Michel Sardou (born January 26, 1947) is a French singer.

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.

Si Je Parle Beaucoup
Michel Sardou Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Si je parle beaucoup
Souvent pour ne rien dire
Si je cherche une histoire
A la fin d'un repas si je bois trop de vin
Pour provoquer le rire si je me trouve beau
C'est que tu n'est pas là
C'est que tu n'es pas là

Si je mendie l'argent aux portes des adultes
En vendant des chansons
Qui ne sont pas à moi
Si l'on me donne à boire
Jamais l'on me consulte
Et si je me sens seul
C'est que tu n'es pas là
C'est que tu n'es pas là si je parle de moi
En me foutant du reste
Si j'invente des filles qui n'existeront pas
Si je pense à l'amour a travers un sourire
Si je parle de toi a des amis trop vieux
Si je paye en nature pour avoir ce sourire
Si je m'en trouve mieux
C'est que tu n'es pas là
C'est que tu n'es pas là

Si je parle beaucoup
Souvent pour ne rien dire
Si je cherche une histoire
A la fin d'un repas si je bois trop de vin
Pour provoquer ton rire si je me trouve beau

C'est que tu n'est pas là
C'est que tu n'es pas là

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michel Sardou's song "Si Je Parle Beaucoup" convey feelings of emptiness and loneliness, all stemming from the absence of a loved one. The singer, who tends to talk excessively and say nothing of substance, is constantly seeking attention and validation. They try to fill the void by creating stories and exaggerating their own self-worth, but deep down, they know that none of it matters if the person they long for is not there.

The first verse reveals that the singer's excessive talking serves as an attempt to compensate for the emptiness they feel in the absence of their loved one. They confess to seeking attention, even if it means resorting to excessive drinking and self-aggrandizement. The refrain, "c'est que tu n'es pas là" (it's because you're not here), emphasizes that all these behaviors and facades are a result of the empty space left by their loved one's absence.

The second verse delves into the singer's desperation, as they resort to begging for money by selling songs that do not belong to them. They highlight the fact that nobody consults them, and they constantly feel alone. The line "si je parle de moi en me foutant du reste" (if I talk about myself, not caring about the rest) reveals their disregard for others as they try to fill the void with invented stories and fantasies that will never come true. They mention thinking about love through a smile and talking about their loved one to elderly friends, suggesting that the longing for their presence pervades their every interaction.

Overall, "Si Je Parle Beaucoup" reflects the desperate attempts of the singer to fill the emotional void caused by the absence of their loved one. They engage in excessive talk and self-invention, but deep down, they know that none of it truly satisfies their longing.

Line by Line Meaning

Si je parle beaucoup
If I speak a lot

Souvent pour ne rien dire
Often without saying anything meaningful

Si je cherche une histoire
If I search for a story

A la fin d'un repas si je bois trop de vin
At the end of a meal, if I drink too much wine

Pour provoquer le rire si je me trouve beau
To provoke laughter if I find myself handsome

C'est que tu n'es pas là
It's because you're not there

Si je mendie l'argent aux portes des adultes
If I beg for money from adults

En vendant des chansons
By selling songs

Qui ne sont pas à moi
That are not mine

Si l'on me donne à boire
If I am given to drink

Jamais l'on me consulte
Never am I consulted