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]).
Requiem pour un con
Vanessa Paradis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air-là
J'espère que tu aimes ?
C'est assez beau, non ?
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
C'est un joli thème
Tu ne trouves pas ?
Semblable à toi même
Pauvre con
Voici les orgues
Qui remettent ça
Faut qu't'apprennes par coeur cet air-là
Que tu n'aies pas même
Une hésitation
Sur le requiem pour un con
Quoi, tu me regardes ?
Tu n'apprécies pas ?
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là-dedans
Qui t'plaît pas ?
Pour moi, c'est idem
Que ça t'plaise ou non
J'te l'rejoue quand même
Pauvre con
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air-là
J'espère que tu aimes ?
C'est assez beau, non ?
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
À ta mémoire de scélérat
Sur ta figure blême
Aux murs des prisons
J'inscrirai moi-même : "Pauvre con"
The lyrics of Vanessa Paradis's song Requiem Pour un Con are quite complex and layered. The song is addressed to someone, who is referred to as a "con," which can be translated as a stupid or foolish person. The singer seems to have a complicated relationship with the person, as they simultaneously seem to be mocking and honoring them.
The singer tells the "con" to listen to the organ music, which was composed specifically for them. The music is described as "terrible" but also "beautiful," and the singer asks if the "con" likes it. They go on to say that the music is a requiem, a composition traditionally used in Christian funerals, but in this case, it is "for a con."
The singer seems to be taunting the "con," calling them a "scélérat," which can be translated as "villain" or "criminal." They describe the composition as a "pretty theme," similar to the "con" themselves. The singer continues to play and sing the song, urging the "con" to memorize it, so they never forget it.
The final verse takes on a darker tone, as the singer suggests that the "con" will end up in a prison cell, and they will personally inscribe "pauvre con" (poor con) on the prison walls as a reminder. The song's overall tone is one of irony and ambiguity, leaving the listener unsure of the true intention behind the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Écoute les orgues
Listen to the organs playing
Elles jouent pour toi
They are playing for you
Il est terrible cet air-là
This melody is terrible
J'espère que tu aimes ?
I hope you like it?
C'est assez beau, non ?
It's quite beautiful, isn't it?
C'est le requiem pour un con
It's the requiem for a jerk
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
I composed it especially for you
À ta mémoire de scélérat
In memory of your villainy
C'est un joli thème
It's a beautiful theme
Tu ne trouves pas ?
Don't you think so?
Semblable à toi même
Similar to yourself
Pauvre con
Poor jerk
Voici les orgues
Here are the organs
Qui remettent ça
Playing it again
Faut qu't'apprennes par coeur cet air-là
You have to memorize this melody
Que tu n'aies pas même
So that you don't even have
Une hésitation
Any hesitation
Sur le requiem pour un con
On the requiem for a jerk
Quoi, tu me regardes ?
What, are you looking at me?
Tu n'apprécies pas ?
You don't appreciate it?
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là-dedans
But what's in it
Qui t'plaît pas ?
That you don't like?
Pour moi, c'est idem
For me, it's the same
Que ça t'plaise ou non
Whether you like it or not
J'te l'rejoue quand même
I'm playing it again anyway
Pauvre con
Poor jerk
Écoute les orgues
Listen to the organs playing
Elles jouent pour toi
They are playing for you
Il est terrible cet air-là
This melody is terrible
J'espère que tu aimes ?
I hope you like it?
C'est assez beau, non ?
It's quite beautiful, isn't it?
C'est le requiem pour un con
It's the requiem for a jerk
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
I composed it especially for you
À ta mémoire de scélérat
In memory of your villainy
Sur ta figure blême
On your pale face
Aux murs des prisons
On the walls of prisons
J'inscrirai moi-même : "Pauvre con"
I will inscribe myself: "Poor jerk"
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.