She was discovered on the TV show L'École des fans in 1980. She recorded her first single La Magie des surprises-parties in 1985. Although it was not a hit, it paved the way for the song with which she would become internationally famous - "Joe le taxi" in 1987, while she was still only 14 years old. It was #1 in France for 11 weeks and, unusually for a song sung in French, was released in the United Kingdom the following year, where it reached #3. It was taken from her first album M&J (it stands for Marilyn & John) which, although it gained a number 13 placing in France, drew little attention in the UK and did not chart.
In 1992, now 19 and working in the United States with rock musician Lenny Kravitz, who was her boyfriend for a while, Paradis began work on a new album sung in English, in which she had become fluent. Written and produced by Kravitz, the album, titled Vanessa Paradis, topped the French chart and briefly made the UK listings (number 45). One of the singles from it was Be My Baby, which made number 5 in France and gave her another Top 10 UK hit (number 6). She has since appeared in several films, most famously "Noce Blanche", for which she won the 1990 César Award for Most Promising Actress; 1999's La fille sur le pont (aka Girl on the Bridge), which became an arthouse box office hit in the United States; and 2004's Mon Ange.
Paradis currently released a new album (Divinidylle). There are three versions (regular, limited edition, and the Christmas edition). She started the Divinidylle tour in October. Some concerts were filmed and the DVD/CD of the tour was just recently released. Her latest film DVD release is La Clef. Also, Vanessa recently won two Les Victoires de la Musique awards for her new album Divinidylle. Some of her next projects include a greatest hits cd which includes the commercial jingle "I love Paris in the Springtime" as well as the movies "The Midwife Crisis" and "Un monstre à Paris April" which will be released in 2010.
Vanessa Paradis has been in a relationship with American actor Johnny Depp since 1998. They have a daughter, Lily-Rose Melody Depp (born 27 May 1999), and a son, John Christopher "Jack" Depp III (born 9 April 2002[3]).
Commando
Vanessa Paradis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'est pas cadeau, c'est pas qu'à deux
Ça prend des ponts aux amoureux
Et ça répond aux vaniteux
Un commando c'est résistant
Ça résiste au pire existant
Ça fait des bons et des méchants
Et sur le front c'est sur les dents
Sonnent les larmes à sang et à feu
Dieu comme Rimbaud, beau comme un dieu
Et dans son âme ça brûle un peu
Un commando ça prend sur soi
Et sur la peau ça déçoit pas
Paris, c'est comme libre Cuba
Un écusson s'use au combat
Commande, commande, commande
Commando, commande, commande, commande
Commande, commandité
Commande, commande, commande
Commando, commande, commande, commande
Commander, commander
Un commando deux comme vandales
Scie à métaux, scie à mental
La Madelon s'en va au bal
Ça en dit long sur l'animal
Un commando ça tombe sous le sens
C'est juste un mot qui sent l'essence
Pleurer ça fait bomber le torse
Mais sans jamais mouiller l'amorce
Commande, commande, commande
Commando, commande, commande, commande
Commande, commandité
Commande, commande, commande
Commando, commande, commande, commande
Commander, commander
Commande, commande, commande
Commando, commande, commande, commande
Commande, commandité
Commande, commande, commande
Commando, commande, commande, commande
Commander, commander
Commande, commande, commande, commande
Commande, commando
Commando, aah
Commando, commando
The lyrics of Vanessa Paradis’ song “Commando” seem to be describing a group of people who are united by a common mission or cause, much like a military commando unit. The opening lines, “Un commando, ça saute aux yeux, C'est pas cadeau, c'est pas qu'à deux” (A commando, that's obvious, It's not a gift, it's not just two), suggest that a commando is not something you can ignore, it’s a force to be reckoned with. The lyrics go on to describe how a commando is resilient, able to withstand the worst situations, and filled with both good and bad people.
