Theo Hakola from Passion Fodder produced their first LP in 1987 Où veux-tu qu'je r'garde ?. This 6 tracks album shows what would become a Noir Désir trademark: finely crafted lyrics with powerful rock sound.
Noir Désir's second album, Veuillez rendre l'âme (à qui elle appartient), released in 1990, introduced punk rock elements to their sound. This continued with their next album, Tostaky, which contained the successful song Tostaky.
One of the most popular rock groups in France, their success continued with the release of the dance-influenced 666.667 Club, and the remix album One Trip One Noise. Their last album, 2001's Des visages des figures, was a slower, more ambitious affair. This album also contained a collaboration with a fellow francophone Manu Chao. "Des visages, des figures" was the album of the consecration for the group which won the music award (Victoire de la Musique) of the best rock album of year 2002, as well as the award of best clip for "Le Vent nous portera". Although their last album seemed to be the slowest one, the following gigs were huge rock shows where thousands of fans came to see the group.
In 2003, allegedly on a drug binge, Bertrand Cantat slapped his girlfriend, Marie Trintignant during an argument in a hotel room in Lithuania. As she fell, her head hit the bed, and she consequently bled to death. Marie Trintignant was a popular French actress and was working on a movie. A Lithuanian judge sentenced Cantat to 8 years in prison after a jury convicted him of manslaughter. He was sentenced in Lithuania and served his sentence in a prison near Toulouse in France.
In September 2005, an album, En public, which contains highlights of their last tour. They also released a DVD set, Noir Désir en images, which contains various live performances, footage and videos. Special permission was obtained in order to allow the imprisoned Cantat to participate in the development of those.
Noir Désir members have not ruled out the possibility of re-forming once Cantat is released from jail. Cantat was released early on account of good behaviour on October 16th, 2007, but immediately retreated to his house near Bordeaux. At the time, he would not speak to the press regarding his musical future.
In November 2008, two free tracks were released. The band wished to show, with this release, that productive and cathartic, works from Noir Désir still impregnate the French scene with intellectual and emotional abuse.
Teyssot-Gay has stated that the group is currently in the process of composing and recording a new album which he feels should be finished in 2009. However according to a May 14, 2009 article in Le Parisien the album will not be ready until January 2010.
On November 29, 2010 it was announced that guitarist Serge Teyssot-Gay was leaving the band citing "emotional, human and musical differences" with lead singer Cantat.
On November 30, 2010 band's drummer Denis Barthe announced that Noir Désir is disbanded for good and that is useless to let the band live with "artificial respiration".
Danse Sur Le Feu Maria
Noir Désir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les petits anges bleus lui sucent les yeux
Ecoute moi maint'nant et on va choisir, elle a dit
On fera tout c'qui est interdit
Maria délire
Notre père qui êtes aux cieux
Accordez nous une heure ou deux
Mais sans bien sûr blesser les âmes
Maria, sors des décombres
Recommence à bouger ton ombre...
Danse sur le feu Maria !
Cravateux menteur
Qui nous feraient peur !?
Engraisseurs de normes
Et fils de mornes
Vous perdez la tête
Et vous perdez les os
Sales petites bêtes
Sortez de vos peaux !
Notre père qui êtes aux cieux
Accordez nous une heure ou deux
Pour glisser sur la tranche des lames
Mais sans bien sûr blesser les âmes
Maria, sors des décombres
Recommence à bouger ton ombre...
Danse sur le feu Maria !
Maria... Maria... Maria...
Tout est transformé
Tout est transformé
Danse sur le feu Maria
Danse sur le feu Maria
The song "Danse sur le feu Maria" by Noir Désir is a haunting and poetic description of a woman named Maria who is in the depths of delirium. The lyrics begin by describing how Maria imitates the dead as blue angels suckle on her eyes. Despite this macabre situation, Maria still has a sense of agency and declares that they will do everything that is forbidden.
The song then switches to a prayer to "notre père qui êtes aux cieux" (our father who art in heaven), asking for just an hour or two to slip on the edges of blades without hurting any souls. It then returns to Maria, urging her to dance on the fire and to continue moving her shadow. The final lines repeat her name and state that everything has been transformed.
The lyrics are open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that Maria is a symbol for rebellion and the desire to break free from societal norms, as she declares that they will do everything that is forbidden. The prayer to not hurt any souls could be seen as empathy for others who may not share the same desires. The final lines could represent the transformative power of rebellion and nonconformity.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria s'endort elle imite les morts
Maria is pretending to be dead while she sleeps
Les petits anges bleus lui sucent les yeux
Her innocent nature attracts people who want to take advantage of her
Ecoute moi maint'nant et on va choisir, elle a dit
Maria is ready to make a decision, but she needs someone to tell her what to do
On fera tout c'qui est interdit
She is willing to go against the rules and do something forbidden
Maria délire
Maria is hallucinating or dreaming
Notre père qui êtes aux cieux
Reference to the Lord's Prayer
Accordez nous une heure ou deux
Asking for some time to do what they want
Pour glisser sur la tranche des lames
To take risks
Mais sans bien sûr blesser les âmes
Without hurting anyone
Maria, sors des décombres
Maria needs to get out of the rubble
Recommence à bouger ton ombre...
She needs to start moving again and go back to her old self
Danse sur le feu Maria !
She is encouraged to dance on fire, to take risks or do something dangerous
Cravateux menteur
People who wear ties are liars or disingenuous
Qui nous feraient peur !?
Questioning if these people should be feared
Engraisseurs de normes
They are enforcing strict rules and regulations
Et fils de mornes
Their strict upbringing has made them boring and lifeless
Vous perdez la tête
They are losing their minds
Et vous perdez les os
They are becoming weak or spineless
Sales petites bêtes
These people are not worth taking seriously
Sortez de vos peaux !
They should get out of their own skin or own their true identities
Maria... Maria... Maria...
Repeating her name for emphasis
Tout est transformé
Everything has changed
Danse sur le feu Maria
Encouraging Maria to take risks and be daring
Contributed by Alexandra O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ankalagan777
Un de mes titres préférés de Noir Dez !!!
aminata GARY
Oh oui tout pareil!
Erwan 001
Également! Dans mon album préféré
maria alexandra
Toute mon enfanceee💗
Ondine Corail
belle chanson
Yannick Bourg
j'ai toujours pensé que cette chanson-une merveille était du pur "Gun Club" il a du les écouter, c'est sûr!
Saly Bay
écoute "Song for JLP", chanson hommage au chanteur du Gun Club après sa mort.
Gabriel Picot
c'est ma preferé!!!!
Morgan LE MOUSTARDER
J'ai 16 ans et je les aime, Melo, Brest, pour les purs
Studio Unity
tu as très bon goût !