Although Bruel aspired to be a football star as a youth, he decided to pursue singing after seeing Michel Sardou in 1975. His first success came as an actor, however, in 1979's Le Coup de sirocco. He continued acting in films, on television and in the theater while pursuing his singing career. His first single, "Vide" ("Empty"), released in 1982, was not a success, but the follow up, "Marre de cette nana-là" ("Fed up with that chick"), was a hit.
In 2003, he had his last name officially changed to Bruel-Benguigui, his stage name with his birthname, before his partner Amanda Maruani gave birth to his first child, Oscar, on August 19. On September 21, 2004, he wed the 24-year-old Maruani; it is his first marriage. His second child, Léon Bruel was born on the 28th September, 2005.
As of 2004 Bruel has acted in more than 40 different television and film productions and made five studio albums and several live albums. His last album to date is Entre Deux (2002), a double CD of classic chanson that features duets with Charles Aznavour, Jean-Louis Aubert, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Alain Souchon and Renaud, among others. It sold two million copies and made Bruel France's best paid singer of the year. At the beginning of 2005, in response to the South Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004, Bruel wrote the song "Et puis la terre" to benefit the Red Cross.
Appelez ça comme vous voulez
Patrick Bruel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ceux de Belleville et de la Villette
Ils sont victimes des gens honnêtes
Les gens honnêtes sont des salauds
Ils nous avaient pris déjà, notre belote et notre java
Parait que c’est pas suffisant
Ils nous chipent notre argot à présent
La langue verte est adoptée
Chacun en douce fait à sa manière, son petit vocabulaire
Vous gênez pas, y a du choix dans les mots
Un lit, un plume, un pucier, un pajot
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Pourvu qu' dedans j'y trouve ma poule
Ma régulière, ma gonzesse, ma houri
Ma musaraigne, ma ménesse, ma souris
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Pourvu qu' le p'tit homme ait d' gros sous-sous
Du fric, du blé, de l'oseille, de la braise
Des picaillons, du flouze ou bien du pèze
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Pourvu qu' j'en aie toujours plein les poches
Plein les profondes, les fouilles et le morlingue
Pour que mézigue ait d' badours petites fringues
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Tout ce que j' veux, c'est d'avoir malgré tout
Des chouettes tatanes et d' bath petits costards
Pour jouer au marlot, au dur, au malabar
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Pourvu qu'au bistrot je prenne un verre
Un glass, un drink, un godet ou un pot
Avec les mecs, les amaches, les poteaux
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Tout c' que j' veux, c'est d' pas sucer des clous
Briffer, becqueter, s'empiffrer le cornet
Se cogner l' tronc, s'en mettre plein les trous de nez
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Je m' débine car c'est l'heure de la croûte
Trisser, calter, se barrer en lousdoc
Carguer la voile et hisser le grand foc
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Ma chanson est fini, je mets les bouts
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Ma chanson est fini, je mets les bouts
The lyrics of Patrick Bruel's song "Appelez ça comme vous voulez" (Call it what you want) speak about the people of Belleville and Villette, two neighborhoods of Paris, and how they are victims of the honest people. The singer suggests that honest people are actually the villains, stealing their language and way of life, and adopting their slang as their own. The lyrics highlight the beauty of the Parisian language by providing different expressions and words.
The song appears to be critical of the French society during the time it was written, which was probably in the mid to late 20th century. It contrasts the lives of the ordinary people of Paris with those of the wealthy, showing how the wealthy live in comfort while the ordinary people struggle to survive. The singer highlights that while the people of Paris are deprived of their resources and language, they still find a way to express themselves through their vocabulary and colorful expressions.
The lyrics also show how the Parisian people value material wealth and use slang words to describe different amounts of money. They don't care what people call the things they have as long as they have what they want. The use of slang also serves to unite the ordinary people of Paris and bind them together, conveying their values and culture.
Overall, this song is a celebration of the Parisian life and language, while being critical of the wider society for not recognizing the value of the Parisian culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, plaignez les vrais Parigots
Oh, pity the true Parisians
Ceux de Belleville et de la Villette
Those from Belleville and Villette
Ils sont victimes des gens honnêtes
They are the victims of honest people
Les gens honnêtes sont des salauds
Honest people are assholes
Ils nous avaient pris déjà, notre belote et notre java
They had already taken our card game and our dance
Parait que c’est pas suffisant
Apparently, that's not enough
Ils nous chipent notre argot à présent
Now they're stealing our slang
Dans toutes les classes de la société
In all classes of society
La langue verte est adoptée
The green language is adopted
Chacun en douce fait à sa manière, son petit vocabulaire
Everyone secretly creates their own little vocabulary
Vous gênez pas, y a du choix dans les mots
Don't hesitate, there's plenty of words to choose from
Un lit, un plume, un pucier, un pajot
A bed, a feather, a flea, a house
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Call it whatever you want, I don't care
Pourvu qu' dedans j'y trouve ma poule
As long as I find my girl in it
Ma régulière, ma gonzesse, ma houri
My regular, my girl, my houri
Ma musaraigne, ma ménesse, ma souris
My shrew, my lamb, my mouse
Pourvu qu' le p'tit homme ait d' gros sous-sous
As long as the little man has lots of money
Du fric, du blé, de l'oseille, de la braise
Money, dough, cash, fire
Des picaillons, du flouze ou bien du pèze
Small change, loot, or dough
Pourvu qu' j'en aie toujours plein les poches
As long as I always have plenty in my pockets
Plein les profondes, les fouilles et le morlingue
Full in the deep pockets, the holes, and the purse
Pour que mézigue ait d' badours petites fringues
So that I can have some nice clothes
Tout ce que j' veux, c'est d'avoir malgré tout
All I want is to have it despite everything
Des chouettes tatanes et d' bath petits costards
Cool shoes and nice suits
Pour jouer au marlot, au dur, au malabar
To play marlot, hard, and malabar
Pourvu qu'au bistrot je prenne un verre
As long as I have a drink at the bistro
Un glass, un drink, un godet ou un pot
A glass, a drink, a cup, or a pot
Avec les mecs, les amaches, les poteaux
With the guys, the girls, and the poles
Tout c' que j' veux, c'est d' pas sucer des clous
All I want is to not have to suck on nails
Briffer, becqueter, s'empiffrer le cornet
Sniff, eat, stuff your face
Se cogner l' tronc, s'en mettre plein les trous de nez
Bump the trunk, fill the nose holes
Je m' débine car c'est l'heure de la croûte
I'm leaving because it's dinner time
Trisser, calter, se barrer en lousdoc
Sneak, leave, run away like a wolf
Carguer la voile et hisser le grand foc
Lower the sail and hoist the mainsail
Ma chanson est fini, je mets les bouts
My song is finished, I'm getting out of here
Appelez ça comme vous voulez, moi j' m'en fous
Call it whatever you want, I don't care
Ma chanson est fini, je mets les bouts
My song is finished, I'm getting out of here
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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