The group identifies itself as a world music group. They have performed live in Europe, North America and Australia.
In 2009, members Belle du Berry & David Lewis released a side project entitled Quizz.
In 2013, Paris Combo reformed and began touring again. They have since released two new studio albums and an album of remixes.
Aquarium
Paris Combo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nous voyageons, cathodique
Croisières sur canaux hertziens ou satellites
Nous admirons tant les Inuits
Pays australs, Karabah
Et pourquoi pas, Patalipoutra
Imaginer Pondichéry peuplé
De deux cent quatre mille êtres aimés
Je tourne en rond dans ma carrée
Comme un poisson dans un meublé
N'espère pas pour autant que l'on se ressemble
Ni qu'on roule sur les mêmes essieux
Bien que nous allions sûrement passer ensemble
Nos vies jusqu'à devenir vieux
En résumé mes amis, on vit tous sur le même pavé
Statistiqués ou dénombrés, au kilomètre carré
Je tourne en rond dans ma carrée
Comme un poisson dans un meublé
Sur terre, ce petit paquet de kilomètres
Qui nous sépare et nous unit
Nous vivons la vie d'autre gens en direct
Artificiels au paradis
Terriens, on n'est pas tous égaux
Fretins, on nous mène tous sur même bateau
Je tourne en rond dans ma carrée
Comme un poisson dans un meublé
The song "Aquarium" by Paris Combo discusses the overwhelming nature of the modern world and the constant barrage of information that we are exposed to through various forms of media. The lyrics describe the experience of living in a world that is both unique and eclectic, where we travel through the canals of television and satellite broadcasts admiring the cultures of others, such as the Inuit and Karabah. The song suggests that while we may be statistically similar and live in the same kilometer squares, we are still not alike and do not share the same experiences.
The chorus, "Je tourne en rond dans ma carrée, comme un poisson dans un meublé" (I turn round and round in my square, like a fish in a furnished apartment), reinforces the feeling of being constrained and trapped in a small space, unable to break free from the constant stimulation of the world around us. The song describes the human condition of being connected yet isolated, united yet divided, and ultimately, living in a world where we remain individuals and do not all share the same worldview.
Overall, "Aquarium" is a thought-provoking and poignant critique of modern life, suggesting that while we are all part of the same global community, we remain fundamentally different and disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
Dans ce vaste monde éclectique et unique
In this vast and diverse world
Nous voyageons, cathodique
We travel through it, via screens
Croisières sur canaux hertziens ou satellites
Cruising through the airwaves and satellites
Nous admirons tant les Inuits
We admire the Inuits so much
Pays australs, Karabah
Southern countries, Karabah
Et pourquoi pas, Patalipoutra
And why not, Patalipoutra
Imaginer Pondichéry peuplé
Imagining Pondicherry populated
De deux cent quatre mille êtres aimés
With two hundred and four thousand beloved beings
Je tourne en rond dans ma carrée
I'm pacing in my square
Comme un poisson dans un meublé
Like a fish in a furnished bowl
N'espère pas pour autant que l'on se ressemble
Don't expect us to be alike
Ni qu'on roule sur les mêmes essieux
Or that we ride on the same axles
Bien que nous allions sûrement passer ensemble
Even though we'll likely spend our lives together
Nos vies jusqu'à devenir vieux
Until we grow old
En résumé mes amis, on vit tous sur le même pavé
In summary, my friends, we all live on the same pavement
Statistiqués ou dénombrés, au kilomètre carré
Counted and categorized, per square kilometer
Sur terre, ce petit paquet de kilomètres
On earth, this small parcel of kilometers
Qui nous sépare et nous unit
That separates us and unites us
Nous vivons la vie d'autre gens en direct
We live other people's lives directly
Artificiels au paradis
Artificially in paradise
Terriens, on n'est pas tous égaux
Earthlings, we're not all equal
Fretins, on nous mène tous sur même bateau
Small fry, we're all on the same boat
Je tourne en rond dans ma carrée
I'm pacing in my square
Comme un poisson dans un meublé
Like a fish in a furnished bowl
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tjtenor
It is lovely to see such an excitingly creative band still going strong. Such a wonderful blend of styles =)
Christine Mary Gallacher
A really beautiful gem of a song..lovely to sing and very lovely to dance to as well..you are brilliant Paris Combo...
Kelly Jay
@viejomike I had the pleasure of seeing them at the Lotus World Music Festival in Bloomington, IN about 10 years ago. They were incredible live, she is quite charismatic and it was very endearing to the audience in her attempts to speak English. The instrumental attributes of the rest of the band were just top-notch. I know she's plays incredible accordion and has on some of the records but never played it once in the concert. I believe the piano/trumpet player is an American.
Renata Bueno
Muito muito muito bom!
midnightclever
i heard this band while watching a hair tutorial.lol. i like it. its smooth, its like a cool burst of freshness. it makes me want to drink some cold water now(weird). i dnt understand the words but it just sounds nice
Brittany Largo Rodriguez
Which video, I’d love to see it
Poupette Crochet
Des notes légères qui s'envolent au gré des...oreilles ;-)
GeorgieNightingale.2
aahhh, ... ç'est si bon ♡
KER JI
bravo !!
Brittany Largo Rodriguez
Any English translation to this song?