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.
Hissée Haut
Zazie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'expose mon corps à découvert
Des kilomètres de peau
Pour un cœur qu'on roule à l'ordinaire
L'amour me rejette à l'amer
Je brille
Mais les feux d'artifices
Je brûle, mon âme en sacrifice
Sème le vent,
Récolte la poussière
La vie que je mène ici bas, me mène en
Bateau, et j'ai beau,
J'ai beau me hisser haut
Ça tombe à l'eau,
Et j'ai beau,
J'ai beau me hisser haut
L'âme de fond coule à flots
Là sous le fard et le rire
Ai je encore un cœur à découvrir,
Je perds tant de litres d'eau salée
Que le moteur a du se noyer
L'eau trouble où je traîne ici bas me mène en
Bateau, et j'ai beau,
J'ai beau me hisser haut
Ça tombe à l'eau
Et j'ai beau,
J'ai beau me hisser haut
Je reste sous l'eau,
Et j'ai beau, j'ai beau me hisser haut
C'est le k.o.
Et j'ai beau faire mon numéro
La lumière ça brûle la peau
Les larmes de fond coulent à flots
Et si le bateau doit couler
Il faut que j'apprenne à nager
The lyrics to Zazie’s song “Hissée Haut” (Risen High) paint a vivid picture of a woman exposed, both physically and emotionally, and struggling to find her place in the world. She describes herself as a “girl from head to toe” who exposes her body to the world, but despite the miles of skin she shows, her heart is still vulnerable to pain and rejection. She feels like a temporary circus act, burning brightly like a firework before fading away, and wonders if there’s anything left of her true self beneath the makeup and laughter.
The woman in this song is searching for a way to rise above her troubles and find her true self. She’s tried to raise herself up, but each time she falls, sinking deeper into the murky waters of life. She questions her own resilience and wonders if she’ll ever find her way out of the darkness. The lines “And if the boat must sink / I must learn to swim” suggest that she’s willing to keep trying, no matter how many times she fails.
Overall, “Hissée Haut” is a heartrending portrait of a woman trying to navigate a harsh and unforgiving world, struggling to find her place and hold onto her sense of self-worth.
Line by Line Meaning
Fille de bas en haut
As a woman, I am exposed to judgment and scrutiny from all sides.
J'expose mon corps à découvert
I am openly displaying my body, leaving nothing to imagination.
Des kilomètres de peau
I have a vast expanse of skin that is constantly on display.
Pour un cœur qu'on roule à l'ordinaire
Despite my physical exposure, my emotions are trampled on and disregarded.
L'amour me rejette à l'amer
My attempts at love have left me bitter and rejected.
Je brille
I have moments where I shine and attract attention.
Mais les feux d'artifices
However, those moments are fleeting and superficial.
Ne font de moi qu'un clown éphémère
I am reduced to a temporary source of entertainment, like a circus clown.
Je brûle, mon âme en sacrifice
I am sacrificing my soul to maintain this facade of brightness and allure.
Sème le vent, Récolte la poussière
My actions have repercussions, and I must deal with the consequences.
La vie que je mène ici bas, me mène en Bateau, et j'ai beau, J'ai beau me hisser haut
My current lifestyle is leading me astray, although I keep trying to better myself.
Ça tombe à l'eau, Et j'ai beau, J'ai beau me hisser haut L'âme de fond coule à flots
Despite my efforts, my underlying self is sinking deeper and deeper.
Là sous le fard et le rire Ai je encore un cœur à découvrir
I wonder if I have any true depth left hidden under my makeup and forced laughter.
Je perds tant de litres d'eau salée Que le moteur a du se noyer
I am crying so much that it's affecting my ability to keep going.
L'eau trouble où je traîne ici bas me mène en Bateau, et j'ai beau, J'ai beau me hisser haut
My murky surroundings are continuing to drag me down, despite my efforts.
Je reste sous l'eau, Et j'ai beau, j'ai beau me hisser haut C'est le k.o.
I am drowning, and no matter how hard I try, I am losing the fight.
Et j'ai beau faire mon numéro La lumière ça brûle la peau Les larmes de fond coulent à flots
Even when I put on an act, the spotlight can be harsh and the tears continue to flow.
Et si le bateau doit couler Il faut que j'apprenne à nager
If I am going to make it through all of this, I need to learn to take care of myself and swim through the rough waters.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ISABELLE ANNE DE TRUCHIS DE VARENNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind