<… Read Full Bio ↴She was born on December 26, 1929 in Belgium to Polish-Jewish parents.
Started life hiding from the Nazis in occupied wartime France and later invented the format for "discothèque" (French for Nightclubs). Setting in 1953 the elements of modern day nightclubs, mainly by replacing the use of jukebox by coupled turntables as done for the first time in Paris' 'Whisky-a-Gogo' club that she managed aged 24. This specific setting appeared later in any of 'Chez Régine's ultra selective venues and later in many variations at most Nightclubs around the world.
Aside of inventing and managing "discothèques", she taught a former king of England to do the twist, presided over a multi-million dollar international nightclub empire and had a hit single with the French version of Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive." She also played in a few movies.
In 1957 she opened Chez Régine in the Latin Quarter, which quickly became the place to be seen for playboys and princes. It was here that she introduced France to the 'Twist', having seen the Paris cast of West Side Story warming up to Chubby Checker records.
In the 1970s Régine moved to New York and lived in a suite of the Delmonico Hotel. At her height there were 25 clubs bearing the name across three continents and it was said you could party at a Régine's somewhere in the world 17 hours out of every 24, if you could get in.
Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux
Regine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il n′y a qu'un seul moyen efficace pour que ça passe et en douceur
Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux tu verras ça glissera mieux
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Si les mouches entrent un peu t′en fais donc pas pour si peu
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Pour gober leurs bobards dans les alcôves, la fois qui sauve, ça suffit pas
Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux tu verras ça glissera mieux
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Si les mouches entrent un peu, t'en fais donc pas pour si peu
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Un jour t'apprendras par les télétypes tous les braves types s′foutent en kaki
Crois-moi il n′y a rien de plus indigeste, les baïonnettes et les pruneaux
Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux tu verras ça glissera mieux
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Si les mouches entrent un peu t'en fais donc pas pour si peu
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
In Regine's song Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux, the lyrics seem to be a metaphor for swallowing difficult or unpleasant situations in life. The first verse suggests that there are things we need to swallow, such as blue flies, quinine, or mashed potatoes, and the only way to accomplish this smoothly is by opening our mouth and closing our eyes. The repetition of the line "Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux" throughout the song emphasizes the importance of this technique in dealing with difficult situations. The singer advises not to worry too much if the flies get in, suggesting that we shouldn't let small difficulties disturb us too much.
The second verse hints at the idea that sometimes we need to swallow things that are not as easy to accept as flies or mashed potatoes. The metaphorical "bobards" (lies) are harder to digest and require a strong stomach. The line "quand le cur vide on broie du noir" (when the heart is empty, we grind black) suggests that the difficulty in digesting these lies can lead to feelings of emptiness and unhappiness. Again, the singer advises using the opening-mouth-closing-eyes technique to make the swallowing process smoother.
The final verse takes a darker turn, suggesting that sometimes we need to swallow things that are particularly bitter, such as the realization that "brave types" are wearing military clothes, and that war and violence are a reality. The line "les baïonnettes et les pruneaux" (bayonets and prunes) adds to the sense of bitterness and unpleasantness. Once again, the singer advises the opening-mouth-closing-eyes technique to make the swallowing process easier.
Overall, the lyrics to Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux seem to be a reminder that there will be difficult things to swallow in life, but that we can make the process smoother by using this simple technique. The repetition of the line "Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux" throughout the song adds to its hypnotic quality and reinforces the importance of this message.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour avaler les mouches bleu marine ou la kinine ou la purée
To swallow blue navy flies or quinine or puree, there's only one effective way for it to go down smoothly
Il n′y a qu'un seul moyen efficace pour que ça passe et en douceur
There's only one effective method to make it go down smoothly
Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux tu verras ça glissera mieux
Open your mouth, close your eyes, and it will slide down better
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Open your mouth, close your eyes
Si les mouches entrent un peu t′en fais donc pas pour si peu
If a few flies get in, don't worry about it
Pour gober leurs bobards dans les alcôves, la fois qui sauve, ça suffit pas
To swallow their lies in the alcoves, the saving grace isn't enough
Encore faut-il un estomac solide, quand le cur vide on broie du noir
You still need a strong stomach when you're empty and feeling blue
Un jour t'apprendras par les télétypes tous les braves types s′foutent en kaki
One day you'll learn through teletypes that all the brave types wear khaki
Crois-moi il n′y a rien de plus indigeste, les baïonnettes et les pruneaux
Believe me, there's nothing more indigestible than bayonets and prunes
Ouvre La Bouche Ferme Les Yeux tu verras ça glissera mieux
Open your mouth, close your eyes, and it will slide down better
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Open your mouth, close your eyes
Si les mouches entrent un peu t'en fais donc pas pour si peu
If a few flies get in, don't worry about it
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Open your mouth, close your eyes
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Open your mouth, close your eyes
Ouvre la bouche, ferme les yeux
Open your mouth, close your eyes
Writer(s): Serge Gainsbourg
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gillesliset860
Repose en paix , tu nous laisse des chansons formidable !
@mail9353
j'connaissais pas, c'est génial !
@trueandika
Pour l'éternité, RIP Régine...
@anniemichelecrepel3092
J aimais beaucoup cette femme au caractère bien trempé, forte devant les épreuves, dont elle s est toujours relevée ! Elle s est hissée vers les hauteurs à la force du poignet ! Je regrette de ne pas avoir eu la chance de la rencontrer !
RIP Régine !🕊️
@Casper1553
Une chanson qui ne pouvait pas être mise dans la bouche de n importe qui... Gainsbourg avait l'art de virvolter sur les sous entendus... personnes ne l a JAMAIS égalé dans ce registre...
@francois4667
Regine est reparti retrouver son copain Gainsbourg. Merci à vous. RIP
@nadiaromain336
Oui en ce moment même......🙂
@tobiasmaier5935
Une perte immense.Tu nous manque déjà,petite fille de Belleville.
@fredmartin2611
Oui c'était excellent
@Boringneighbor
que d e souvenirs c est tres triste elle etait superbe