Learn French With Stromae | Explaining "Alors On Danse" Lyrics (with subtitles)

Summary

In this video, the creator analyzes the lyrics of Stromae's hit song 'Alors on danse' and explores its deep social commentary. Through the song's enumeration of life's struggles—ranging from work, money, and debt to love, loss, and global crises—Stromae paints a picture of the mundane yet overwhelming problems that many people face daily. The video also discusses how the lyrics reflect the feeling of being trapped in a repetitive routine, seeking escape through partying and music. The creator further highlights key vocabulary and slang, providing a learning opportunity for French students.

Takeaways

• 😀 Stromae's song 'Alors on danse' is a reflection on life's daily struggles, from work and money problems to relationship issues and personal crises.
• 😀 The song uses a series of 'who says' statements to connect various life challenges, highlighting how one issue often leads to another.
• 😀 The lyrics reference slang and informal language, such as 'taf' (work) and 'thune' (money), to give the song an authentic, relatable feel.
• 😀 Stromae uses the character of 'Mr. Average' to represent the ordinary person overwhelmed by life's troubles, from debts to personal losses.
• 😀 The lyrics emphasize the cyclical nature of problems, suggesting that once one issue is resolved, another emerges, echoing the proverb 'when there's no more, there's more.'
• 😀 The song also touches on the numbness and detachment felt by people trapped in repetitive routines, like the 'metro-work-sleep' cycle.
• 😀 The video clip visually supports the song's message, with Stromae depicted as apathetic at work, dealing with personal issues, and turning to alcohol and dancing to escape his problems.
• 😀 The connection between music and emotional release is highlighted, as Stromae questions whether it's the music or the problems causing emotional turmoil.
• 😀 Despite his attempts to drown out his problems, the video shows that Stromae's issues persist, symbolized by his struggles with alcohol and the endless cycle of work and personal turmoil.
• 😀 The video ends with a sense of hopelessness, showing Stromae in a repetitive loop, illustrating the exhaustion and monotony of life for many people.
• 😀 The sponsor of the video, Lingopie, offers a fun and engaging way to learn French through TV series and interactive language features, like dual subtitles and quizzes.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Stromae's song 'Alors on danse'?

The main theme of 'Alors on danse' revolves around the struggles and challenges of everyday life, such as financial problems, relationship issues, work-related stress, and the monotony of daily routines. It reflects how people try to escape these troubles, often through distractions like alcohol and dancing.

How does Stromae describe the link between studies, work, and money in the song?

Stromae uses an enumeration to describe how each step in life leads to another problem. He starts with studies leading to work, work leading to money, money leading to expenses, and expenses leading to debt. This cycle of problems continues with each subsequent step.

What is the meaning of the phrase 'Who says debts says bailiff' in the song?

The phrase highlights the consequence of being in debt. A bailiff is a person who enforces court decisions, often involved in debt collection. The line shows how debts can escalate to legal and financial troubles, symbolized by the bailiff.

What is the significance of the phrase 'to be in the shit'?

'To be in the shit' is a slang expression meaning to be in serious trouble or facing major problems. In the song, it reflects the difficult and overwhelming situations caused by debt, legal issues, and personal struggles.

What role does the metaphor of 'music' play in the song?

Music in the song symbolizes both a distraction from problems and an aggravator. The lyrics suggest that, like the problems in life, music can overwhelm a person, taking both their emotions and focus. The constant presence of music and problems highlights the persistent, unrelenting nature of life's challenges.

How does Stromae convey the theme of escapism in the song?

Stromae portrays escapism through the character's attempt to forget their problems by going out to drink and dance. However, even as they try to escape, the problems continue to persist, suggesting that no matter how much they try to distract themselves, the underlying issues remain unresolved.

What does Stromae mean by the expression 'when there's more, there's more'?

This expression is a proverb that refers to the never-ending nature of life's problems. When one problem seems solved, another arises, indicating that difficulties are inexhaustible and constantly reappear, no matter how much a person believes they have overcome them.

What is the significance of the visual representation in the music video?

In the music video, Stromae is shown as apathetic and drained by life's problems, such as work and relationship issues. His journey from boredom at work to drunkenness at a bar symbolizes the cyclical and hopeless nature of trying to escape life's struggles, ultimately returning to the same routine.

What is the role of Lingopie in the video?

Lingopie is introduced as a sponsor offering a platform to learn French through TV series and other media. It provides a fun and immersive way to learn vocabulary and practice language skills, with features like interactive subtitles, flashcards, and quizzes.

What does Stromae's use of colloquial language (like 'taf' and 'thune') indicate about the song?

The use of slang such as 'taf' (work) and 'thune' (money) adds a layer of relatability and informality to the song, making it resonate with everyday people. These colloquial terms help convey the struggles of the average person and reflect the casual tone of the narrative.