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.
J'Envoie Valser
Zazie Lyrics
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Donnent des bijoux dans le cou
C'est beau mais quand même
Ce ne sont que des cailloux
Des pierres qui vous roulent
Roulent et qui vous coulent sur les joues
J'aime mieux que tu m'aimes
Sans dépenser des sous
Moi je m'en moque
J'envoie valser
Les trucs en toc
Les cages dorées
Toi quand tu me serres très fort
C'est comme un trésor
Et ça, et ça vaut de l'or
J'en vois des qui se lancent
Des regards et des fleurs
Puis qui se laissent
Quelque part ou ailleurs
Entre les roses et les choux
J'en connais des tas
Qui feraient mieux de s'aimer un peu
Un peu comme nous
Qui nous aimons beaucoup
Et d'envoyer
Ailleurs valser
Les bagues et les cœurs en collier
Car quand on s'aime très fort
C'est comme un trésor
Et ça, et ça vaut de l'or
Moi pour toujours
J'envoie valser
Les preuves d'amour
En or plaqué
Puisque tu me serres très fort
C'est là mon trésor
C'est toi, toi qui vaut de l'or
The lyrics to Zazie's song J'Envoie Valser (I'm Waltzing Away) express a cynical attitude towards the materialistic display of affection commonly seen in society. The singer observes that she sees people giving and receiving jewelry, flowers, and other objects as symbols of love and commitment, but ultimately regards these as mere baubles, just stones that roll and fall from one's face, and cages that imprison rather than fulfill. Instead, she prefers to be loved purely and without the need for lavish gifts or grand gestures.
The chorus of the song asserts the singer's resolve to "waltz away" (envoyer valser) these superficial things, as they are fake, cheap imitations of true love. She values the deep connection she has with her partner, which she compares to a treasure worth more than gold. She urges others to follow her example and not get caught up in the trappings of romance, but to focus on the love they share and cherish it as the true reward.
Overall, J'Envoie Valser is a commentary on the commercialization of love and the importance of appreciating genuine emotional bonds instead of material possessions. It is a call to reject the superficiality of modern romantic norms and embrace the power of love to transcend society's shallow expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
J'en vois des qui se donnent
I see some who give themselves away
Donnent des bijoux dans le cou
Give jewelry on the neck
C'est beau mais quand même
It's beautiful anyway
Ce ne sont que des cailloux
They are only stones
Des pierres qui vous roulent
Stones that roll you away
Roulent et qui vous coulent sur les joues
Roll and spill on your cheeks
J'aime mieux que tu m'aimes
I prefer that you love me
Sans dépenser des sous
Without spending money
Moi je m'en moque
I don't care
J'envoie valser
I send flying
Les trucs en toc
Fake things
Les cages dorées
The golden cages
Toi quand tu me serres très fort
When you hold me tight
C'est comme un trésor
It's like a treasure
Et ça, et ça vaut de l'or
And that, and that's worth gold
J'en vois des qui se lancent
I see some who launch themselves
Des regards et des fleurs
Looks and flowers
Puis qui se laissent
Then they let themselves go
Quelque part ou ailleurs
Somewhere or elsewhere
Entre les roses et les choux
Between roses and cabbage
J'en connais des tas
I know lots of them
Qui feraient mieux de s'aimer un peu
Who would do better to love each other a little
Un peu comme nous
A little like us
Qui nous aimons beaucoup
Who love each other a lot
Et d'envoyer
And to send
Ailleurs valser
Elsewhere flying
Les bagues et les cœurs en collier
Rings and heart-shaped necklaces
Car quand on s'aime très fort
Because when we love each other very much
C'est comme un trésor
It's like a treasure
Et ça, et ça vaut de l'or
And that, and that's worth gold
Moi pour toujours
Me, forever
J'envoie valser
I send flying
Les preuves d'amour
Proofs of love
En or plaqué
In gold-plating
Puisque tu me serres très fort
Since you hold me tight
C'est là mon trésor
That's my treasure
C'est toi, toi qui vaut de l'or
It's you, you who are worth gold
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Philippe de Truchis de Varennes, Isabelle Marie Anne de Truchis de Varennes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind