Partenaire Particulier was a French synthpop band that was quite popular in… Read Full Bio ↴Partenaire Particulier was a French synthpop band that was quite popular in France during the second half of the 1980s.

The band was founded in the mid-80's by songwriters Eric Fettweis and Pierre Béraud-Sudreau. Although they wrote all of the band's material together, both felt that a band "had to have 3 members" so a third member, Dominique Delaby, was added to the line-up. However, he left the band quickly after the release of their first 7" to pursue a career in advertising. He was briefly replaced by another "third guy", Laurent Letrillard, for the release of their second 7", but things didn't work out with him either, so the band decided to finally stick to their initial two-person lineup.

The band's career began when their first 7", aptly called "Partenaire Particulier", became one of the big hits of the year 1985 in France, going platinum and reaching position 3 in the charts. The track defined the style of the band: upbeat pop, with prominent use of synthesizers and drum machines.

A second single entitled "Je N'Oublierai Jamais" was released in 1986, following the lineup change. It was less suscessful than "Partenaire Particulier" but still did well in the charts and reinforced the band's fame.
Later that year, they released their first LP, "Jeux Interdits", which comprised the two hit singles and added 6 more songs, the highlight of the album being certainly the New Order-esque closer "Seul Ce Soir".
To promote this first album, the band chose to release its opening track, "Elle Est Partie", as a 7". As catchy as the previous singles, the song was illustrated by a clip shot in black and white. Incidentally, it was also the last of the band's single to chart in France.

Indeed, their fourth single, "Tiphaine", didn't chart. Still, in 1988, Partenaire Particulier released their second studio album, "Le Chant Des Vautours", but, like its two singles ("L'Armée" and a reworked version of "L'Amour A Trois"), it flopped completely and that lack of success meant the end of Partenaire Particulier.

In the early 90s, Eric Fettweis and Pierre Béraud-Sudreau released a bunch of dance tracks under alternative aliases. In 2003, a project of reunion spawned several new tracks but nothing was officially released.

In 2007, Partenaire Particulier resurfaced thanks to a tour organised by a French radio to "revive" French artists from the 1980s. The band appeared on TV again to perform old songs. Following this reappearance, the band announced that they were going to release a 3-cd set containing their first two albums, as well as an extra CD of rarities and/or new content. The release date has yet to be announced.

Two "best-of" compilations of the band were released, respectively in 1993 and 1999. The CD versions of their albums are hard to find and are sold at a very expensive price on used goods sites.

Despite their disappearance and meteoric success, Partenaire Particulier has remained popular thanks to the renewed success of their first single, which has been featured countless times on various 80s/new wave/synthpop compilations.

Prends garde à toi
Partenaire Particulier Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je te regarde et je me demande ce qu'il se passe dans ta vie ce soir
Une valise à tes côtés, tu as décidé de leur échapper ce soir à jamais
Tu verras bien demain qu'ils cherchaient ton bien
Qu'un jour tu aurais vu l'amour
Si tu pars loin de moi, prends garde à toi
Là où tu vas, loin de chez toi
Tu resteras, tous contre toi
Écoute moi, prends garde à- (toi)

Tu n'es pas celle que tu imagines
Trop fière et fragile tu le sais
Et tu commences à douter quand la nuit te chagrine
Tu sens la fin trop vite arriver
Non, non, non, la fin n'est pas encore demain
Ta vie tu l'as entre tes mains
Si tu pars loin de moi, prends garde à toi
Là où tu vas, loin de chez toi
Tu resteras, tous contre toi
Écoute moi, prends garde à toi
(Prends garde à toi)
(Ooooh, oooh, yeah)
Prends garde à toi
Là où tu vas, loin de chez toi
Tu resteras, tous contre toi
Écoute moi, prends garde à toi
Là où tu vas, loin de chez toi

Tu resteras, tous contre toi
Écoute moi, prends garde à-

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Prends garde à toi" by Partenaire Particulier convey a sense of caution and concern for someone the singer is observing. The first verse sets the scene as the singer watches the person and wonders what is happening in their life that evening. They notice a suitcase by their side, indicating that they have decided to escape from something or someone forever. The singer suggests that the person will realize that those they were trying to escape from actually had their best interests at heart and that one day, they would have found love.

In the chorus, the singer warns the person to be careful if they are going far away, urging them to be cautious and mindful of themselves. The repetition of "prends garde à toi" emphasizes the importance of this warning. The lyrics suggest that the person is not the way they imagine themselves to be and that they are both proud and fragile. They start to doubt themselves when the night brings them distress, and they fear that the end is coming too quickly.

The bridge reassures the person that the end is not yet near and that they hold their life in their own hands. The final chorus repeats the warning to be cautious, emphasizing that wherever they go, they will still be confronted by themselves. The song ends with a final repetition of the phrase "prends garde à toi," driving home the message of self-care and caution.

Overall, "Prends garde à toi" is a song that reflects on the importance of self-awareness, self-preservation, and the consequences of impulsive choices. It carries a message of concern for someone who may be on the verge of making a life-altering decision, urging them to consider the potential outcomes and be mindful of their own well-being.

Line by Line Meaning

Je te regarde et je me demande ce qu'il se passe dans ta vie ce soir
I observe you and wonder what is happening in your life tonight

Une valise à tes côtés, tu as décidé de leur échapper ce soir à jamais
With a suitcase by your side, you have chosen to escape from them tonight, forever

Tu verras bien demain qu'ils cherchaient ton bien
You will see tomorrow that they were looking out for your own good

Qu'un jour tu aurais vu l'amour
That one day you would have seen love

Si tu pars loin de moi, prends garde à toi
If you leave far from me, be careful

Là où tu vas, loin de chez toi
Wherever you go, far from home

Tu resteras, tous contre toi
You will remain with everyone against you

Écoute moi, prends garde à- (toi)
Listen to me, be careful

Tu n'es pas celle que tu imagines
You are not the person you imagine yourself to be

Trop fière et fragile tu le sais
Too proud and fragile, you know it

Et tu commences à douter quand la nuit te chagrine
And you start to doubt when the night troubles you

Tu sens la fin trop vite arriver
You feel the end approaching too quickly

Non, non, non, la fin n'est pas encore demain
No, no, no, the end is not yet tomorrow

Ta vie tu l'as entre tes mains
Your life is in your hands