After a two year break, Julien Doré is back with his newest single “La fiévre”, a song with the goal of alerting fans to the dangers posed by climate change. Released on June 25th, 2020, it will appear on his upcoming Album Aimée, set to be released in September.

Julien Doré actually makes a cameo in the video, as the hitchhiker that the world refuses to pick up.

About the Artist

Julien Doré is a singer/songwriter and actor from Alès in the Occitanie region of Southern France. In 2002, under the name Julian Goldy, he started a music group called Dig Up Elvis. They played in bars around Nîmes and were “paid in beer”. He became known in 2007 when he won the fifth season of the television show Nouvelle Star. He released his first solo album Ersatz in June of 2008, which was certified gold. Since then he has released several successful albums and has won several Victoires de la musique music awards.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘se déplacer’ – While both ‘déplacer’ and ‘se déplacer’ mean ‘to move’, the reflexive implies that the entity is moving itself, versus someone moving something, for example ‘j’ai déplacé le livre’ (I moved the book). ‘Se déplacé’ means ‘to move’, ‘to get around’, ‘to go out’, ‘to come out’ or ‘to travel’.

‘Jusqu’à c’que le soleil tombe’ – ‘Jusqu’à ce que, meaning ‘until’, is one of the conjunctions that requires use of the subjunctive mood.

‘J’en vois’ – One of the uses of the pronoun ‘en’ is to replace a noun when discussing quantity. For example ‘J’ai deux bouteilles’ (I have two bottles) can be replaced with ‘J’en ai deux’ if ’bouteilles’ is understood. Here he is discussing people who are swimming, so ‘en’ likely replaces a noun such as ‘gens’ or ‘personnes’. So instead of ‘J’en vois quelques gens/personnes qui nage’ he simply says ‘J’en vois quelques uns qui nagent’.

‘s’use’ – While both ‘user’ and ‘s’user’ mean ‘to wear out’, the first is used when discussing someone or something wearing out another thing, for example ‘mon fils a usé ses baskets’ (my son wore out his sneakers). Here ‘my son’ is the one that made it happen. The reflexive is a passive or impersonal construction, where the initiator of the action is not expressed, as if the item just wore out all on it’s own and not by the actions of any specific person. The example here is “La beauté, ça s’use”. Beauty wears out, but he doesn’t say who or what caused the wear.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Lalathe | def art | fem sing Fièvrefièvrefever | noun | fem sing

[Intro]
Maismaisbut | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p. c. déplacédéplacermove, shift; send for; | verb | pp | se déplacer = move, get around; go out, come out; travel, journey
Quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl vertèbresvertèbrevertebra | noun | fem pl
Maismaisbut | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun, masc aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p. c. déplacédéplacermove, shift; send for; | verb | pp | se déplacer = move, get around; go out, come out; travel, journey
Quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl vertèbresvertèbrevertebra | noun | fem pl

[Verse 1]
JejeI | pron | first pers sing veuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres plusplusmore | adv écrireécrireto write | verb | infin leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl peinespeinesorrow, grief, pain; effort, exertion; difficulty, trouble; punishment | noun | fem pl
Quequethat, than | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing fémininfémininfeminine | noun | masc sing m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelsaavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb | pp
Ditesdireto say, tell | verb | sec pers sing impera ààat, to, in | prep JacquieJacquieJacqui | prop noun | name etetand | conj MichelMichelMichel | prop noun | name
Dedeof; from | prep venirvenirto come | verb | infin mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing chercherchercherto look for, search for | verb | infin
Moi,moime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing jejeI | pron | first pers sing veuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin commecommelike, as; because, since | conj touttoutall, entirely, very | adv l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsmondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing
JejeI | pron | first pers sing veuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres justejustejust; accurate, correct; fair, right; tight; close-fitting | adj | masc and fem sing ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv douterdouterto doubt | verb | infin
JejeI | pron | first pers sing croiscroireto believe, think | verb | first pers sing pres quequethat, than | conj lalathe | def art | fem sing terreterreearth; soil; land, property | noun | fem sing estêtreto be | verb | third pers sing ronderonderound, circular | adj | masc and fem sing
Maismaisbut | conj jejeI | pron | first pers sing préfèrepréférerto prefer | verb | first pers sing pres complotercomploterto plot, scheme, conspire | verb | infin
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' peutpouvoirto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres paspasstep; footprint; speed, pace | noun | masc sing changerchangerto change | verb | infin leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl ombresombreshade, shadow | noun | fem pl
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' peutpouvoirto be able to | verb | third pers sing pres justejustejust; exactly, right | adv leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl éclaireréclairerlight, light up, illuminate; enlighten, shed light upon | verb | infin
Jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelquequethat, than | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing soleilsoleilsun | noun | masc sing tombetomberto fall | verb | third pers sing subj
Lassélasserbore; tire | verb | pp used as adj dedeof; from | prep nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl réchaufferréchaufferheat (up), warm (up); comfort, touch | verb | infin
Etetand | conj dansdansin | prep nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl enviesenvielonging, desire, wish, yearning | noun | fem pl dedeof; from | prep plageplagebeach | noun | fem sing
D’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsUVAUVAUVA | adj etetand | conj d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsUVBUVBUVB | adj
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsenenabout it, some (of it), of them | pron voisvoirto see, watch | verb | sec pers sing pres quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl unsunone, one of them | noun | masc sing quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel nagentnagerto swim, float | verb | third pers pl pres
Versverstoward, towards; around, about | prep c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelqu’quethat, than | conj | used before vowelsononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. déjàdéjàalready, yet | adv coulécoulersink; flow, run; trickle, leak | verb | pp
Maismaisbut | conj sisiso | adv l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsépoqueépoquetime, age, era, period | noun | fem sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl pucespuceflea | noun | fem pl
C’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing qu’quethat, than | conj | used before vowelselleelleshe, her, it | pron | third pers sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adverb | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsbonbongood | adj | masc sing colliercolliernecklace; collar, yoke | noun | masc sing
Lalathe | def art | fem sing beauté,beautébeauty | noun, fem tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform sais,savoirto know | verb | first pers sing pres çaçathis, that, it | pron s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsuseuserto wear out | verb | third pers sing pres
C’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing commecommelike, as; because, since | conj tontonyour | poss adj | masc sing premierpremierfirst; main; original | adj | masc sing baiserbaiserkiss | noun | masc sing

[Chorus]
Lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. déplacédéplacermove, shift; send for; | verb | pp | se déplacé = move, get around; go out, come out; travel, journey
Quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl vertèbresvertèbrevertebra | noun | fem pl
Oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv étaitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing imperf l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsostéo ?ostéoosteopath | noun | masc or fem sing
Cachécacherto hide | verb | pp dansdansin | prep sonsonsound | noun | masc sing dosdosback | noun | masc sing
Attendantattendrewait (for); hope, expect | verb | pres part lalathe | def art | fem sing fièvrefièvrefever | noun | fem sing
Maismaisbut | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. déplacédéplacermove, shift; send for; | verb | pp | se déplacé = move, get around; go out, come out; travel, journey
Quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl vertèbresvertèbrevertebra | noun | fem pl
Oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv étaitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing imperf l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsostéo ?ostéoosteopath | noun | masc or fem sing
Cachécacherto hide | verb | pp dansdansin | prep sonsonsound | noun | masc sing dosdosback | noun | masc sing
Attendantattendrewait (for); hope, expect | verb | pres part lalathe | def art | fem sing fièvrefièvrefever | noun | fem sing

[Verse 2]
L’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsenfer,enferhell | noun | masc sing c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pasne … pasnot | adverb | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl
C’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing ceuxceuxthose, the ones | pron quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel t’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowels and sometimes consonants in colloquial languagefontfaireto do; to make | verb | third pers pl pres rêverrêverto dream | verb | infin
Etetand | conj quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel vendentvendreto sell; betray, sell out | verb | third pers pl pres leurleur(to) them | indir obj pron | third pers pl culotteculottepanties, underpants | noun | fem sing
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv dedeof; from | prep télétélévision TV | noun | fem, sing
Etetand | conj toutetoutall | adj | fem sing mamamy | poss adj | fem sing grandegrandbig, large; grand, great, tall | adj | fem sing famillefamillefamily | noun | fem sing
Aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres lelethe | def art | masc sing cœurcœurheart | noun | masc sing touttoutall, entirely, very | adv chambouléchambouléthrown into disorder, turned upside down, disrupted | adj | masc sing
Tanttantso much; so (adj) … that, such (noun) … that | adv qu’quethat, than | conj | used before vowelsililhe, it | pron | third pers sing yyhere, there | adv aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres quelquequelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem sing partagepartagedivision, sharing | noun | masc sing
Etetand | conj dude + lefrom the, of the | prep + art videvideemptiness, void, vacuum | noun | masc sing ààat, to, in | prep écoulerécoulersell, move, clear; get rid of, unload, offload | verb | infin
Ilsilsthey | pron | third pers pl masc or mixed gender irontallerto go | verb | third pers pl fut sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing banquisebanquiseice floe, ice field, ice pack, sea ice | noun | fem sing
Passerpasserto pass, go past; to spend(time) | verb | infin quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl moismoismonth | noun | masc sing and pl d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsétéétésummer | noun | masc sing
Photographierphotographierto photograph | verb | infin quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl plagesplagebeach | noun | fem pl
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv dedeof; from | prep monnaiemonnaiechange, coins; currency | noun | fem sing

