Offenbach… Read Full Bio ↴[see Jacques Offenbach for the French classical composer]
Offenbach is a Canadian blues rock band formed in Quebec in 1969 by Gerry Boulet, Michael Lamonthe, Jr., and Wezo. The band signed with the independent Barclay label in 1972 and released the French album Offenbach Soap Opera. Four years later, A&M provided a record deal and released the band's self-titled album in 1977. Also released that year was Never Too Tender and another self-titled LP. Lamonthe and Wezo left around that time and were replaced by Pierre Lavoie and Norman Kerr (though Kerr left soon after). In 1979, Offenbach recorded Traversion and added more new members, Breen LeBoeuf and John McVale. Four more studio albums followed — En Fusion (1980), Tonnedebrick (1983), Live a Fond D'Train (1984) and Rockorama (1985) — before the band split up in 1986. Recorded live in Montreal, the Offenbach album, Le Dernier Show, appeared in 1986. Gerry Boulet recorded two solo albums, Presque 40s in 1984 and Rendezvous Doux in 1988.
n 1996, McGale, Gravel and Leboeuf reunited as Offenbach Inc. for a reunion tour. Due to Boulet's death, they selected Martin Deschamps, who had recently won Quebec's L'Empire des futures stars competition, as the band's new vocalist. They toured extensively for two years, and released a greatest hits compilation in 1999. A second volume of hits followed in 2002.
In 2005, the band released Nature, which consisted of acoustic versions of their classic hits. It also includes one new song "L'amour est cruel" (Love is cruel). The music was written by Gravel in the 1980s and the words were later added by Deschamps. A concert at Montrteal's Bell Center on April 1, 2005, marked the 25th anniversary of Offenbach's first Forum show.
In 2018, Offenbach released Renaissance the first disc of new material in 33 years.
Je Chante Comme Un Coyote
Offenbach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Debout entre deux dunes
Dans le désert des villes
Devant une sorte de lune
Qui me fascine
Autant qu'elle me répugne
Un disque en or à cinquante mille
Si j'chante moins fort
Et si j'me tiens tranquille
Mais j'ai pas l'go�'t d'me laisser faire
De joindre les rangs nombreux de ceux
Pour qui chanter veut dire se taire
Je commence enfin à comprendre
C'qu'on voulait dire par 'le silence est d'or'
Les limousines et les disques platines
Pour les avoir faut faire le mort
Moé j'veux hurler, me faire entendre ben haut
Jamais r'descendre pour faire le beau
Je commence enfin à comprendre
C'qu'on voulait dire par 'le silence est d'or'
Les limousines et les disques platines
Pour les avoir faut faire le mort
Moé j'veux hurler, me faire entendre ben haut
Jamais r'descendre pour faire le beau
Je chante comme un coyote
Debout entre deux dunes
Dans le désert des villes
Devant une sorte de lune
Qui me fascine
Autant qu'elle me répugne
Un disque en or à cinquante mille
Qu'on va m'donner
Si j'chante moins fort
Et si j'me tiens tranquille
Mais j'ai pas l'go�'t d'me laisser faire
De joindre les rangs nombreux de ceux
Pour qui chanter veut dire se taire
The song "Je Chante Comme Un Coyote" by Offenbach is a commentary on the music industry and the pressure that artists face to conform to commercial expectations. The lyrics describe the singer as a coyote singing in the city desert, in front of a moon that both fascinates and repulses them. The singer is offered a gold record worth fifty thousand for singing less loudly and being still, but they don't want to join the ranks of those who associate singing with silence. They instead want to scream and make themselves heard, even if it means never being able to descend and be beautiful.
The coyote is a symbolic representation of the artist who refuses to be tamed and molded to fit the industry's expectations. The moon, in turn, represents the glamour and allure of fame and fortune that entices artists to compromise their art for commercial success. The lyrics suggest that the price of fame is the artist's voice, autonomy, and creative expression, and that silence is the currency of the music industry. The singer comes to understand the meaning of the term "silence is golden," implying that those who want to achieve fame must be willing to sacrifice their artistic integrity and their desire to be heard in exchange for material reward.
Line by Line Meaning
Je chante comme un coyote
I sing loudly and boldly, like a coyote in the desert.
Debout entre deux dunes
I stand tall and proud between two sand dunes in the desert of the city.
Dans le désert des villes
I am in the city, but it feels like a desert to me, empty and barren of true expression.
Devant une sorte de lune
I perform under a false, artificial spotlight that both fascinates and disgusts me.
Qui me fascine
The allure of fame and fortune is tempting and exciting to me.
Autant qu'elle me répugne
But the idea of compromising my values and giving up my passionate voice for it also sickens me.
Un disque en or à cinquante mille
A gold record worth fifty thousand dollars awaits me, but not without consequences.
Qu'on va m'donner
It's a reward that will be given to me if I comply with their terms.
Si j'chante moins fort
If I compromise and sing softer, holding back my true voice, the reward will be mine.
Et si j'me tiens tranquille
If I just play along and keep quiet, I will be showered with success and riches.
Mais j'ai pas l'goût d'me laisser faire
However, I am not willing to bow down and let them dictate my artistic expression.
De joindre les rangs nombreux de ceux
I won't join the countless others who have sold out and lost their true selves in the pursuit of fame.
Pour qui chanter veut dire se taire
I won't be silenced by the industry that demands conformity and complacency from their artists.
Je commence enfin à comprendre
Finally, I am beginning to understand what is truly valuable in life.
C'qu'on voulait dire par 'le silence est d'or'
The phrase 'silence is golden' is not about being quiet, it's about preserving your authenticity and not selling out.
Les limousines et les disques platines
The luxurious lifestyle promised by success may seem appealing, but it comes at a cost.
Pour les avoir faut faire le mort
To achieve these rewards, artists must give up their true expression and become mute, like a corpse.
Moé j'veux hurler, me faire entendre ben haut
I want to scream from the top of my lungs, and make my true voice heard loudly and clearly.
Jamais r'descendre pour faire le beau
I won't compromise and lower my standards just to be popular or attractive to the mainstream.
Contributed by Anna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bachelard82
depuis la france , je decouvre offenbach aujourd'hui, j'adore:!!! quebecois on vous aime car vous chantez avec les tripes
@1Patatechaude
J'envie tellement mais tellement ceux qui sont nés dans cet époque !
@Lisecomeau
One of the best french- canadian blues singer ever! RIP Gerry! And my favorite songs. Le meilleur chanteur de blues quebecois, Gerry tu nous manque!
@MJacques452
une voix qui te rente dedans quand tu l'as entendu live
@caroldan5
Gerry, avec tes beaux grands cheveux long, on voulait tous t'imiter quand on était jeune :)
@klipsch69
se show la se vend en DVD je lé acheter vla 2 ou 3 ans devrais pas etre trop difficile a trouver pour les vrai Fan !!!! MAAAAARRRCI
@TyGuy66
Une des premiere video je voit sans dislike.. YAY!!
@TheTylermader
salut garry grace a toi je chante comme un coyote .... tu sera toujours dans mon coeur .... xxxxx
@didikh
Une super star...de chez nous il était lui même avec les observations.
@mystybleu
j adore cette toune!!!!!