The chorus of the song consists of repeating the word “commande” and “commando”, creating a sense of urgency and determination. The lines, “Un commando ça prend sur soi, Et sur la peau ça déçoit pas” (A commando takes it upon themselves, And it doesn't disappoint on the skin) suggest that being part of a commando means taking responsibility and rising to the occasion no matter what. Additionally, the references to “la Madelon,” a traditional French song about a female soldier, and the allusion to Rimbaud, a French poet who ran away from home to join the French Army, further convey the idea of fighting for a cause and being part of something larger than oneself.
Overall, “Commando” can be interpreted as a song about the importance of unity, determination, and taking action in the face of adversity. The use of military language and allusions adds to the song's sense of urgency and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Un commando, ça saute aux yeux
A commando is obvious and stands out
C'est pas cadeau, c'est pas qu'à deux
It's not easy and not just for two people
Ça prend des ponts aux amoureux
It takes bridges away from lovers
Et ça répond aux vaniteux
And it responds to the vain
Un commando c'est résistant
A commando is resilient
Ça résiste au pire existant
It can withstand the worst that exists
Ça fait des bons et des méchants
It has good people and bad people
Et sur le front c'est sur les dents
And on the front lines, they are on edge
Un commando, c'est dans tes yeux
A commando is in your eyes
Sonnent les larmes à sang et à feu
Tears ring out like fire and blood
Dieu comme Rimbaud, beau comme un dieu
Like Rimbaud, beautiful like a god
Et dans son âme ça brûle un peu
And in their soul, it burns a little
Un commando ça prend sur soi
A commando takes it upon themselves
Et sur la peau ça déçoit pas
And it never disappoints the skin
Paris, c'est comme libre Cuba
Paris is like a free Cuba
Un écusson s'use au combat
An emblem is worn out in battle
Un commando deux comme vandales
A commando is two like vandals
Scie à métaux, scie à mental
Saws through metal and the mind
La Madelon s'en va au bal
The Madelon goes to the ball
Ça en dit long sur l'animal
It says a lot about the animal
Un commando ça tombe sous le sens
A commando is self-evident
C'est juste un mot qui sent l'essence
It's just a word that smells of essence
Pleurer ça fait bomber le torse
Crying makes the chest puff out
Mais sans jamais mouiller l'amorce
But never actually starting
Commande, commande, commande
Command, command, command
Commande, commandité
Ordered, ordered
Commander, commander
To command, to command
Commando, commande, commande, commande
Commando, command, command, command
Commande, commande, commande, commande
Command, command, command, command
Commando, aah
Commando, ah
Commando, commando
Commando, commando
Lyrics © FIVE SHEKEL MUSIC, SM PUBLISHING FRANCE, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, DELABEL EDITIONS
Written by: Didier Golemanas, Franck Langolff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
australopithecusss
Pure beauty, talent and class, the WORLD loves you Vanessa Paradis!
Ana Paula Hamester
Muito ESTILOSA!!!!!!!!!!Parabéns linda e muito sucesso!!!!
gomongio
This is why I can't listen to her songs as often as i wish... I cannot only listen to 1 or 2 but her every song instead! She is addictive. Just love her, love her music!
Teresa Belshaw
i wish her songs were in english but still love her.
gomongio
@Teresa Belshaw Yeah, it's true. But we always can Google for its translation.
Edit: Well, not really. I'd rather be a polyglot. I honestly can't stand much when artists only speak English (or Spanish in my region) because of market.
ᑭᕼᑌᑎKᗩᗪEᒪᒪIᑕ Şᑌᑎ ᗯIᘔᘔᗩᖇᗪ
@gomongio I agree. I love hearing all the languages of the world in music. And all the genres, subgenres, various instruments, vocal styles, eras, cultures etc etc etc.
Nikolas SoDiant
@Teresa BelshawThe eponymous album Vanessa Paradis composed & produced by Lenny Kravitz is in English 😉
Lady of the woods
More music from Vanessa !! Love her
Stand Down
Love it!
Emeline Galland
j'aime trop cette musique et j'adore la voix de vanessa 😍