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.
San Lorenzo
Michel Sardou Lyrics
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Dans les secrets du Vatican
François aussi à la fenêtre
Il va marcher jusqu'à la mer
Jusqu'au poisson à la poussière
Dans le mystère ce soir des frères
Et tombe avec le crépuscule
Tout les rêves flous de la jeunesse
Je suis de San Lorenzo
Et encore et encore
Les cris d'allégresse de ma jeunesse
Me déchirent le cœur
Me déchirent le cœur
La vie familière est froissée
La bicyclette de Dolores
Ce cri au fond de ses yeux verts
Tout ces tangos jamais dansés
Et ce ballon qui rebondit
Ces gens qui courent après la vie
Le silence pourpre se mélange
Au dernier rayon du couchant
Au pas feutré au couloir gris
Je suis de San Lorenzo
Et encore et encore
Les cris d'allégresse de ma jeunesse
Me déchirent le cœur
Je suis de San Lorenzo
Et encore et encore
Les cris d'allégresse de ma jeunesse
Me déchirent le cœur
Me déchirent le cœur
Ce dieu que tu cherchais espère
Tu le trouvais dans le barrio
Dans les yeux fou de Dolores
Et les clameurs des Blaugrana
La veridad et la plata
Qui est-tu, Jorge Bergoglio?
Et il lui reste que la prière
Et dans cette obscurité neutre
François à genoux prie pour nous
François à genoux prie pour nous
The lyrics of Michel Sardou's song "San Lorenzo" tell a poignant story of nostalgia, loss, and the search for meaning in life. The song is inspired by the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who would later become Pope Francis.
The first verse describes a May evening, filled with a gentle breeze and the secrets of the Vatican. It sets the scene of Francis (Bergoglio) walking towards the sea, contemplating the dusty fish and the mysteriousness of the night. As the twilight falls, it symbolically carries away the blurred dreams of youth and the vibrant sunsets of Buenos Aires. The repetition of the phrase "Je suis de San Lorenzo" emphasizes the deep connection Francis feels with his roots in the San Lorenzo neighborhood.
The second verse delves into the familiar realities of life that are now crumpled. Dolores' bicycle and the cry hidden in her green eyes symbolize unfulfilled desires and missed opportunities. The untaken tangos and the bouncing ball represent the pursuit of a vibrant existence, while others chase after life. The purple silence mingling with the last rays of the sunset evokes a sense of melancholy and resignation.
The final verse addresses Bergoglio directly, pondering the god he searched for and found in the barrio (neighborhood). It mentions Dolores' wild eyes and the cheers of the Blaugrana (referring to Argentine soccer team San Lorenzo), representing the essence of truth and money. The line "Qui est-tu, Jorge Bergoglio?" raises questions about Bergoglio's identity and significance.
The concluding lines portray Francis, now Pope, who remains with only prayer and seeks solace in the neutral darkness. The image of him praying for us, kneeling, highlights his humility and devotion.
Overall, "San Lorenzo" is a heartfelt song that captures the complex emotions and experiences of Jorge Bergoglio, who would become Pope Francis. It reflects on his personal journey, his connection to his neighborhood, and his spiritual search for meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Un soir de mai de courant d'air
On a May evening, with a breeze flowing
Dans les secrets du Vatican
In the secrets of the Vatican
François aussi à la fenêtre
Even François at the window
Il va marcher jusqu'à la mer
He will walk to the sea
Jusqu'au poisson à la poussière
Until the fish in the dust
Dans le mystère ce soir des frères
In the mystery of the brothers tonight
Et tombe avec le crépuscule
And falls with the twilight
Tout les rêves flous de la jeunesse
All the blurry dreams of youth
Tout les soleils de Buenos Aires
All the suns of Buenos Aires
Je suis de San Lorenzo
I am from San Lorenzo
Et encore et encore
And again and again
Les cris d'allégresse de ma jeunesse
The joyful cries of my youth
Me déchirent le cœur
Tear my heart apart
La vie familière est froissée
The familiar life is wrinkled
La bicyclette de Dolores
Dolores' bicycle
Ce cri au fond de ses yeux verts
That cry at the bottom of her green eyes
Tout ces tangos jamais dansés
All those tangos never danced
Et ce ballon qui rebondit
And that bouncing ball
Ces gens qui courent après la vie
Those people running after life
Le silence pourpre se mélange
The purple silence blends
Au dernier rayon du couchant
In the last ray of sunset
Au pas feutré au couloir gris
In the muffled step in the gray corridor
Je suis de San Lorenzo
I am from San Lorenzo
Ce dieu que tu cherchais espère
That god you were searching for hopes
Tu le trouvais dans le barrio
You found it in the neighborhood
Dans les yeux fou de Dolores
In the crazy eyes of Dolores
Et les clameurs des Blaugrana
And the cheers of the Blaugrana
La veridad et la plata
The truth and the money
Qui est-tu, Jorge Bergoglio?
Who are you, Jorge Bergoglio?
Et il lui reste que la prière
And all that remains for him is prayer
Et dans cette obscurité neutre
And in this neutral obscurity
François à genoux prie pour nous
François on his knees prays for us
François à genoux prie pour nous
François on his knees prays for us
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gerard Duguet-Grasser, Pierre Billon, Jean Mora
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind