Born in Iskretz, Bulgaria, to a Bulgarian-Armenian father and a Hungarian mother, Vartan arrived in France when she was 10. She married the French rocker Johnny Hallyday on April 12, 1965 in Loconville. They have a son, David Hallyday (who is also a singer), born David Michael Benjamin Smet on August 14, 1966. Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan were France's "Golden Couple" of their generation. They divorced on November 4, 1980.
She is currently married to American media mogul Tony Scotti. She is actor Michael Vartan's aunt.
In 2005, Sylvie Vartan was appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal and Child Health in the European Region.
Her European hits include "Panne d'essence" ('Out Of Gas'), "Comme un garçon" ('Like a boy'), "J’ai un problème, je crois bien que je t’aime" ('I have a problem: I really think I love you'), and "La plus belle pour aller danser" ('The most beautiful to go dancing'). She is also rembered for such songs such as "L'amour c'est comme une cigarette" (Love is like a cigarette)
Holidays
Sylvie Vartan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'est l'avion qui descend du ciel
Et sous l'ombre de son aile
Une ville passe
Que la terre est basse
Holidays...
Holidays, Oh holidays
Que fait-il le Dieu qu'ils aiment?,
Qui vit dans l'espace,
Que la terre est basse
Holidays
Holidays, Oh holidays
De l'avion, l'ombre prend la mer
La mer comme une préface
Avant le désert
Que la mer est basse
Holidays
Holidays, Oh holidays
Tant de ciel et tant de nuages
Tu ne sais pas à ton âge
Toi que la vie lasse
Que la mort est basse
Holidays
Holidays, Oh holidays
C'est l'avion qui habite au ciel
Mais n'oublie pas, toi si belle
Les avions se cassent
Et la terre est basse
Holidays!...
The song "Holidays" by Sylvie Vartan, is a nostalgic reflection on the holiday season. The opening lyrics describe the descent of an airplane, casting its shadow over a city, as the world below appears so small. The singer reflects on the contrast of the towering church steeples and the low-income apartment buildings that exist side by side. She questions the role of God in such a world and wonders how he could live in the vastness of space as the earth seems so small. Vartan then takes in the view of the ocean as the plane passes over, likening its endless expanse to a preface before the coming of the desert. All the while, she is keenly aware that death is always present, as represented by the ever-present land. Yet, she still longs for the joy and freedom that come with holidays.
Vartan's lyrics masterfully draw attention to the theme of contrasting perspectives, highlighting the beauty that can be found in different ways of looking at the world. For instance, she contrasts the skyline of the city with the expanse of the sky and reminds us to never lose childlike wonder. She finds solace in the vastness of the world, all while keeping the unavoidable fact of death in view. The song is a beautiful reflection on the holiday season's complex emotions, and Vartan's distinct voice and thoughtful lyrics make it stand out even after all these years.
Line by Line Meaning
Holidays, Oh holidays
The singer is excited about going on a vacation
C'est l'avion qui descend du ciel
The singer is flying to their destination by airplane
Et sous l'ombre de son aile
The singer is sitting in the shade provided by the airplane while flying
Une ville passe
The airplane flies over a city
Que la terre est basse
The earth looks small from the height of the airplane
Des églises et des H.L.M.
The singer sees churches and high-rise apartments from the airplane
Que fait-il le Dieu qu'ils aiment?
The singer wonders what the God people in the city are praying to is doing
Qui vit dans l'espace,
The artist believes God lives in space but is unsure about it
Que la terre est basse
The earth looks small from the height of the airplane
De l'avion, l'ombre prend la mer
The airplane's shadow is covering the sea
La mer comme une préface
The sea is like an introduction before the desert
Avant le désert
The airplane is flying towards a desert
Que la mer est basse
The sea looks small from the height of the airplane
Tant de ciel et tant de nuages
The singer is observing the beautiful sky and clouds from the airplane
Tu ne sais pas à ton âge
The singer implies that the listener is clueless about the world even at their age
Toi que la vie lasse
The listener is tired of their life
Que la mort est basse
Death is not significant and will eventually come to everyone
C'est l'avion qui habite au ciel
The singer believes the airplane belongs in the sky
Mais n'oublie pas, toi si belle
The singer reminds the beautiful listener to not forget
Les avions se cassent
Airplanes can crash
Et la terre est basse
People should not forget how small the earth is compared to the vastness of space
Holidays!...
The artist ends with the excitement of the coming vacation
Writer(s): Jean Loup Dabadie, Michel Polnareff
Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nathaliediaz2971
Effectivement très belle reprise de CE GRAND Polnareff par notre grande Sylvie MERCI BCP BERNARD
@bernardleonsiegfried3304
Très rare, extraordinaire 😊😊😊❤❤❤😘😘😘 notre Sylvie...
@ToLonging
I am Korean.
It's been 40 years since I've listened to Sylvie's song, and I am now 60 years old, but her songs are still beautiful and attractive. God bless you..🌹🙏
@isabellelevy-banchereau3271
Merci pour ce partage et votre vidéo
Je ne connaissais pas du tout cette version avec Sylvie Vartan
Ça donne une autre dimension à cette superbe chanson de Michel Polnareff
Très surprenant
Mais hyper joli
Bravo de nous donner ce plaisir assez inattendu
@yvettemassot3273
Magnifique ❤️
@tranvananh7595
My aunt used to hear this song when I was child and then I love this song so much.
I'm Vietnamese and born in late of 1980s.
@joellebarriere6509
Merci pour cette version j'adore les 2. Polnareff et Sylvie bravo
@catherinegellie8107
Merci de cette belle chanson….j’ai adoré son interprète….
@jaumetdepalma5347
an awesome song that can bring millions of people back in the golden youth years... for an "oldie" like me it's hard to listen it and not drop few tears remembering my childhood summers , happy times, and all the beloved persons who left us...
@VanLe-jq3nu
She was so beautiful. Her voice was lovely. I love all her song she sang ❤💕❤💕❤💕