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".
Ici Paris
Noir Désir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qu'elle est plus jolie métissée
Ici Paris
Caravanes, vent du désert
Mais nous n'irons plus à la guerre
À l'attaque
Chacun pour soi, tous pour les sous
Solidaires
Ici Paris
Epargne moi
Ici Paris
Ici Paris
Ici Paris
Adonis et bulldozer
S'accouplent à la volontaire
Ici Paris
Hola madonne tu m'étonnes
Enlève ce col qui te donne
L'air emprunté
À l'amour et à la vie
À Syd Barret et c'est fini
Ici Londres
Ici Paris
Epargne moi
Ici Paris
Ici Paris
Ici Paris
The lyrics of "Ici Paris" by Noir Désir is a commentary on contemporary society and the chaos within the city of Paris. The song starts with the words, "Marianne rebelle me disait, qu'elle est plus jolie métissée," which means rebellious Marianne told me that she is prettier when mixed. The line could be interpreted as a reference to the increasing diversity in the city of Paris. The lyrics then switch to the chaos and confusion of the city. The verse, "Caravanes, vent du désert, mais nous n'irons plus à la guerre" expresses a sense of dreadness and the transience of life.
The chorus, "Ici Paris" is repeated multiple times and seems like a cry for solidarity, togetherness, and peace. However, following the chorus, the verses describe the competitiveness and materialism within the city. The lines, "Chacun pour soi, tous pour les sous" mean "Every man for himself, and all for money." The song then connects disparate parts of the world such as New York, Moscow, London, and Paris, and suggests that the same chaos that exists in Paris is prevalent in other major cities as well.
Overall, "Ici Paris" tells a story about a city that is in a state of confusion, disarray, and corruption. The song reflects on the fragility of life and the importance of solidarity and togetherness in current society. The song is a wake-up call to the society to come together to fight the chaos and uncertainty that is leading to the disintegration of humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Marianne rebelle me disait
Marianne, who is rebellious, told me
Qu'elle est plus jolie métissée
That mixed race is more beautiful
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Caravanes, vent du désert
Caravans, desert wind
Mais nous n'irons plus à la guerre
But we won't go to war anymore
À l'attaque
Charge!
Ici New York, ici Moscou
Here in New York, here in Moscow
Chacun pour soi, tous pour les sous
Everyone for themselves, all for money
Solidaires
United
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Epargne moi
Spare me
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Adonis et bulldozer
Adonis and bulldozer
S'accouplent à la volontaire
Mate with the willing
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Hola madonne tu m'étonnes
Hola Madonna, you surprise me
Enlève ce col qui te donne
Take off that collar that binds you
L'air emprunté
The borrowed air
À l'amour et à la vie
For love and life
À Syd Barret et c'est fini
To Syd Barret and that's it
Ici Londres
Here in London
Epargne moi
Spare me
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Ici Paris
Here in Paris
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Denis Guy Marc Barthe, Bertrand Lucien Cantat, Jean-paul Roy, Gay Serge Marius Pierre Teyssot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind