Zazie's mother was an architect and her father a music teacher. Her songs range from upbeat rock or pop songs to languid downtempo tunes and are characterised by the wit of their lyrics based on puns, alliterations, homophones and double-entendres.
Zazie debuted in 1992 with the album "Je Tu Ils" and the single "Sucré salé".
In 1995, she released her sophomore album Zen, which was co-written and co-produced with Vincent-Marie Bouvot. It included the singles "Zen" and "Homme Sweet Homme". Her 1996 single "Un point c'est toi" from the same album was discussed on Canada's MuchMusic TV program Too Much 4 Much due to its controversial content. Ultimately, the discussion panel deemed the video okay for audiences. In the video, a group of four smitten women, including Zazie, follow a pair of men down to a lake. There, the two men strip off their clothes and swim in the water. Zazie fantasizes about undressing one of the men and kissing him. To shock of the women, however, the two men kiss each other.
In 1997, Pascal Obispo and Zazie released the single "Les Meilleurs Ennemis".
Her 1998 album Made in Love was co-produced by Ali Staton, Pierre Jaconelli, and herself. The album photos were taken by fashion designer Jean-Baptiste Mondino. The songs "Ça Fait Mal Et Ça Fait Rien", "Tous des anges", and "Tout Le Monde" were released as singles. This album was followed by a live album, Made in Live, the next year. In 1999 she also wrote a song for Jane Birkin in Jane Birkin's album .
In 2001, Zazie dueted with Axel Bauer on the single "A Ma Place". It was her most successful single in France, reaching number four on the French charts.
Zazie once again addressed gay content on her 2002 single "Adam et Yves" from her 2001 album La Zizanie. This album was produced solely by Pierre Jaconelli. Other singles included "Rue de la paix" and "Danse avec les loops". In 2003, she released another live album, Ze Live.
Her 2004 album Rodéo was co-produced and co-written with Jean-Pierre Pilot and Philippe Paradis. A short film "Rodéo indien" was made using songs from the album as a soundtrack. Zazie played the role of an Indian woman who leaves her cheating husband. She followed this album up with a live album, Rodéo Tour in 2006.
In 2007 her sixth studio album "Totem" was released and debuted at number 1. The second single (but first commercially released) was "Je Suis Un Homme" which became Zazie's first solo top ten hit in France. In Winter 2008 a best of album "Zest of Zazie" was released which as well as past hits contained two new songs "Fm Air" and "Un peu beaucoup" and live recordings.
Cheese
Zazie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pour espérer
Ma photo dans les magazines
Faut voir
Est-ce que ma jupe est assez short
Pour espérer
Que le show-biz m'ouvrira ses portes
Faut voir des poules toutes leurs dents
Pour réussir
Comme ça le petit oiseau va s'en sortir
Faut voir, c'est fou ce qu'on obtient
Contre un sourire
Ce qu'on vous aime quand on n'a rien à dire
Cheese, je veux bien
Cheese, je veux bien
Mais si mon jean devient sale
Puis-je espérer
Qu'on parle de moi dans le journal
Faut voir
Si je tombe et que je casse les dents
Adieu sourire
Comment le petit oiseau va s'en sortir
Cheese, j'en sais rien
Cheese, j'en sais rien
Est-ce que le cadre devient le centre
De notre monde
Plutôt que ce qu'on a dans le ventre
Faut voir
De ce journal aux pages légères
D'autres vont faire
Un lit de fortune en plein cour
De l'hiver
Cheese, je sais bien
Cheese, je sais bien
Que l'image est plus forte
Et prend toute la page
Le plumage rapporte
Plus que notre courage
Qu'on me ferme les portes
Je préfère tenir ce langage
Que de tenir pour me clouer le bec
Un fromage
Tant pis
Cheese, Cheese
Le petit oiseau s'envole
L'étiquette se décolle
Et quand le chat te mangera
Souris.
In Zazie's song "Cheese," the lyrics revolve around societal pressure to conform to appearance standards in order to succeed in show business. The song questions whether one's jeans or skirt are clean or short enough to make it in the industry, and whether falling or getting dirty would ruin their chances of success. The lyrically powerful chorus of "Cheese, je veux bien" ("Cheese, I want to") highlights the desire to be seen and recognized, even at the cost of sacrificing personal values and authenticity.
The lyrics bring attention to the superficial nature of the entertainment industry, where physical appearance often outweighs talent and hard work. The line "Le plumage rapporte plus que notre courage" ("The plumage brings in more than our courage") underscores this message. The song advises against sacrificing one's identity and integrity for the sake of fame, as ultimately it is the inner qualities that matter the most.
In summary, "Cheese" is a commentary on the glamour and facade of show business, and the pressure to conform to beauty standards in pursuit of success. It urges listeners to hold onto their authenticity and inner values, instead of falsely portraying themselves to fit society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Est-ce que mon jean est assez clean
Pour espérer
Ma photo dans les magazines
Faut voir
Zazie is wondering whether her outfit is impressive enough to feature in magazines, but acknowledges that she's not sure.
Est-ce que ma jupe est assez short
Pour espérer
Que le show-biz m'ouvrira ses portes
Faut voir
Zazie is questioning whether her skirt is short enough to be alluring to enter the show-business industry, but again isn't certain.
Faut voir des poules toutes leurs dents
Pour réussir
Comme ça le petit oiseau va s'en sortir
Zazie contends that it takes a lot to be successful and achieve greatness and that only those who have all the necessary features will succeed in life.
Faut voir, c'est fou ce qu'on obtient
Contre un sourire
Ce qu'on vous aime quand on n'a rien à dire
Zazie notes that it's amazing how much people will give in exchange for smiles, which illustrates how much they adore praise, even when it isn't earned.
Cheese, je veux bien
Cheese, je veux bien
The phrase Cheese is used as an idiom here, which means the act of smiling for a photo. Zazie is willing to give the media what they want.
Mais si mon jean devient sale
Puis-je espérer
Qu'on parle de moi dans le journal
Faut voir
Zazie wonders whether her jeans getting dirty will hinder her chances of getting attention from the media and acknowledges that there's no certainty in the matter.
Si je tombe et que je casse les dents
Adieu sourire
Comment le petit oiseau va s'en sortir
Zazie fears that if she falls and injures herself, she will lose her happiness, which could ultimately ruin her career and prospects for success.
Cheese, j'en sais rien
Cheese, j'en sais rien
Zazie is now unsure about whether she wants to smile for the photo, indicating a lack of confidence and indecisiveness.
Est-ce que le cadre devient le centre
De notre monde
Plutôt que ce qu'on a dans le ventre
Faut voir
Zazie is questioning whether people care more about impressive frames and appearances rather than what they genuinely possess, which begs for careful analysis.
De ce journal aux pages légères
D'autres vont faire
Un lit de fortune en plein cour
De l'hiver
Zazie reflects on how some people will turn newspapers they find on the streets into makeshift beds to protect themselves from the cold winter weather.
Cheese, je sais bien
Cheese, je sais bien
Zazie indicates that she is well aware of how media attention works and what it takes to be successful, which can cause a sense of anxiety and exhaustion.
Que l'image est plus forte
Et prend toute la page
Le plumage rapporte
Plus que notre courage
Qu'on me ferme les portes
Je préfère tenir ce langage
Que de tenir pour me clouer le bec
Un fromage
Zazie is frustrated that only a person's appearance commands attention and that bravado counts for nothing in today's society, even when the outcome is a painful one. She'd rather speak her mind and get rejected by people rather than remaining quiet and playing the game.
Tant pis
Cheese, Cheese
Le petit oiseau s'envole
L'étiquette se décolle
Et quand le chat te mangera
Souris.
Zazie ultimately decides to go ahead and smile for the camera, even if she's not feeling it in her heart. She's worried that if she doesn't, she will encounter problems in the future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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