Lyrics
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Un soir marchant dans Bourbon Street
Entre une boutique de frites
Et un bordel béant,
J'ai lu avec stupéfaction,
Préservation, préservation.
Préservation de qui, de quoi?
De vieux musiciens de jazz
Aux allures un peu nases,
Des gens d'une autre génération?
Préservation, préservation.
J'ai surtout vu quatre vieillards,
A moitié blancs, moitié noirs,
Jouant, swinguant comme à 20 ans
Le ragtime du bon vieux temps.
Le pianiste était centenaire.
Il ressemblait à Fats Waller,
De beaux cheveux blancs laineux,
Cultivant la note bleue,
Avec délice avec passion,
Préservation, préservation.
Dans une soucoupe sur le piano,
Deux dollars pour Jéricho,
Deux dollars plus cinquante cents,
Pour ce sacré "When the saints".
A la Nouvelle Orléans,
Un soir marchant dans Bourbon Street
Entre une boutique de frites
Et un bordel béant,
J'ai lu avec stupéfaction
Préservation,
Préservation,
Préservation.
The song "Préservation" by Michel Sardou tells the story of a walk through the streets of New Orleans on Bourbon Street. The singer comes across an unexpected sight - a sign reading "Preservation" - and wonders what exactly it is that needs to be preserved. They imagine a packed room full of old jazz musicians, looking a little worse for wear but still playing their hearts out. In particular, they notice four old men - half white and half black - playing ragtime music with the energy and enthusiasm of men half their age. The singer is struck by the pianist, who is said to be over 100 years old and resembling the great Fats Waller. Despite his old age, the pianist is still able to create beautiful music and seem to be totally consumed by his passion for the blues.
Through this story, Sardou is likely trying to convey the idea that certain things - like the traditions and music of New Orleans - are worth preserving. The singer is amazed by the energy and joy that the old jazz musicians possess, even in their old age. Sardou may be suggesting that these musicians are a symbol of the history and culture of the city, and that it is important to take care of and value these traditions in order to keep them alive for future generations.
Line by Line Meaning
A la Nouvelle Orléans,
I was in New Orleans,
Un soir marchant dans Bourbon Street
Walking down Bourbon Street one evening
Entre une boutique de frites
Between a French fries shop
Et un bordel béant,
And a wide-open brothel,
J'ai lu avec stupéfaction,
I read with amazement
Préservation, préservation.
Preservation, preservation.
Préservation de qui, de quoi?
Preservation of whom or what?
D'une salle pleine à craquer,
Maybe a crowded room,
De vieux musiciens de jazz
Old jazz musicians,
Aux allures un peu nases,
Looking a bit worn out,
Des gens d'une autre génération?
People from another generation?
Préservation, préservation.
Preservation, preservation.
J'ai surtout vu quatre vieillards,
But what caught my eye were four old men,
A moitié blancs, moitié noirs,
Half white, half black,
Jouant, swinguant comme à 20 ans
Playing and swinging like they were 20,
Le ragtime du bon vieux temps.
The ragtime of the good old days.
Le pianiste était centenaire.
The pianist was a hundred years old.
Il ressemblait à Fats Waller,
He looked like Fats Waller,
De beaux cheveux blancs laineux,
With beautiful woolly white hair,
Cultivant la note bleue,
Cultivating the blues note,
Avec délice avec passion,
With delight and passion,
Préservation, préservation.
Preservation, preservation.
Dans une soucoupe sur le piano,
On the piano, in a saucer,
Deux dollars pour Jéricho,
Two dollars for Jericho,
Deux dollars plus cinquante cents,
Two dollars plus fifty cents,
Pour ce sacré "When the saints".
For that great song 'When the Saints'.
A la Nouvelle Orléans,
I was in New Orleans,
Un soir marchant dans Bourbon Street
Walking down Bourbon Street one evening
Entre une boutique de frites
Between a French fries shop
Et un bordel béant,
And a wide-open brothel,
J'ai lu avec stupéfaction
I read with amazement
Préservation,
Preservation,
Préservation,
Preservation,
Préservation.
Preservation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACQUES ABEL JULES REVAUD, MICHEL CHARLES SARDOU, PIERRE DELANOE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind