La Symphonie des éclairs (The Symphony of Lightning), 2023
Writer(s): Alexis Delong, Pierre Cheguillaume, Zaho de Sagazan
This is the lead song from Zaho’s debut album of the same name released in February 2023. In this piece, Zaho has composed an autobiographical song, referring to herself as “Petite Tempête” which was her childhood nickname, a reflection of her tumultuous emotional disposition. As for her inspiration, Zaho commented: “La symphonie des éclairs came to me when I was looking at a window. I was looking at the window and realized that there is always sun above the clouds.” Zaho discovered that music was her way to surmount sensitivities and emotions and to rise above the clouds where the weather is fair.
The word “éclairs” in the title has associations with a classic French pastry that is long in shape, cream-filled, with chocolate icing. They are so good that they generally disappear in a flash, just like lightning flashes. The song is definitely not about pastry, but it does evoke lightning flashes which are a natural phenomenon associated with storms, rain, thunder and lightning. The word “éclair” arises from the verb “éclairer” meaning “to light up” or “illuminate.” In this sense, “les éclairs” are really flashes of illumination and provide a metaphor for “la petite tempête’s” recognition that music could provide a path through the emotional thicket of her youth.
The song takes a structure of Refrain-Verse/Refrain-Verse-Verse/Refrain-Verse-Verse/Outro. The Verses share chords and melody that differ from the 3 Refrains and Outro. The concluding Outro has subtle but significant lyrical variations from the 3 other Refrains in its last 3 lines. Those variations in the Outro mark a breakthrough transition, presumably effectuated by the illumination of the “éclairs,” from the hypothetical (“si j'étais un oiseau”) to the definitive (“je suis de ces oiseaux”) and from the descriptive (“comme le fait la lumière”) to the active (“pour trouver la lumière”) and finally from the passive (“J'écouterais sous la pluie la symphonie des éclairs”) to the purposive (“En chantant sous la pluie la symphonie des éclairs”). The song recounts a significant transition in the life of the artist.
Stanzas have 4 lines each. The rhyme scheme is basically AABB. It is a tight and fast-moving song with lyrics that fit snugly within the body of the melody. The video selection below is from Zaho’s performance at the 2024 Victoires de la musique where she won 4 awards.
Stanzas have 4 lines each. The rhyme scheme is basically AABB. It is a tight and fast-moving song with lyrics that fit snugly within the body of the melody. The video selection below is from Zaho’s performance at the 2024 Victoires de la musique where she won 4 awards.
|
Refrain Il fait toujours beau au-dessus des nuages Mais moi, si j'étais un oiseau, j'irais danser sous l'orage Je traverserais les nuages comme le fait la lumière J'écouterais sous la pluie la symphonie des éclairs Verse Dès sa plus tendre enfance, elle ne savait pas Parler autrement qu'en criant tout bas, Pas faute d'essayer de les retenir, Ces cris et ces larmes qui les faisaient tant… Refrain Il fait toujours beau au-dessus des nuages Mais moi, si j'étais un oiseau, j'irais danser sous l'orage Je traverserais les nuages comme le fait la lumière J'écouterais sous la pluie la symphonie des éclairs Verse En grandissant, rien ne s'est calmé Petite tempête s'est trouvé Des raisons de pleuvoir autant Qui pourrait l'aimer, franchement? Verse Personne n'aimerait se retrouver Au cœur d'une tempête, avouez Il y a des raisons de pleurer Elle a ses raisons, mais… Refrain Il fait toujours beau au-dessus des nuages Mais moi, si j'étais un oiseau, j'irais danser sous l'orage Je traverserais les nuages comme le fait la lumière J'écouterais sous la pluie la symphonie des éclairs, mmm Instrumental Verse Quand la tempête a su Que des mélodies pouvaient s'échapper du vent Et se retrouver dans le cœur des gens Celle-ci s'est dit: Verse "Nulle raison d'envier le soleil Je ferai danser les gens au rythme de mes pleurs La tourmente de mes chants viendra réchauffer les cœurs Réchauffer mon cœur" Refrain Il fait toujours beau au-dessus des nuages Mais moi, je suis de ces oiseaux qui nous font danser sous l'orage Je traverserais tous les nuages pour trouver la lumière En chantant sous la pluie la symphonie des éclairs |
Refrain It's always fair weather above the clouds But me, if I were a bird, I would go dance under the storm I would transit the clouds like the light I would hear under the rain the symphony of lightning Verse From her earliest childhood, she didn't know How to speak other than by crying softly Not for lack of trying to hold back These screams and tears that caused them so much… Refrain It's always fair weather above the clouds But me, if I were a bird, I would go dance under the storm I would transit the clouds like the light I would hear under the rain the symphony of lightning Verse Growing up, nothing calmed down Little Storm found herself Reasons to rain so much Who could like it, honestly? Verse No one would want to find themselves In the heart of a storm, admit it There are reasons to cry She has her reasons, but… Refrain It's always fair weather above the clouds But if I was a bird, I would dance in the storm I would go through the clouds like the light does I would listen to the symphony of lightning in the rain Instrumental Verse When the storm knew That melodies could escape from the wind And reach the hearts of people She said to herself: Verse “No reason to envy the sun I will make people dance to the rhythm of my tears The turmoil of my songs will warm the hearts While warming my heart” Refrain It's always fair weather above the clouds But me, I'm one of those birds that make us dance under the storm I would transit all the clouds to find the light While singing under the rain the symphony of lightning |
NB:
- qu'en criant tout bas: “crier tout bas” is an expression that literally means “to cry softly” which itself carries the tension of an internal contradiction. It is also the title of a 2015 song by Canadian singer Coeur de Pirate that suggests a larger context for interpretation. That song begins with the sound of thunderclaps in the distance and addresses issues of depression, communication and recovery. Coeur de Pirate’s song suggests that “crier tout bas” is a way to express pain or emotions even if softly and discretely and that music can be a way to find solace. Zaho found it so as well.
- Pas faute d'essayer: “not for want/lack of trying.”
- de pleuvoir autant: literally, this means “to rain so much” but in context it means “to cry so much” since it refers to “Petite tempête” which was Zaho’s nickname as a child.
- Quand la tempête a su: Zaho refers to herself here as “la tempête.” “a su” is the past participle of “savoir.”
Return to Zaha Profile