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".
Oublié
Noir Désir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je ne te vois pas
Et j'ai oublié
Qui tu étais
Qu'est ce que j'ai bien pu faire
De ce souvenir
J'ai oublié
Je ne t'en veux pas
Je ne te vois pas
L'histoire de ce train
Ne me dit rien
De quoi nous avons parlé
À la fin de l'été
J'ai oublié
Je ne t'en veux pas
Je ne te vois pas
J'ai oublié
Qui tu étais
Qu'est ce que j'ai bien pu faire
De ce souvenir là
J'ai oublié
J'ai tout oublié
J'ai oublié
J'ai oublié
The lyrics to Noir Désir's song "Oublié" (translated as "Forgotten") are a reflection on the fleeting nature of memory and relationships. The repeated phrase "Je ne t'en veux pas" ("I don't hold it against you") suggests that there may have been some hurt or disappointment in this relationship, but the singer has moved on and doesn't harbor any grudges. The verses then describe a series of forgotten details - the person's identity, the story of a train ride, even the topics of conversation that were had.
The chorus of "J'ai oublié" ("I have forgotten") reinforces the theme of the song, expressing a sense of detachment and acceptance that memories can fade away over time. The melancholic guitar riff and brooding vocals further emphasize a sense of loss and wistfulness.
Overall, "Oublié" is a contemplative and bittersweet meditation on the nature of memory and the transience of human connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Je ne t'en veux pas
I am not angry at you
Je ne te vois pas
I cannot picture you in my mind
Et j'ai oublié
And I have forgotten
Qui tu étais
Who you were
Qu'est ce que j'ai bien pu faire
What could I have possibly done
De ce souvenir
With that memory
J'ai oublié
I have forgotten
L'histoire de ce train
The story of that train
Ne me dit rien
Means nothing to me
De quoi nous avons parlé
What we talked about
À la fin de l'été
At the end of the summer
J'ai oublié
I have forgotten
J'ai tout oublié
I have forgotten everything
J'ai oublié
I have forgotten
J'ai oublié
I have forgotten
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