Du vent et des mots:

Garou​ & Charlotte Cardin

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Du Vent, des Mots (Hot Air, Empty Words)
The French idiomatic expression “C’est du vent” means: “It is hot air and empty promises.” This song is a back-and-forth duet between two former lovers who are about to part ways. In their respective roles, the n'er-do-well Garou pleads to get Charlotte Cardin to reconsider; she has clearly had enough.

Garou is a Canadian singer and actor who achieved early recognition from 1997 to 2000 for his performance of Quasimodo in Luc Plamondon’s musical production “Notre Dame de Paris.” He since established a solid solo career following his first album ("Seul") in 2001. Garou was instrumental in propelling Charlotte Cardin's career. In 2013, he included a duet with her of "Du vent, des mots," written by Jean-Jacques Goldman, on his eighth studio album "Au milieu de ma vie." The following year they performed it together in Paris on the TV show "La Voix," where he served as a judge, in a promotional boost for the song's release as a digital single. This led in 2014 to her recording contract with Jason Brando's label "Cult Nation."

In the song “Du vent, des mots,” Garou admits his errors and faults ("J'ai tant de regrets, tant de remords / Je me dégoûte, j'ai tous les torts"), promises to change and offers new beginnings. Cardin firmly blows him off with accusations of hot air, fine words (“C'est du vent, des mots Une voile sur un bateau”) and deception. At the end, re-interpreting the oft-used disparaging word “vent” (“hot air”) in the song, she bids him farewell with a good wind at his back (“Et bon vent matelot”).

There is a touch of irony in Jean-Jacque Goldman’s authorship of both music and lyrics for this piece. It distinguishes him as something of an expert in “departures,” including his own celebrated previous release in 1987 of the song “Puisque tu pars” (“Since you are leaving”) that he used to close his concerts. There is a poetic tinge to this theme, given Goldman’s own relocation to London from France for a time and subsequent time-splitting between that city and Marseilles. Life and artistic creation often combine in a mutually nourishing relationship.

Musically, Garou’s gravelly, raspy voice suits the rascally character that he plays in the song and contrasts with Cardin’s smooth, clear vocals. The lyrics are arranged by character in dialogue fashion rather than by verses and choruses and they vary in length according to conversational dynamics. Nevertheless, there are clear rhymes throughout. The melody is generally upbeat, without the sadness or melancholy that might characterize such a scene.
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FRENCH LYRICS
​Garou:
J'ai tant de regrets, tant de remords
Je me dégoûte, j'ai tous les torts
Mais si tu voulais, juste une chance, encore
Je promets, je ne suis plus le même
Je suis un autre dès que tu m'aimes
Si tu voulais, tout recommencerait
 
Cardin:
C'est du vent, des mots
Une voile sur un bateau
 
Garou:
Mais si tu me pardonnais, je changerais
 
Cardin:
C'est du vent, du faux
Les jolies notes de ton piano
Qui caressent et grisent avant de s'envoler
 
Garou:
Je t'offrirai mes îles au trésor
Ce que tu voudras, du sud au nord
Si tu voulais
Si tu remontais à bord
 
Ensemble:
Où sont passés nos rêves et nos coeurs?
Je sens que je te perds et j'ai peur
 
Garou:
Tu peux changer
Mes erreurs en aurores
 
Cardin:
C'est du vent, des mots
Une voile sur un bateau
 
Garou:
Une dernière chance avant de m'assassiner

Cardin:
C'est du vent, du faux
Les mensonges de ton piano
Qui caresse et séduit
Mais juste pour jouer
 
Cardin:
C'est du temps, des heures
C'est le dégoût et tant de douleur
La banalité des beaux rêves brisés
 
Garou:
Souviens-toi de notre bonheur
 
Cardin:
Et le deuil de ma candeur
C'est comme une fin d'enfance déchirée
 
Cardin:
C'est un vent nouveau
La liberté comme un cadeau
 
Garou:
Il est trop tard
 
Cardin:
Ou bien il était trop tôt

Cardin:
C'est devant, si beau

Garou:
Reviens, on recommence à zéro
Je reprends la mer
 
Cardin:
Et bon vent matelot

TRANSLATION (PENDERGAST)
​Garou:
I have so many regrets, so much remorse
I disgust myself, I did all the wrongs
But if you wanted, just a chance, once more
I promise I'm not the same
I am another man when you love me
If you wanted, all would begin again
 
Cardin:
It's all hot air, words
A sail on a boat
 
Garou:
But if you forgave me, I would change
 
Cardin:
It's all hot air, words
The pretty notes of your piano,
Which caress and intoxicate before flying away
 
Garou:
I would offer you my treasure islands
Whatever you wish, from south to north
If you wanted,
If you climbed back on board
 
Both:
Where did our dreams and hearts go?
I feel that I'm losing you and I'm scared
 
Garou:
You can change
My failures into new beginnings
 
Cardin:
It's all hot air, words
A sail on a boat
 
Garou:
One last chance, before killing me
 
Cardin:
It's all hot air, words
The lies of your piano
Which caress and seduce,
But only to play
 
Cardin:
It's time, and hours
It's the disgust and so much pain
The banality of broken dreams
 
Garou:
Remember our happiness
 
Cardin:
And the mourning of my innocence
Like the end of a shredded childhood
 
Cardin:
It's a new wind,
The freedom like a gift
 
Garou:
It's too late
 
Cardin:
Or maybe it was too soon
 
Cardin:
It’s ahead, so beautiful
 
Garou:
Come on let's start over
I'm sailing off
 
Cardin:
Good wind (and good riddance) sailor

NB:
dès que: is an expression that means “as soon as,” “once,” or “immediately.” The preposition “dès” alone means “from” or “starting from.”
griser: is a verb with two meanings. One is to “intoxicate” and the other is to “shade, gray out, or obfuscate” parts of a document.


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