At age 16, Distel became a professional jazz guitarist. Over his career he worked alongside Dizzy Gillespie and Tony Bennett and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1950s after establishing himself as a French crooner.
Sacha Distel had a much publicized relationship with actress Brigitte Bardot but in 1963 he married skier Francine Bréaud. He reputedly broke off the relationship with Bardot after discovering her with another man.
In the 1960s, he composed 'La Belle Vie', a tune that made its way across the Atlantic as 'The Good Life', and most famously performed by Tony Bennett. French lyrics were added in the 1970s and it became Distel's signature tune. During the 1960s, he had his own variety show on French television.
During the 1970s, he became popular outside France, and once hosted the Miss World contest in London. In this decade, he spent more time in the UK than in France. Considered a Gallic heart throb in Britain he was a regular on British TV
Distel remained reasonably popular in France in the 1980s and 1990s, including a new show named after his song 'La Belle Vie'.
In 2001, Distel had a part as lawyer Billy Flynn in the London production of the musical Chicago. He did have an ambition to make a musical about the life of Maurice Chevalier, but this remained unfulfilled at the time of his death.
Sacha Distel died on 22 July 2004 near St Tropez,after a long battle with cancer.
His name was used in Peter Sarstedt's song "Where Do You Go To My Lovely".
Toutes Les Mêmes
Sacha Distel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plus gracieuses qu'un vol de papillon
Elles font le beau temps comme les coccinelles
Et roucoulent comme les pigeons
Elles sont bavardes et belles comme les perruches
Prévoyantes aussi comme les fourmis
Nous laissent tomber comme des ours en peluche
{Refrain:}
Toutes les mêmes
Toutes les mêmes
Et pourtant, on n' peut pas s'en passer
Toutes les mêmes
Oui, mais on les aime
Et rien ne peut les remplacer
Pour elles, nous sommes toujours des phénomènes
Plus maladroits que des éléphants
Dans un magasin de porcelaine
Quand on les trompe en passant
{au Refrain}
Plus bohèmes encore que les cigales
Elles adorent aller danser la nuit
Mais ces petites chattes ont pour elles une morale
Trouver le matou de leur vie
Toutes les mêmes
Toutes les mêmes
Et pourtant, on n' peut pas s'en passer
Toutes les mêmes
Elles sont toutes les mêmes
Et pourtant, on n' peut pas s'en passer
The lyrics to Sacha Distel's song Toutes Les Mêmes describe the stereotypical traits of women that men tend to love and loathe at the same time. The first verse compares women to graceful gazelles, delicate butterflies, and playful ladybugs. They are also known to chatter like parakeets and plan ahead like ants. However, despite the attention and affection they receive, women are also quick to abandon men for a more exciting prospect, just as a bird of the night attracts followers.
The chorus repeats the mantra "Toutes les mêmes" (All the same) and acknowledges that men cannot live without women, even though they are exasperatingly predictable. Men are likened to clumsy elephants in a china shop when they betray the trust of the women they try to woo. The final verse portrays women as whimsical bohemians who love to dance at night. But despite their free-spirited nature, they too have a moral compass that guides them towards finding a lifelong partner.
Overall, the song portrays a bittersweet love affair between men and women, highlighting their mutual flaws and strengths, and revealing that they are all ultimately chasing the same goal of finding true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Plus légères et frêles que les gazelles
They are lighter and more delicate than gazelles.
Plus gracieuses qu'un vol de papillon
They are more graceful than a butterfly's flight.
Elles font le beau temps comme les coccinelles
They bring sunshine like ladybugs.
Et roucoulent comme les pigeons
And coo like pigeons.
Elles sont bavardes et belles comme les perruches
They are talkative and beautiful like parakeets.
Prévoyantes aussi comme les fourmis
Also forethoughtful like ants.
Nous laissent tomber comme des ours en peluche
They drop us like stuffed bears.
Pour suivre un bel oiseau de nuit
To follow a handsome night bird.
Toutes les mêmes
All the same
Toutes les mêmes
All the same
Et pourtant, on n' peut pas s'en passer
And yet, we cannot do without them.
Toutes les mêmes
All the same
Oui, mais on les aime
Yes, but we love them.
Et rien ne peut les remplacer
And nothing can replace them.
Pour elles, nous sommes toujours des phénomènes
For them, we are always phenomenal.
Plus maladroits que des éléphants
More clumsy than elephants.
Dans un magasin de porcelaine
In a china shop.
Quand on les trompe en passant
When we cheat on them in passing.
Plus bohèmes encore que les cigales
Even more bohemian than cicadas.
Elles adorent aller danser la nuit
They love to dance at night.
Mais ces petites chattes ont pour elles une morale
But these little cats have a moral.
Trouver le matou de leur vie
To find the tomcat of their life.
Toutes les mêmes
All the same.
Toutes les mêmes
All the same.
Et pourtant, on n' peut pas s'en passer
And yet, we cannot do without them.
Elles sont toutes les mêmes
They are all the same.
Et pourtant, on n' peut pas s'en passer
And yet, we cannot do without them.
Contributed by David F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Florian Allard
J'aime beaucoup Sacha Distel !
Marie-Agnés
Le beau Sacha 🤗
Florian Allard
Il avait 1 truc qui mettait toujours les gens de bonne humeur !
Yvette 55
J aime bien aussi cette chanson Il aimait beaucoup les femmes et il en a eu des aventures...... Sacre Sacha mais il etait tellement beau.... Avec un physique de jeunes premiers...
Ours Noir
La femme 😋😍 😍😍🤩
Olivier Derangere
Son sourire
Allegrini Edmond
chanson assez véridique , mais aujourd´ hui cela àchangé...
MrLinoventura
superbe !...c'est bien vrai !....toutes les mêmes ...
PR31
TDSSMM...
MiouziK 4 All
Comment nicker une chanson mythique. Affligeant ! 😖