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".
Dirty
Noir Désir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every skins ######### am dirty
Everybody know that simple message i am dirty
Since I was born ######### dirty
Come with and try to be like me really dirty
We trust in you so trust and do like I do let's be dirty
My father and my mother my fam'ly was so dirty
The war is over we can seem to #### we are dirty
#####babe I am feeling really dirty
We trust in you so trust and do like I do let's be dirty
Never do the washing up
The war is over we can seem to #### we are dirty
LalalalaLALALAAAAAAA
Never do the washing up
LalalalaLALALAAAAAAA
Never do the washing up
Everybody know### dirty
###dirty
No Shower No South
The lyrics of "Dirty" by Noir Désir seem to express the desire to embrace a life of rebellion and dirtiness. The singer claims that everyone knows he is dirty, from the youth in the streets to the skinheads. He encourages others to join him in being dirty, to trust him and do like he does. He states that his family was also dirty, and even after the war is over, they are still dirty. The repeated refrain, "Dirty, dirty, dirty" emphasizes his rejection of societal norms of cleanliness and propriety.
The lyrics also hint at a rejection of traditional roles and responsibilities. The singer sings, "Never do the washing up," suggesting a refusal to engage in domestic duties. He also declares "No Shower No South," which could potentially mean that he rejects the norms of hygiene associated with Southern Europe.
Overall, the song's message seems to be one of rebellion against societal norms and expectations. It celebrates the idea of being dirty and rejecting cleanliness, domesticity, and conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
Every youth that have my understreets know i am dirty
Everyone who knows me in my neighborhood knows that I'm a dirty person
Every skins ######### am dirty
All the people who look like me, who share my identity, they know that I'm dirty too
Everybody know that simple message i am dirty
It's a common knowledge that I'm a filthy person
Since I was born ######### dirty
I've been dirty since birth, it's just who I am
Come with and try to be like me really dirty
Join me in my filth and let's embrace our dirtiness together
We trust in you so trust and do like I do let's be dirty
I believe in you, so follow my lead and let's be dirty together
My father and my mother my fam'ly was so dirty
My whole family, including my parents, were dirty people
The war is over we can seem to #### we are dirty
Now that the war is over, we don't have to hide the fact that we're dirty anymore
OooOOoooOooOooOOOOOOOh
This line doesn't convey a clear message, it's more of a vocalization or a moan
#####babe I am feeling really dirty
I'm feeling especially filthy right now, my partner
Never do the washing up
I refuse to clean up after myself and allow myself to become even dirtier
LalalalaLALALAAAAAAA
This line doesn't convey a clear message either, it's more of a musical interlude
Everybody know### dirty
Everyone knows that I'm dirty
###dirty
This line is incomplete and doesn't convey a clear message either
No Shower No South
This line might be a play on the phrase "No justice no peace." It might mean that without taking a shower, the singer won't leave their current location or "the South"
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.