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.
Quand Je Serai Vieux
Michel Sardou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je serai teigneux comme un chien
Et méchant exigeant emmerdant
Je casserai ma canne sur les chevelus
Les barbus les chanteurs et les musiciens
Des vauriens
Mais chaque fois que j'en aurai le temps
Entre un calva et un petit blanc
C'était autre chose d'avoir vingt ans
Qu'on n'était pas comme ces blancs-becs
Malades au dix-huitième cul sec
Quand je serai vieux
Je serai sous mes cheveux blancs
Egoïste anarchiste emmerdant
Je montrerai mes fesses à la gendarmerie
Aux barbus aux maires aux élus du pays
Des brebis
Mais chaque fois que j'en aurai le temps
Entre un calva et un petit blanc
Je referai l'histoire de France
De Charles de Gaulle à Mendès France
Et si personne ne m'interrompt
Je mettrai sur le trône un Bourbon
Quand je serai vieux
J'aurai des petits-enfants
Mes gamins mes copains mes garçons
Je n'avouerai qu'à eux ce qui a fait ma vie
Mes chansons mes folies et mes femmes aussi
Des jolies
Mais chaque fois que j'en aurai le temps
Entre un calva et un petit blanc
Je leur montrerai la grand-mère
Qui m'a subi sa vie entière
Et si y'en a un qui rigole
J' te jure que j'lui mets une torgnole
Comme au temps du vieux temps
Du bon temps
Oh si y'en a un qui rigole
J'te jure que j'lui mets une torgnole
Comme au temps
Du bon temps
De mon temps
The lyrics of "Quand Je Serai Vieux" by Michel Sardou represent the perspective of an old man looking back on his life. He proclaims that when he is old, he will be cantankerous and demanding, much like a dog, and will take pleasure in causing trouble for those around him. He talks about breaking his cane on the heads of people he dislikes, such as bearded musicians and singers, and criticizes the current state of young people. He laments that things were different when he was young, and reminisces about his younger days.
Despite his grumpiness, the old man still intends to enjoy his twilight years, indulging in his favorite alcoholic beverages and telling stories about the past. He plans to regale anyone who will listen with tales of France's history, from Charles de Gaulle to Mendès France, and he even dreams of restoring the Bourbon monarchy to the throne.
Finally, the old man reflects on his family and the legacy he will leave behind. He says he will reveal his secret life to his grandchildren and teach them about their grandmother, who he believes has endured his eccentricities throughout their marriage. He warns, however, that anyone who laughs at him or his stories will face physical retribution, just like in the old days.
Overall, the song is a nostalgic lament for the past, mixed with a grumpy acceptance of the present, and a stubborn refusal to change even in old age.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand je serai vieux
When I grow old
Je serai teigneux comme un chien
I'll be as grumpy as a dog
Et méchant exigeant emmerdant
And I'll be mean, demanding, and annoying
Je casserai ma canne sur les chevelus
I'll break my cane over the heads of young people
Les barbus les chanteurs et les musiciens
Bearded men, singers, and musicians alike
Des vauriens
Those scoundrels
Mais chaque fois que j'en aurai le temps
But every time I have the chance
Entre un calva et un petit blanc
Between a calvados and a white wine
Je raconterai qu'il y a cinquante ans
I'll tell them it was different fifty years ago
C'était autre chose d'avoir vingt ans
It was a whole different experience to be twenty years old
Qu'on n'était pas comme ces blancs-becs
That we weren't like those inexperienced younglings
Malades au dix-huitième cul sec
Drunk on their eighteenth drink
Je serai sous mes cheveux blancs
Under my white hair
Egoïste anarchiste emmerdant
Selfish, anarchist, and annoying
Je montrerai mes fesses à la gendarmerie
I'll moon the police
Aux barbus aux maires aux élus du pays
To bearded men, mayors, and elected officials in the country
Des brebis
Those sheepish folks
Je referai l'histoire de France
I'll retell the history of France
De Charles de Gaulle à Mendès France
From Charles de Gaulle to Mendès France
Et si personne ne m'interrompt
And if no one interrupts me
Je mettrai sur le trône un Bourbon
I'll put a Bourbon on the throne
J'aurai des petits-enfants
I'll have grandchildren
Mes gamins mes copains mes garçons
My kids, my buddies, my boys
Je n'avouerai qu'à eux ce qui a fait ma vie
I'll only confess to them what made my life
Mes chansons mes folies et mes femmes aussi
My songs, my follies, and my women too
Des jolies
Those pretty ones
Je leur montrerai la grand-mère
I'll show them their grandmother
Qui m'a subi sa vie entière
Who endured me her whole life
Et si y'en a un qui rigole
And if one of them laughs
J' te jure que j'lui mets une torgnole
I swear I'll give them a smack
Oh si y'en a un qui rigole
Oh, if one of them laughs
J'te jure que j'lui mets une torgnole
I swear I'll give them a smack
Comme au temps du vieux temps
Like in the old days
Du bon temps
The good old times
De mon temps
In my time
Contributed by Parker D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.