She was born in Avignon, Vaucluse, France, the oldest daughter of a poor family of fourteen children. She began singing as a small child, appearing in public at the age of four, singing in her church. As a young girl she worked in a factory, where she saved her money to pay for singing lessons.
Discovered by Johnny Stark, manager of France's biggest star at the time, Johnny Hallyday, she was tutored by orchestra leader Paul Mauriat and song writer André Pascal who wrote "Mon crédo", "Viens dans ma rue", "La première étoile" and many other hits for her . After her television performance in 1965 and debut run at the Paris Olympia, she was immediately hailed as the next Édith Piaf, such was her haunting voice.
Singles such as "Mon Credo" and "C'est Ton Nom" made her a huge star in France and all over Europe while making her a big success in North America and Mexico. Her French cover of Engelbert Humperdinck's "The Last Waltz" generated much publicity in Great Britain and with hit after hit, she soon toured Canada and the United States where she appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Danny Kaye Show. In Las Vegas, she sang with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra to great applause.
Still much in demand, she continues to perform regularly. She travels frequently, appearing at such venues as New York City's Carnegie Hall, Sport Palace in Montreal, Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles and Ice Palace of St. Petersburg. She has sold about 150 million copies of her albums in her 40 year career, recorded about 1200 songs in 9 languages, and was the first western singer in history who gave concerts in China. Over the years she sang duets with such luminaries as Charles Aznavour, Barry Manilow, Paul Anka, Plácido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, Tom Jones and others.
Songs such as "Acropolis adieu," "Ne me quitte pas," and "Santa Maria de la mer," are considered classics. Her French version of Roy Orbison's ballad, "Blue Bayou", is regarded by many as one of the best covers of that popular song.
In 1989, President François Mitterrand invited Mireille Mathieu to sing a tribute to General de Gaulle. She gave a series of concerts at the Palais des Congrès in Paris in December 1990. Three years later, she released an album devoted to her all-time idol, Édith Piaf.
In January 1996, "Vous lui direz…" was released. Maxime le Forestier wrote one of the titles, "A la moitié de la distance". She did not choose to perform live in France to promote the album, preferring rather to go to Los Angeles USA, where she triumphed on November 14th with her vibrant tribute to another of her idols, Judy Garland. The performance was a tremendous success she was dressed by Provence couturier, Christian Lacroix and looked stunning for the performance. [1]
In 2002, she released her 37th French album De tes mains. Mathieu celebrated the 40th anniversary of her career at the Paris Olympia, in November 2005, after releasing her 38th French album, which reached number 14 on the charts in France (it remained in the top 100 for several months).
C'est dommage
Mireille Mathieu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Notre amour est en voyage
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
La la la la la
Tournons la page
Notre voilier
A fait naufrage
Il s'est brisé
Les jours de pluie
C'est long, tu sais
Quand vient l'ennui
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
Notre amour est en voyage
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
La la la la la
Tournons la page
Sans hésiter
L'oiseau en cage
Ne peut chanter
Les jours sont longs
Les cœurs sont lourds
Quand vient la fin
D'un grand amour
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
Notre amour est en voyage
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
La la la la la
Tournons la page
Des illusions
Des fausses joies
Des traditions
C'est long, tu sais
Toute une nuit
Après l'amour
Quand vient l'ennui
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
Notre amour est en voyage
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
La la la la la
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
Notre amour est en voyage
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
La la la la la
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
Notre amour est en voyage
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
La la la la la
Mireille Mathieu's "À C" captures a deep sense of loss and melancholy associated with a love that once thrived but is now inadvertently distant, almost vacationing away from the hearts involved. The phrase "C'est dommage" (It's a shame) is poignantly repeated throughout the song, emphasizing regret and a yearning for what has been lost. The metaphor of love being on a journey suggests a sense of separation and the inevitability of distancing that relationships can encounter over time. Love, which was once vibrant and active, feels more like a memory encapsulated in nostalgia. The repetitive refrains, along with the cheerful "la la la la la," create a juxtaposition between the upbeat melody and the somber lyrics, highlighting the paradox of longing for something now just out of reach.
The imagery of a "voilier" (sailing boat) that has "fait naufrage" (capsized) brings forth a visual representation of how love can feel like a journey at sea—full of promise but ultimately vulnerable to the unpredictability of emotional tides. This shipwreck metaphor underlines a crucial turning point: from belonging to severance. The notion that the ship has "brisé" (broken) signifies a definitive end, encapsulating the sentiment of heartbreak and disillusionment. The mention of "jours de pluie" (rainy days) reinforces feelings of sadness and stagnation, while the juxtaposition of waiting and dealing with boredom captures the unbearable weight of inactivity in the absence of love. Through this imagery, Mathieu resonates with anyone who has felt the slow passage of time when a significant emotional bond is diminished.
The theme of entrapment emerges explicitly when referring to "l'oiseau en cage" (the caged bird) that "ne peut chanter" (cannot sing). This metaphor signifies lost freedom and the struggle for joy in the context of a relationship that feels constrained by its ending. The contrast between past happiness and the present emotional heaviness reflects a universal truth about love: that when something vital to our existence is in jeopardy or has been lost, it places an insurmountable weight on the heart. The lines about "les cœurs sont lourds" (the hearts are heavy) convey how profound love ties people together, and its relinquishing can leave them feeling burdened and despondent, drawing attention to the emotional fallout that love can cause.
As the song progresses, it touches on themes of "illusions," "fausses joies" (false joys), and "traditions," suggesting a critique of romantic ideals that may lead to disappointments. This introspective examination of love encourages a reflection on not just personal experiences but also societal expectations around relationships. The acknowledgment that love journeys can often lead to disillusionment portrays a candid acceptance of reality—a poignant realization that the excitement of love can diminish over time, leaving behind a shell of memories and previously cherished moments. The repetitive nature of the refrain underscores an almost resigned acceptance rather than a fight for revival, inviting listeners to empathize with the bittersweet nature of love and loss. Overall, "À C" captures the nuanced emotional landscape of the end of love, resonating with the universal experience of heartbreak, nostalgia, and the inevitability of moving forward, even in the face of profound sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
It's unfortunate, it's unfortunate
Notre amour est en voyage
Our love is on a journey
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
It's unfortunate, it's unfortunate
La la la la la
A whimsical refrain reflecting feelings of longing
Tournons la page
Let's turn the page and move on
Notre voilier
Our sailboat symbolizes our shared journey
A fait naufrage
Has capsized, indicating the failure of our relationship
Il s'est brisé
It has shattered, signifying the end of our dreams together
C'est long, tu sais
It's a long process, you know
Les jours de pluie
The rainy days feel particularly endless
C'est long, tu sais
It's a prolonged state, you understand
Quand vient l'ennui
When boredom sets in
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
It's unfortunate, it's unfortunate
Notre amour est en voyage
Our love is on a distant path
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
It's truly unfortunate, oh, it's truly unfortunate
La la la la la
A playful melody masking deeper sadness
Tournons la page
Let’s change the chapter of our lives
Sans hésiter
Without hesitation
L'oiseau en cage
The caged bird, a metaphor for lost freedom
Ne peut chanter
Cannot sing, reflecting a muted spirit
Les jours sont longs
The days stretch out endlessly
Les cœurs sont lourds
Hearts feel heavy with emotional burdens
Quand vient la fin
When the end arrives
D'un grand amour
Of a great love that once flourished
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
It's unfortunate, it's unfortunate
Notre amour est en voyage
Our love is traveling far away
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
It's truly unfortunate, oh, it's truly unfortunate
La la la la la
A tune that echoes sorrow beneath a light facade
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
It’s unfortunate, it’s unfortunate
Notre amour est en voyage
Our love is on a distant voyage
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
It's undeniably unfortunate, oh, it's undeniably unfortunate
La la la la la
A lighthearted refrain masking deeper feelings
C'est dommage, c'est dommage
It's regrettable, it's regrettable
Notre amour est en voyage
Our love is on an uncharted path
C'est dommage, oh, c'est dommage
How unfortunate, oh, how unfortunate
La la la la la
A simplistic tune reflecting complex emotions
Lyrics © BANCO MUSIC
Written by: Leo MISSIR, Patricia CARLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nahima Bella
Mireille Mathieu est une chanteuse exceptionnelle 🌺🌹🌻🌼👏👏👏
Валерий Румянцев
Мирей восхитительна !!!
José miguel Solis
No m canso de escuchar la voz de Marelli Mathieu que prodigio de voz que hermosas sus canciones ❤ saludos desde Durango Mexico
jean pierre bressler
Personne ne peut et ne pourra jamais chanter comme Mireille..il n'y a rien à jeter dans son répertoire
Osman Kurtoğlu
Harika şarkılar.
Muguet Rose
Elle est sublime 🌹
Live Wire
Bravo Mireille
Muguet Rose
Magnifique voix
Felix Masegosa
SEULEMENT MIREILLE PEUT CHANTER UNE CHANSON COMME ÇA BRAVO MIMI.
иван епифан
Я аж заслушался ! )) Класс !