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".
Elle Va Où Elle Veut
Noir Désir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Elle sait où me voir
Toujours employés
A réduire les écarts
Quand on l'approche enfin
Aussi près qu'on aille
On ne possède rien
Du feu du bruit
Pour mériter le silence
Au bout du compte
Ca ressemble à de la chance
Et comme on dit parfois
Si tu tiens à toi
Ne fais jamais comme eux
Elle va où elle veut
Si tout file entre nos doigts
Les jeux qui nous tiennent
Resteront toujours là
Y'a rien à dire de plus
Depuis toujours
C'est une chose entendue
Elle va où elle veut
The lyrics of Noir Désir's song "Elle va où elle veut" talk about a woman who is free and independent, and who is not confined by anyone's expectations or limitations. The song is about how she goes where she wants to go, and does what she wants to do, without any fear or hesitation. The first two lines of the song show that the singer knows where to find her, and that she knows where to find him. However, despite this familiarity, the woman remains elusive and beyond possession. The lines "always employed to reduce the gaps" suggest that people try to understand her and bring her closer, but they are never able to bridge the distance between her and the rest of the world.
The chorus, "Elle va où elle veut" (She goes where she wants) is a powerful statement of the woman's autonomy and freedom. The lyrics also suggest that in order to find peace, we must make noise and chaos, meaning that we have to go through difficulties and hardships in order to appreciate the calm and quiet in our lives. The line "if you care about yourself, never do as they do" is another strong message of individuality and self-respect, urging the listener to be true to oneself and one's own desires.
Overall, "Elle va où elle veut" is a song that celebrates individuality, freedom, and independence, and encourages people to embrace these qualities in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Je sais où la trouver
I know where to find her
Elle sait où me voir
She knows where to find me
Toujours employés
Always employed
A réduire les écarts
To reduce the gaps
Quand on l'approche enfin
When we finally approach her
Aussi près qu'on aille
No matter how close we get
On ne possède rien
We don't possess anything
Elle va où elle veut
She goes where she wants to go
Du feu du bruit
Fire and noise
Pour mériter le silence
To deserve the silence
Au bout du compte
At the end of the day
Ca ressemble à de la chance
It seems like luck
Et comme on dit parfois
And as they say sometimes
Si tu tiens à toi
If you care about yourself
Ne fais jamais comme eux
Don't ever do as they do
Si tout file entre nos doigts
If everything slips through our fingers
Les jeux qui nous tiennent
The games that hold us
Resteront toujours là
Will always remain
Y'a rien à dire de plus
There's nothing more to say
Depuis toujours
Since always
C'est une chose entendue
It's an understood thing
Contributed by Elena R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.