1) Raphaël Haroche, born on 7 November 1975 in Paris, Île-de-France, France, is a French singer who performs under the name Raphael. His father is Russian and his mother is from Argentina.
He began his public career with the song "Cela Nous Aurait Suffi (Dayenou)", featured on his critically-acclaimed debut album Hôtel de l'Univers in 2001. His first major public hit was "Sur La Route", a duet with French long-time rock legend Jean-Louis Aubert. His second album, La Réalité (2003), was met with successes both critical and commercial, and Raphael has been on the road ever since, playing gigs all over France. After the release of super-hit album Caravane, best-selling French LP of 2005 helped by catchy-yet-thought-provoking tunes such as "Caravane," "Ne Partons Pas Fâchés," "Et dans 150 ans," or "Schengen", he went on to win three 'Victoires de la Musique'.
His current partner is Mélanie Thierry (actress and model).
2) Pianist and composer Phil Raphaël was born in New York in 1930 and an active member of the capital of bop’s music scene during the 1950s, occasionally playing with Charlie Parker and saxophonist John Eardley. The only recorded trace of his activities is a session he did with the legendary trumpet player Red Rodney for the Prestige label in 1951. According to the liner notes, Phil Raphael also played in Tommy Dorsey and Stan Kenton’s big bands – although there is no recorded proof of this – and moved to Las Vegas for a while. It is unknown exactly when he appeared on the Belgian scene, nor when he disappeared from the musical life of Brussels, but he did play at the Pol’s club where his wife worked as a cloakroom assistant during the 1970s. The recording session for ‘Stop, Look, Listen’ took place on 3rd June 1972 and although the character and story of the leader remain a mystery, his Belgian accompanists were well-known figures on the Brussels scene. Drummer Robert Pernet, vibraphone player and percussionist Johnny Perret and double bass player Paul Dubois played and recorded with Toots Thielemans, Bobby Jaspar and many others for thirty years or so. Unfortunately, Paul Dubois, the only surviving member of the rhythm section, who played just this once with the pianist, has no memory of Raphael or of the opera singer Rose Thompson, whose voice lights up the arrangements. However, the real mystery surrounding this album - even more than the circumstances in which it came into existence - is the magical nature of the compositions. Raphael manages to create a unique alchemy on every track, a harmonious blend of very different musical styles: be-bop, opera, free jazz, and rock. Many musicians tried their hand at fusion around that time, but this album is unequalled in its lyrical, poetic chemistry. Stop, look, listen…
Choisis ton camp
Raphaël Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Choisis tes drogues
Choisis tes partenaires
Choisis ta sécurité
Choisis ta voiture, ta seconde voiture
Ta maison, ta femme, ton régime
De couverture sociale
Choisis ton parfum, son parfum
Ton micro-ordinateur
Choisis tes banques,
Choisis tes aliments,
Choisis ton parti,
Choisi ton fast-food,
Tes vêtements
Tes crédits, choisis toutes les options
Choisis tes gênes,
Choisis tes enfants, tes vacances, ta rébellion,
Ta culture, ta conscience,
Choisis ton camp
Mais souviens toi que tout s'en va
Sans mal sans mal
La tête nue le visage pâle
Choisis ton carburant
Choisis ton tabac
Choisis ton alarme
Choisis tes slogans
Choisis ton cancer,
Choisis tes rêves,
Choisis ta sexualité, tes revendications,
Tes fantasmes, tes grèves,
Choisis-toi une arme,
Choisis tout c'que tu veux,
Tout doit disparaître
Mais souviens toi que tout s'en va
Sans mal sans mal
La tête nue le visage pâle
Sans mal sans mal...
In Raphael's song Choisis Ton Camp, the artist is urging listeners to make choices and take control over their lives, regardless of the consequences. The lyrics list a variety of decisions that individuals must make, ranging from mundane choices like what brand of perfume or television to buy, to more important decisions such as choosing one's political affiliations and partners. The song emphasizes that every choice made in life has a consequence, and that one must accept the inevitable fleeting nature of everything in order to truly live.
The repeated phrase "Choisis ton camp" (Choose your camp) brings to mind the idea of taking sides and standing by one's decisions, but it can also be interpreted more broadly as choosing one's path in life. The message of the song is one of empowerment, urging listeners to take responsibility for their choices and to live without regrets, even in the face of impermanence.
Overall, Choisis Ton Camp is a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to reflect on the choices they make in life and to take ownership of their decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Choisis ta vie
You have the power to choose the path of your life
Choisis tes drogues
You have the responsibility to choose which substances you consume
Choisis tes partenaires
You have the choice of who you share your life with
Choisis ta sécurité
You have the right to prioritize your safety and well-being
Choisis ta voiture, ta seconde voiture
You have the ability to choose the make and model of your car(s)
Ta maison, ta femme, ton régime De couverture sociale
You have the freedom to choose your living conditions, spouse, and social security plan
Choisis ton parfum, son parfum
You can decide which fragrance best appeals to you
Choisis ton téléviseur, Ton micro-ordinateur
You can select the type of TV and computer you prefer
Choisis tes banques, Choisis tes aliments
You can decide where to bank and what to eat
Choisis ton parti, Choisi ton fast-food, Tes vêtements
You have the choice to join a political party, eat fast food, and select your clothing
Tes crédits, choisis toutes les options
You can choose all the options for your credit arrangements
Choisis tes gênes, Choisis tes enfants, tes vacances, ta rébellion, Ta culture, ta conscience
You have the power to choose your genetic traits, children, vacations, rebellions, cultural background, and beliefs
Choisis ton camp
You have the ability to choose which side you stand on
Mais souviens toi que tout s'en va Sans mal sans mal La tête nue le visage pâle
Remember that all things will come to an end, without pain, with an open mind and a pale face
Choisis ton carburant, Choisis ton tabac, Choisis ton alarme, Choisis tes slogans
You can choose your fuel type, tobacco products, alarm system, and political slogans
Choisis ton cancer, Choisis tes rêves, Choisis ta sexualité, tes revendications, Tes fantasmes, tes grèves, Choisis-toi une arme, Choisis tout c'que tu veux
You can choose to be afflicted by cancer or pursue your dreams, determine your sexual orientation and political beliefs, indulge in your fantasies or join in on strikes - and even choose to arm yourself
Tout doit disparaître
Everything will eventually disappear
Mais souviens toi que tout s'en va Sans mal sans mal La tête nue le visage pâle Sans mal sans mal...
Remember that everything will eventually disappear, without pain, with an open mind and a pale face... without pain, with an open mind and a pale face...
Contributed by Adam S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.