Born in Paris, Séverine won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 for Monaco, performing "Un banc, un arbre, une rue" (A bench, a tree, a street), with music by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and words by Yves Dessca. It was recorded in English as "Chance In Time", in German as "Mach die Augen zu (und wünsch dir einen Traum)" and Italian as "Il posto". The French version made #9 in the UK charts in April 1971, whereas the English version, released on CBS rather than Philips, did not chart. The song charted highly in most other European markets. Séverine had further success in France and Germany, but never again on an international scale.
Séverine made two further attempts at winning the Eurovision Song Contest, participating in the German national finals of 1975 and 1982. Neither song won. She accompanied Monaco's delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens.
Eurovision Song Contest 1971 - Dublin
Entry for Monaco
Performer: Séverine
Song title: Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue
Song writer(s): Yves Dessca
Song composer(s): Jean-Pierre Bourtayre
Sang in Position: 3
Final Position: 1
Total Points: 128
Viens
Séverine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Avec toi ne prends que ta guitare et une fleur
Viens chanter!
À quoi sert de vivre sans connaître le bonheur?
Puisqu'on est jeunes
Puisqu'on est fous
Viens donc te joindre à nous
Le temps des pleurs
N'hésite-pas
N'hésite-pas
Suis-moi!
Viens, viens danser!
Le soleil est toujours là
Les filles sont si jolies!
Viens danser!
Et tu le verras, un jour, simplement on oublie
Puis, après chaque nuit
Renait un nouveau matin
Plus beau que la veille
Plus riche de merveilles
Plus riche d'un soir
Quand on sait le voir
Viens, viens danser!
Ne refuse pas la main que je tends
Mais suis-moi
Viens danser!
Aujourd'hui c'est jour de fête
C'est un jour de joie
Puisqu'on est jeunes
Puisqu'on est fous
Viens donc te joindre à nous
Le temps des pleurs
Et des regrets n'est pas au rendezvous
N'hésite-pas
N'hésite-pas
Suis-moi!
Viens, viens chanter!
Avec toi ne prends que ta guitare et une fleur
Viens chanter!
À quoi sert de vivre sans connaître le bonheur?
The lyrics of Séverine's song "Viens" invite the listener to join in the celebration of life and joy. The song is an invitation to let go of sadness and regrets, and to embrace the present moment with open arms. The lyrics encourage the listener to sing, dance, and enjoy all the beauty and wonder that life has to offer.
The first verse invites the listener to come and sing, with nothing but a guitar and a flower. The focus is on simplicity and joy, with no need for material possessions or complicated plans. The second verse invites the listener to dance, with the promise that the sun is always shining and the girls are always beautiful. The emphasis is on living in the moment and enjoying life's simple pleasures.
The third verse reminds the listener that every new day is an opportunity for renewal and wonder. The emphasis is on the beauty of life and the importance of taking the time to appreciate it. The chorus repeats the invitation to sing and dance, with the added emphasis on the fact that life is a celebration, and that sadness and regret have no place in it. The song ends with a final invitation to come and sing, with nothing but a guitar and a flower, and to embrace the joy of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Viens, viens chanter!
Come, come sing!
Avec toi ne prends que ta guitare et une fleur
Take only your guitar and a flower with you
Viens chanter!
Come sing!
À quoi sert de vivre sans connaître le bonheur?
What's the point of living without experiencing happiness?
Puisqu'on est jeunes
Since we are young
Puisqu'on est fous
Since we are crazy
Viens donc te joindre à nous
So come join us
Le temps des pleurs
The time for tears
Et des regrets n'est pas au rendezvous
And regrets are not part of our plans
N'hésite-pas
Don't hesitate
Suis-moi!
Follow me!
Viens, viens danser!
Come, come dance!
Le soleil est toujours là
The sun is always shining
Les filles sont si jolies!
The girls are so pretty!
Et tu le verras, un jour, simplement on oublie
And you will see, one day, we simply forget
Puis, après chaque nuit
Then, after each night
Renait un nouveau matin
A new morning is born
Plus beau que la veille
More beautiful than the previous one
Plus riche de merveilles
Richer with wonders
Plus riche d'un soir
Richer with an evening
Quand on sait le voir
When we know how to see it
Ne refuse pas la main que je tends
Don't refuse the hand I'm offering
Aujourd'hui c'est jour de fête
Today is a festive day
C'est un jour de joie
It's a day of joy
Viens donc te joindre à nous
So come join us
Writer(s): Georges Aber- Pierre Delanoé, Jacques Revaux
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@derjtecdetvbnk5413
J'AI TOUJOURS AIMÉ SÉVERINE
DÈS SON PREMIER DISQUE.
JE VOUS KIFFE TJR SÉVERINE. ....😉
@raedjan
I was 6 years old when I first heard Severine on a 45 SP that had “Viens” and the Eurovision 1971 winner “ UN banc, UN Arbre, UN rue” and it was love at first site.