William Sheller: Then and There
William Sheller and “Les fous chantants:” Un homme heureux
The song “Un homme heureux” (“A Happy Man”) appeared on William Sheller’s live album “Sheller en solitaire” in June 1991 and was also released as a single that ranked 16 weeks in the top 50 with a highpoint of 19 on the charts. It was recorded in the Studio Davout in Paris with a small live audience (200 people). In 1992, both the song and the album received “Best of the Year” recognition by the Victoires de la musique (French Grammies).
The song explores a relatively simple solution to a profound existential problem of human existence—the search for meaning in life. Some find an answer to that problem in god or ideology, others in a quest for eternity, and still others in earthly arrangements. For his part, Sheller engages in a somber but melodic interrogative rumination about the “happiness” of couples-in-love.
Sheller tries to figure it out by observing people who love each other in relationships (as though they are the only “happy” ones). He shares his thoughts about the matter with another party whom he barely knows. He observes that people in love seem to share certain characteristics, some of which are fine while others pose challenges. Such people often appear alike and have congruent desires, but they can also be a little rebellious, a little cruel, and immersion in their own little world often leads to alienation from others. He suggests mildly to his prospective partner that they might try it out, but notes that he is prepared to back off if it’s not worthwhile. He just wants to be a happy man.
The song is tightly structured. It has 2 Verses (each with 2 stanzas), 2 Refrains (each with 2 stanzas) and an Outro in the following sequence: V/Refrain/V/Refrain/Outro. Each stanza in both verses repeats the same melodic chord progression but with different lyrics and the chords are shared between verses. Significantly, each verse stanza begins introspectively with a 2-line question and the following 3 lines form a response. The refrain lyrics turn more declarative and aspirational and their chords provide an expansive melodic shift. The key theme “Je veux être un homme heureux” concludes each Refrain and comprises the entire Outro to drive the point home. The song ends without resolution.
The outdoor performance that we display in the clip below transpired in 2006, 15 years after the song's release. It shows Sheller with impressive choral backing of no fewer than 1000 voices contributed by “Les Fous Chantants à Alès” that provides vocal and textural power. “Les Fous Chantants” (“Crazy Singers”) is an organization created in 1998 and presumably named after France's beloved original “fou chantant” (Charles Trenet). The organization is devoted to the celebration, preservation and choral performance of classic works of “chanson” and to having a good time.
Each year at the end of July, the “Fous” assemble 1000 (mostly amateur) choral singers for a week in the town of Alès, in the Cévennes (Gard) region north of Nimes. Volunteer participants prepare on a daily basis under the leadership of experienced choral leaders for a music festival of daily events and concluding concert devoted to the repertoire of a designated French singer/songwriter/composer. The roster of past honorees resembles a pantheon of “chanson” luminaries, many of whom participate in the events. The concluding concert is held in “Les arénes de Tempéras,” a re-purposed former “corrida” (bullfighting) stadium with seating for 4500 people. In 2006, the “Fous” devoted their festival to the corpus of Sheller’s works.
As usual, interpretive notes on language follow the lyrics below, addressing points highlighted in bold and italic. The lyrics and translation may be scrolled while listening to the video clip.
As usual, interpretive notes on language follow the lyrics below, addressing points highlighted in bold and italic. The lyrics and translation may be scrolled while listening to the video clip.
