Variations sur le même t'aime
Encyclopedia
Variations sur le même t'aime is the second album by popular French
singer Vanessa Paradis
. It was released in France
in 1990, and contains the hit singles "Tandem" and "Dis-lui toi que je t'aime".
. Gainsbourg came aboard and helped to write and produce the album. Although the album was successful and charted higher than her debut, none of its singles matched the success of "Joe le Taxi
" from her first album.
Consistently termed her most cohesive work, this album remains one of French music's most celebrated artifacts from the 1990s. The best recognized single is "Tandem". Of prime importance are the lyrics by Serge Gainsbourg
: every other line is dripping in innuendo
or double entendre
, including the album's title. Due to this, each song has up to three different interpretations, depending on the point of view of the listener.
"Variations sur le même t'aime" literally means "Variations on the same 'love you'" with the double meaning of "Variations on the same theme", - the title was coined by Serge Gainsbourg as well, an allusion to his hit song with Jane Birkin "Je t'aime". The album is notable as being the last record Gainsbourg worked on for a female singer before his death in 1991.
Keeping in tradition with all of Vanessa Paradis
' albums, Variations sur le même t'aime features one English language track, a cover of Lou Reed
's "Walk on the Wild Side". The single "Dis-lui toi que je t'aime" remains the most performed song (live) from this album. Despite being released in 1990, the album has consistently remained in print and sells a sizable number of copies each year, primarily in Paradis' native France
, as well as in French-speaking Canada
.
All songs written by Serge Gainsbourg
(lyrics) and Franck Langolff (music), except where noted.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
singer Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Chantal Paradis is a French singer, model and actress. She became a child star at 14 with the worldwide success of her single "Joe le taxi"...
. It was released in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1990, and contains the hit singles "Tandem" and "Dis-lui toi que je t'aime".
Background and writing
For this album, she reunited with the team of writers and producers of her first album. However, she also collaborated with someone new - Serge GainsbourgSerge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
. Gainsbourg came aboard and helped to write and produce the album. Although the album was successful and charted higher than her debut, none of its singles matched the success of "Joe le Taxi
Joe le taxi
"Joe le taxi" is a French song written by Franck Langolff and Étienne Roda-Gil for French singer Vanessa Paradis. It was later included in her debut album, M&J, which was released in 1988....
" from her first album.
Consistently termed her most cohesive work, this album remains one of French music's most celebrated artifacts from the 1990s. The best recognized single is "Tandem". Of prime importance are the lyrics by Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
: every other line is dripping in innuendo
Innuendo
An innuendo is a baseless invention of thoughts or ideas. It can also be a remark or question, typically disparaging , that works obliquely by allusion...
or double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
, including the album's title. Due to this, each song has up to three different interpretations, depending on the point of view of the listener.
"Variations sur le même t'aime" literally means "Variations on the same 'love you'" with the double meaning of "Variations on the same theme", - the title was coined by Serge Gainsbourg as well, an allusion to his hit song with Jane Birkin "Je t'aime". The album is notable as being the last record Gainsbourg worked on for a female singer before his death in 1991.
Keeping in tradition with all of Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Chantal Paradis is a French singer, model and actress. She became a child star at 14 with the worldwide success of her single "Joe le taxi"...
' albums, Variations sur le même t'aime features one English language track, a cover of Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
's "Walk on the Wild Side". The single "Dis-lui toi que je t'aime" remains the most performed song (live) from this album. Despite being released in 1990, the album has consistently remained in print and sells a sizable number of copies each year, primarily in Paradis' native France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, as well as in French-speaking Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Track listing
- "L'Amour à deux" 4:55
- "Dis-lui toi que je t'aime" 3:58
- "L'Amour en soi" 5:07
- "La Vague à lames" 3:15
- "Ophélie" 4:01
- "Flagrant délire" 3:45
- "Tandem" 3:30
- "Au charme non plus" 3:50
- "Variations sur le même t'aime" 3:59
- "Amour jamais" 4:17
- "Ardoise" 4:00
- "Walk on the Wild Side" (Lou ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
) 4:28
All songs written by Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
(lyrics) and Franck Langolff (music), except where noted.
Album
| Chart (1990) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| French Album Charts | 6 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Tandem" | French Singles Chart | 22 |
| 1990 | "Dis-lui toi que je t'aime" | French Singles Chart | 41 |