There are more than one artist who uses this mononym : 1. Raphaël Haroche f… Read Full Bio ↴There are more than one artist who uses this mononym : 1. Raphaël Haroche from Paris, Î-d-F, France2. Phil Raphaël from New York, NY, United States3.

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…

Libre service
Raphaël Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

On veut du changement
On veut de la beauté
De nouveaux modèles
Du divertissement
Que tout soit bien huilé
Pour que l'on s'aime
Quelqu'un a suggéré
Que c'était démodé

De garder la même
Et on est retourné
Voir ce qui se fait de mieux
Voir ce qui se fait de mieux

Pour voir si notre amour est sous garantie
Est sous garantie
Pour voir si notre amour est sous garantie
Est sous garantie

Tout est libre-service ici,
Elles sont toutes
Plus jeunes, elles sont toutes
Plus belles, des professionnelles
il n'y a qu'à choisir dans n'importe quelle position
elles te feront tout
c'est une affaire à saisir
une affaire à saisir

Pour voir si notre amour est sous garantie
Est sous garantie
Pour voir si notre amour est sous garantie
Est sous garantie

Qu'est-ce que l'on va faire
De toute cette peine
Qu'est-ce que l'on va faire

De toute cette peine
de toute cette peine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Raphaël's song "Libre service" delve into the desire for change and beauty in relationships, the search for novelty and entertainment, and the idea of love being replaceable like a consumer product.

The first verse highlights the longing for change and beauty. The lyrics express the desire for new models, entertainment, and a smoothly functioning relationship where everything is well-oiled. The notion of seeking something better is emphasized when it is suggested that it is outdated to stick with the same things. The repetition of the phrase "Voir ce qui se fait de mieux" ("to see what is best") suggests a quest for improvement, perhaps in one's own relationship.

The chorus speaks to the uncertainty and questioning that arise in relationships. The lyrics pose the question of whether love can be guaranteed and if it comes with certain assurances. It implies that the individuals in the relationship are seeking validation and proof that their love is reliable or capable of meeting certain standards.

The second verse introduces the concept of a "libre-service" or self-service model for relationships. The lyrics depict a scenario where all options are available, with younger and more beautiful individuals presented as professionals who can fulfill any desire. The emphasis on choosing from any position and the promise that they will do anything implies a transactional, disposable nature of relationships, further reinforcing the idea of love as a consumer commodity.

The repetition of the chorus suggests that the search for guarantee and validation of love persists, even in this context of a "libre-service." The uncertainty and insecurity concerning the future of the relationship are still present, as the lyrics question what will be done with all the pain that comes from this search for something better. It implies that the pursuit of novelty and beauty can cause emotional pain and raises the question of whether it is worth it or how to deal with the aftermath.

Overall, the lyrics of "Libre service" convey a sense of longing for change and beauty, a quest for something better, and the underlying uncertainty and dissatisfaction that arise from treating love as a replaceable and disposable commodity. The song prompts introspection on the consequences of this mindset and the potential impact on emotional well-being.

Line by Line Meaning

On veut du changement
We desire change

On veut de la beauté
We desire beauty

De nouveaux modèles
We want new models

Du divertissement
We want entertainment

Que tout soit bien huilé
We want everything to run smoothly

Pour que l'on s'aime
So that we can love each other

Quelqu'un a suggéré
Someone has suggested

Que c'était démodé
That it was outdated

De garder la même
To keep the same

Et on est retourné
And we have returned

Voir ce qui se fait de mieux
To see what is done best