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FRENCH Verse 1 Pourquoi les gens qui s'aiment Sont-ils toujours un peu les mêmes? Ils ont, quand ils s'en viennent, Le même regard d'un seul désir pour deux Ce sont des gens heureux Pourquoi les gens qui s'aiment Sont-ils toujours un peu les mêmes? Quand ils ont leurs problèmes, Ben, y'a rien à dire! Y'a rien à faire pour eux, Ce sont des gens qui s'aiment Refrain Et moi, j'te connais à peine mais ce s'rait une veine Qu'on s'en aille un peu comme eux On pourrait se faire, sans qu'ça n'gêne, De la place pour deux Mais si ça n'vaut pas la peine Que j'y revienne Il faut m'le dire au fond des yeux Quel que soit le temps que ça prenne Quel que soit l'enjeu Je veux être un homme heureux Verse 2 Pourquoi les gens qui s'aiment Sont-ils toujours un peu rebelles? Ils ont un monde à eux Que rien n'oblige à ressembler à ceux Qu'on nous donne en modèle Pourquoi les gens qui s'aiment sont-ils toujours un peu cruels? Quand ils vous parlent d'eux, Y'a quelque chose qui vous éloigne un peu Ce sont des choses humaines Refrain Et moi, j'te connais à peine Mais ce s'rait une veine Qu'on s'en aille un peu comme eux On pourrait se faire, sans qu'ça n'gêne De la place pour deux Mais si ça n'vaut pas la peine Que j'y revienne Il faut m'le dire au fond des yeux Quel que soit le temps que ça prenne Quel que soit l'enjeu Je veux être un homme heureux Refrain (Choir) Et moi, j'te connais à peine Mais ce s'rait une veine Qu'on s'en aille un peu comme eux On pourrait se faire, sans qu'ça n'gêne De la place pour deux Mais si ça n'vaut pas la peine Que j'y revienne Il faut m'le dire au fond des yeux Quel que soit le temps que ça prenne Quel que soit l'enjeu Je veux être un homme heureux Outro Je veux être un homme heureux Je veux être un homme heureux |
ENGLISH Verse 1 Why are people in love Always a bit alike? They have when they come The same look of one desire for two They are happy people. Why are people in love Always a bit alike? When they have problems, Well, there’s nothing to say! Nothing to do for them. They are people in love Refrain And me, I hardly know you But it would be a stroke of luck If we were to go a bit like them We could do it, without problem Room for two But if it's not worth the trouble That I return You must tell it to me straight However long it takes However high the stakes I want to be a happy man. Verse 2 Why are people in love Always a bit rebellious? They have their own world, Which nothing obliges to resemble those That people give us as models Why are people in love Always a little cruel? When they speak about themselves There is something that pushes you away These are human things. Refrain And me, I hardly know you But it would be a stroke of luck If we were a bit like them We could do it, without problem Room for two But if it's not worth the trouble That I return You must tell it to me straight However long it takes However high the stakes I want to be a happy man Refrain (Choir) And me, I hardly know you But it would be a stroke of luck If we were a bit like them We could do it, without problem Room for two But if it's not worth the trouble That I return You must tell it to me straight However long it takes However high the stakes I want to be a happy man Outro I want to be a happy man I want to be a happy man |
NB:
quand ils s'en viennent: “s’en venir” carries a subtle sense of something in process of happening, as in “l'autobus s'en vient” (the bus is coming).
ce s'rait une veine: the expression “avoir de la veine” or “être en veine”means “to be lucky,” “to be on a roll.”
Qu'on s'en aille: this expression carries an implication of aspiration, beginning with "que" followed by the subjunctive of "s'en aller."
sans qu'ça n'gêne: this double negative translates literally as “without which that does not bother.” It is a linguistically more elaborate way to say: "sans gêne."
au fond des yeux: literally means “deep in the eyes.” This phrase is commonly used with the verb “regarder” (since it involves eyes). Here, however, it follows the verb “dire” and figuratively implies speaking “straight to my face,” directly and honestly.
Other Renditions: YouTube has several good renditions of this song that appeared at 15-year intervals over 50+ years since 1991. The first rendition features Sheller’s debut solo vocal and piano performance in 1991 at the Studio Davout that was actually a small theater. That recording environment provides vocal and instrumental clarity while exhibiting intimacy and pensiveness. It brought Sheller the awards for “Best Song” and “Best Album” in 1992 by the Victoires de la Musique (French “Grammies”). A more contemporary version appeared in 2024 as a duet by artists Julien Doré and veteran Francis Cabrel on Doré’s album “Imposteur.”
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