Born in the French town of Sedan on 18 May 1960, Yannick Noah grew up with a rich mixed African and European culture at home, living with his Cameroonian father, Simon, and French mother, Marie-Claire. The family returned to Cameroon in Yannick's early childhood after his father, a professional football player, was seriously injured in an accident. The Noahs took up residence in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé, in 1963, but retained close links to France throughout their stay.
Listening to the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley in his teenage years, Yannick soon developed a real passion for music. But the young teenager also appeared to have inherited his father's sporting talent. Yannick proved to be an absolute wizard on the tennis court and, encouraged by a couple of teachers, he spent hours on the courts training his front and backhand. His long hours of training were soon rewarded, too. Yannick's talent was spotted by legendary American tennis star Arthur Ashe and he won a return ticket to France, where he got the benefit of a professional coaching-and-education programme at the French Tennis Federation in Nice.
Spending long months away from his family and friends back in Cameroon weighed heavily on the 11-year-old's shoulders, but his passion for music helped him overcome these early years of exile and solitude. And the intensive training proved worth it in the end. For Yannick went on to enjoy a brilliant sporting career on the tennis courts, winging his way into the record books and tennis fans' hearts when he won the French Open at Rolland Garros in 1983.
On the courts, in the charts
After establishing himself as one of France's most popular tennis stars, Yannick took early retirement from the courts and turned his attention to music. This was a particularly challenging route to go down, given that other French sports celebrities who had attempted to reinvent themselves as pop stars had ended up failing miserably. In 1990 Yannick kicked his career off in style, however, recording a single called "Saga Africa". His record company took the cunning step of signing a deal with the privately-owned TV channel TF1 and his video ended up being broadcast regularly on the channel in between programmes and adverts.
Needless to say, "Saga Africa" rocketed to the top of the French charts within a few weeks of its release and thousands of French music fans found themselves humming the catchy chorus line on the way to work. And in 1991 when Yannick captained France's national tennis team to victory in the Davis Cup, trainers and players broke into an impromptu performance of "Saga Africa" as they went to receive their trophy!
Yannick's debut album "Black & What", released later that year, certainly benefited from the popularity of "Saga Africa" (not to mention the French team's victory dance at the Davis Cup!) Featuring lyrics in French, English and Cameroon dialect – written by Noah himself – and contributions from a host of leading music stars including Manu Dibango, Kamil Rustam and Idrissa Diop, "Black & What" went on to sell a very respectable 600,000 copies.
Following the release of the album, Yannick turned his attention back to the courts for a while, coaching the French women's team to victory in the Fed Cup in 1996.
The pop star with a big heart
Meanwhile, Yannick put his celebrity status at the service of several French charities, investing a huge amount of time and effort in humanitarian causes such as the "Association des enfants de la terre." This organisation, set up in collaboration with his mother in 1988, provides a temporary home for children in need. Yannick also plays the role of patron and major fund-raiser for "Fête le Mur", an association which gives free use of sports facilities to children and teenagers from under-privileged backgrounds. (Yannick is often to be found on the courts, racket in hand, in fact, giving tennis lessons to the youngsters!) Raising funds for a variety of charities including his own associations and the feed-the-homeless organisation "Restos du cœur" and starring in a number of TV adverts, Yannick rarely seems to be off the screen.
Yannick's frequent appearances on French TV did not appear to help sales of his second album, however. Released in 1993, "Urban Tribu" (inspired by the work of John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix and recorded in English) failed to make any sort of impact on the French charts, despite the massive promotional campaign masterminded by Yannick's record label. Yannick took to the road to promote his new album nevertheless, embarking upon a major national tour with his group Zam Zam. The "Urban Tribu Tour 93" featured some 40 dates and Yannick's on-stage charisma worked just as well on the stage as it did on the courts!
Parallel to his hectic recording and sporting career, Yannick also finds time to spend with his family. He is the proud father of four young children - Yoachim and Yelena from his first marriage with Cécilia Rhode (Miss Sweden 1978) and Elyjah and Jenayé from his current marriage to top model Heather Stewart-White. (All currently live in New York).
Somewhere in the midst of his hectic schedule, Yannick also found time to write his autobiography, "Secrets etc…" (published by Editions Plon in April 1997). In the book he meditates on the nature of fame and what role celebrities can play, defending his decision to reveal something of his personal life sometimes. "I may choose to give people a glimpse into my personal life every now and then, but it's never done in a spirit of immodesty or provocation. I'm simply trying to show how, by accepting yourself as you are and admitting your weaknesses as well as your strengths, you can work towards building your own happiness. And that is always a first step towards contributing to others' happiness as well!"
Yannick returned to the music news in the summer of '97 with a new single entitled "Oh rêve". Needless to say, his audacious adaptation of "La Marseillaise" - originally written by Rouget de Lisle in 1792 and adopted as the French national anthem - was bound to ruffle a few feathers. Yannick's pacifist reworking of "La Marseillaise"'s war-like and ultra-patriotic message was not to everyone's liking. Indeed, several war veterans' associations protested against the tennis hero's new version.
Back in the charts
Three years later Yannick returned to the studio to work on a new album. Recorded between Paris and the Cameroonian town of Kribi and released in September 2000, Yannick's eponymous new album was destined to put him back at the top of the charts. "Yannick Noah" also found the former tennis star paying tribute to his African roots. The first single release from the album, "Simon Papa Tara", was specially dedicated to his late grandfather, a village wiseman whom Yannick claimed appeared to him in a vision one night in 1985 and changed the course of his life.
Yannick's celebration of his African origins on this album was reminiscent of the spirit of "Saga Africa" – and it proved to be every bit as successful with the French public. The famous dreadlock-coiffed pop star invited a host of prestigious songwriters and composers (including Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jean Kapler and Eric Benzi) to work on his new album and the result was a superb fusion of African and European influences. Yannick described his catchy, original sound as 'Afro-reggae'. "Les Lionnes", the second single release from the album, confirmed the album's popularity with the French public, rocketing to the top of the charts shortly after its release.
After taking part in the Ricard Live Music tour in July and August 2000, Yannick hit the live circuit again at the end of the year, supporting David Hallyday at the Olympia on 5 December. The following year he appeared at the "Fête de la musique 2001" and returned to the Olympia on 2 July, this time round as the headlining star. In October 2001 Yannick went on to perform a special fund-raising concert for "Les Enfants de la terre" and then kicked off an autumn tour, bringing the house down at Le Zénith in Paris on 21 November.
In 2002 Yannick Noah continued touring and performed in many summer festivals. Very keen on stage performance, he and his faithful team of musicians try to give their audience—which is often composed of many children—the best of themselves.
2003: "Pokhara"
In June 2003 he performed as curtain raiser at Johnny Hallyday’s tour of the French stadiums. Then at the end of August he released a new album entitled "Pokhara" after a town in Nepal. Penned by Eric Benzi, Jean Kapler and Jacques Veneruso, the tracks were tailored to Yannick Noah’s style, producing a result very similar to that of his former album. The first single was called "Si Tu Savais".
The album went on to sell over a million copies.
2004 was taken up with an extensive tour, which included a concert at the Paris-Bercy Omnisports stadium in October 2. It was also the year his partner Isabelle gave birth to his son Joalukas.
In early June 2005, Yannick Noah released an album entitled "Métisse(s)", which was half live and half new material. It included a duet with Diziz la Peste, another with Jamaican artist Jimmy Cliff, and a cover of Téléphone's "la Bombe humaine". Over the summer, he kicked off an acoustic tour with dates at the Casino de Paris from June 27 to July 2, and the Grand Rex from July 6-7.
In the autumn of 2006, Noah returned to the music spotlight with a new album, "Charango" (named after a traditional string instrument from Bolivia). This album, on which he recruited the services of the same songwriting and composing team as on his previous albums, found the former tennis star looking to Latin America for inspiration and making full use of distinctive Latin American rhythms. "Donne moi une vie", the first single release from the album, was soon followed by "Aux arbres citoyens", a topical environmental wake-up call.
Noah hit the road again in May 2007, embarking upon a major French tour.
*
The Yannick Noah story is a lesson in how a famous sports personality has successfully reinvented himself as a singer/musician. Yannick's on-going popularity with the French public is also fuelled by his public commitment to his personal principles. Promoting peace, tolerance and solidarity through his music as well as his charity work, Yannick Noah has proved to be a pop star with a heart of gold.
Mon eldorado
Yannick Noah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je repars jusqu'à dire je peux remonter le temps
Comme ému au début au tout premier cri
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Je reprends réapprends à être vivant
La chaleur la douceur je recommence autrement
Le plus beau le plus beau quel que soit le prix
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Comme l'eau
Comme l'air
Comme tout ce qu'on espère
Tout ce qui nous est nécessaire
Comme toi
Comme nous
Tout ce qui est doux et normal
Et qui peu à peu nous devient vital
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Du soleil mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
The song "Mon Eldorado" by Yannick Noah speaks to the power of love in transforming and renewing life. The opening verses express a sense of renewal and hopefulness as the singer reflects on past dreams and aspirations and finds new motivation to move forward. The song suggests that love is the key to this sense of renewal, with the repeated refrain "du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait" (sunshine as if it were raining) symbolizing the warmth and light that love brings to life.
The lyrics paint a picture of a life lived in the glow of love with the repeated affirmation "et la vie avec toi" (and life with you). The idea of a life lived in the embrace of love is further exemplified in the lines "du soleil mon eldorado/au creux de ta peau" (sunshine my el dorado/in the hollow of your skin). The singer finds a new appreciation for life and a sense of being reborn through the transformative power of love
In summary, "Mon Eldorado" is a song about the restorative and uplifting power of love. Through its simple and poetic lyrics, the song celebrates the essential role that love plays in helping us to rediscover our passions, find hope in difficult times, and experience life's joys to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Je respire je revois mes espoirs d'avant
I breathe in and remember my past hopes
Je repars jusqu'à dire je peux remonter le temps
I feel like I could even travel back in time
Comme ému au début au tout premier cri
I'm emotionally moved like at the very beginning, at the first cry
Je sais ce qui me suffit
I know what is enough for me
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
As if the sun is raining down on me
Le cœur en été
My heart is in summer
Et la vie avec toi
And life with you
Du soleil mon eldorado
Sun, my paradise
Au creux de ta peau
In the hollow of your skin
Et la vie coulera comme ça
And life will flow like this
Je reprends réapprends à être vivant
I resume and relearn how to be alive
La chaleur la douceur je recommence autrement
I restart differently, looking for warmth and tenderness
Le plus beau le plus beau quel que soit le prix
The most beautiful, regardless of the price
Je sais ce qui me suffit
I know what is enough for me
Comme l'eau
Like water
Comme l'air
Like air
Comme tout ce qu'on espère
Like everything we hope for
Tout ce qui nous est nécessaire
Everything that is necessary for us
Comme toi
Like you
Comme nous
Like us
Tout ce qui est doux et normal
All that is sweet and normal
Et qui peu à peu nous devient vital
And gradually becomes vital for us
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
As if the sun is raining down on me
Le cœur en été
My heart is in summer
Du soleil mon eldorado
Sun, my paradise
Au creux de ta peau
In the hollow of your skin
Et la vie coulera comme ça
And life will flow like this
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
As if the sun is raining down on me
Le cœur en été
My heart is in summer
Du soleil mon eldorado
Sun, my paradise
Au creux de ta peau
In the hollow of your skin
Et la vie coulera comme ça
And life will flow like this
Comme ça
Like that
Comme ça
Like that
Comme ça
Like that
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRISTOPHE BATTAGLIA, JACQUES VENERUSO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosa Rochaa
Je respire, je revois mes espoirs d'avant
Je repars jusqu'à dire je peux remonter le temps
Comme ému au début, au tout premier cri
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Je reprends, réapprends à être vivant
La chaleur, la douceur, je recommence autrement
Le plus beau, le plus beau quel que soit le prix
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera (comme ça)
Comme l'eau, comme l'air
Comme tout ce qu'on espère (comme ça)
Tout ce qui nous est nécessaire (comme ça)
Comme toi, comme nous
Tout ce qui est doux et normal
Et qui peu à peu nous devient vital
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
Leconte fabienne
Je respire je revois mes espoirs d'avant
Je repars jusqu'à dire je peux remonter le temps
Comme ému au début au tout premier cri
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le coeur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera…comme ça
Je reprends réapprends à être vivant
La chaleur la douceur je recommence autrement
Le plus beau le plus beau quel que soit le prix
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le coeur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera…comme ça
Comme l'eau
Comme l'air
Comme tout ce qu'on espère
Tout ce qui nous est nécessaire
Comme toi
Comme nous
Tout ce qui est doux et normal
Et qui peu à peu nous devient vital
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le coeur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le coeur en été
Du soleil mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera…comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
MIRIAM🥰
Je respire, je revois mes espoirs d'avant
Je repars jusqu'à dire je peux remonter le temps
Comme ému au début, au tout premier cri
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Je reprends, réapprends à être vivant
La chaleur, la douceur, je recommence autrement
Le plus beau, le plus beau quel que soit le prix
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera (comme ça)
Comme l'eau, comme l'air
Comme tout ce qu'on espère (comme ça)
Tout ce qui nous est nécessaire (comme ça)
Comme toi, comme nous
Tout ce qui est doux et normal
Et qui peu à peu nous devient vital
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
Rosa Rochaa
Je respire, je revois mes espoirs d'avant
Je repars jusqu'à dire je peux remonter le temps
Comme ému au début, au tout premier cri
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Je reprends, réapprends à être vivant
La chaleur, la douceur, je recommence autrement
Le plus beau, le plus beau quel que soit le prix
Je sais ce qui me suffit
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera (comme ça)
Comme l'eau, comme l'air
Comme tout ce qu'on espère (comme ça)
Tout ce qui nous est nécessaire (comme ça)
Comme toi, comme nous
Tout ce qui est doux et normal
Et qui peu à peu nous devient vital
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Et la vie avec toi
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera
Du soleil comme s'il en pleuvait
Le cœur en été
Du soleil, mon eldorado
Au creux de ta peau
Et la vie coulera comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
Comme ça
zenaïde Aïcha KOUNAGBE
Merci
David Gimenez
😘😘😘🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤❤❤❤❤merveilleux souvenirs cette chanson 💯💯💯💯💯
annick merlin
Merci Yannick pour cette chanson joyeuse. Ca fait du bien au moral . Merci !!!!!!
Matt
c'est vrai ça fait du bien au moral
Audrey Ngninzeko
Bsr. Je suis Camerounaise. Je t’écoute aujourd’hui Yannick et je repense à mon adolescence. Je pense à mes espoirs, mes rêves d’avant. Je repense à tous les dimanches soirs lorsque mama te mettais en boucle😎. Aujourd’hui, ma vision du monde est différente. J’ai grandis, je réalise enfin mes rêves Yannick. La vie est belle, bref cet Eldorado d’en temps que je cherchais je l’ai trouvé en moi. Et il sera désormais partout ou je serais. Merci Yannick.
Sylvain Rochereau
Merci beaucoup Audrey j'espère bien y revenir un jour j'ai tellement de bons et beaux souvenirs la bas bonne journée à toi amicalement 💐🌹🥀
Audrey Ngninzeko
@Kerder_.75 à toi également 🙏🏾.
Audrey Ngninzeko
@Sylvain Rochereau ☺️ je te lis en ce moment. Je n'étais plus revenue sur cette page depuis mon commentaire sur la music de Yannick. Le Cameroun est beau 👌🏾. Nous profitons de ce qu'il a de bien sans nous prendre la tête. Je te souhaite d'y revenir très prochainement.
Prends soin de toi Sylvain.
Kerder_.75
Je te souhaite le meilleur