[Chorus]
Lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. déplacédéplacermove, shift; send for; | verb | pp | se déplacé = move, get around; go out, come out; travel, journey
Quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl vertèbresvertèbrevertebra | noun | fem pl
Oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv étaitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing imperf l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsostéo ?ostéoosteopath | noun | masc or fem sing
Cachécacherto hide | verb | pp dansdansin | prep sonsonsound | noun | masc sing dosdosback | noun | masc sing
Attendantattendrewait (for); hope, expect | verb | pres part lalathe | def art | fem sing fièvrefièvrefever | noun | fem sing
Maismaisbut | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. déplacédéplacermove, shift; send for; | verb | pp | se déplacé = move, get around; go out, come out; travel, journey
Quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl vertèbresvertèbrevertebra | noun | fem pl
Oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv étaitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing imperf l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsostéo ?ostéoosteopath | noun | masc or fem sing
Cachécacherto hide | verb | pp dansdansin | prep sonsonsound | noun | masc sing dosdosback | noun | masc sing
Attendantattendrewait (for); hope, expect | verb | pres part lalathe | def art | fem sing fièvrefièvrefever | noun | fem sing

[Outro]
Maismaisbut | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. déplacédéplacermove, shift; send for; | verb | pp | se déplacé = move, get around; go out, come out; travel, journey
Quelquesquelquesome, a little, a few | adj | masc and fem pl vertèbresvertèbrevertebra | noun | fem pl
Oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv étaitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing imperf l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsostéo ?ostéoosteopath | noun | masc or fem sing
Cachécacherto hide | verb | pp dansdansin | prep sonsonsound | noun | masc sing dosdosback | noun | masc sing
Attendantattendrewait (for); hope, expect | verb | pres part lalathe | def art | fem sing fièvrefièvrefever | noun | fem sing
Maismaisbut | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Maismaisbut | conj lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp
Lelethe | def art | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. changéchangerto change | verb | pp

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

La Fièvre
Fever

[Intro]
Mais le monde a changé
But the world has changed
Il s’est déplacé
It has moved
Quelques vertèbres
A few vertebrae
Mais le monde a changé
But the world has changed
Il s’est déplacé
It has moved
Quelques vertèbres
A few vertebrae

[Verse 1]
Je veux plus écrire les peines
I no longer want to write the sorrows
Que le féminin m’a fait
That he feminine has done to me
Dites à Jacquie et Michel
Tell Jacquie and Michel
De venir me chercher
To come and get me
Moi, je veux faire comme tout l’monde
I want to do like everyone else
Je veux juste un peu douter
I just want to doubt a little
Je crois que la terre est ronde
I believe the Earth is round
Mais je préfère comploter
But I prefer to scheme
On peut pas changer les ombres
We can’t change the shadows
On peut juste les éclairer
We can just light them up
Jusqu’à c’que le soleil tombe
Until the sun falls
Lassé de nous réchauffer
Tired of warming us up
Et dans nos envies de plage
And in our desires for the beach
D’UVA et d’UVB
For UVA and UVB
J’en vois quelques uns qui nagent
I see some of them who are swimming
Vers c’qu’on a déjà coulé
Towards what we’ve already sunk
Mais si l’époque a des puces
But if the era has fleas
C’est qu’elle a pas l’bon collier
It’s because it doesn’t have the right coller
La beauté, tu sais, ça s’use
Beauty, you know, wears out
C’est comme ton premier baiser
It’s like your first kiss

[Chorus]
Le monde a changé
The world has changed
Il s’est déplacé
It has moved
Quelques vertèbres
A few vertebrae
Où était l’ostéo ?
Where was the osteopath?
Caché dans son dos
Hidden in it’s back
Attendant la fièvre
Waiting for the fever
Mais le monde a changé
But the world has changed
Il s’est déplacé
It has moved
Quelques vertèbres
A few vertebrae
Où était l’ostéo ?
Where was the osteopath?
Caché dans son dos
Hidden in it’s back
Attendant la fièvre
Waiting for the fever

[Verse 2]
L’enfer, c’est pas les autres
Hell isn’t the others
C’est ceux qui t’font rêver
It’s those that make you dream
Et qui vendent leur culotte
And who sell their panties
Pour un peu de télé
For a little TV
Et toute ma grande famille
And all of my big family’s
A le cœur tout chamboulé
Hearts have been turned upside down
Tant qu’il y a quelque partage
As long as there is some sharing
Et du vide à écouler
And the void to get rid of
Ils iront sur la banquise
They’ll go on the ice floe
Passer quelques mois d’été
Spend a few summer months
Photographier quelques plages
Photographing a few beaches
Pour un peu de monnaie
For a little change

[Chorus]
Le monde a changé
The world has changed
Il s’est déplacé
It has moved
Quelques vertèbres
A few vertebrae
Où était l’ostéo ?
Where was the osteopath?
Caché dans son dos
Hidden in it’s back
Attendant la fièvre
Waiting for the fever
Mais le monde a changé
But the world has changed
Il s’est déplacé
It has moved
Quelques vertèbres
A few vertebrae
Où était l’ostéo ?
Where was the osteopath?
Caché dans son dos
Hidden in it’s back
Attendant la fièvre
Waiting for the fever

[Outro]
Mais le monde a changé
But the world has changed
Il s’est déplacé
It has moved
Quelques vertèbres
A few vertebrae
Où était l’ostéo ?
Where was the osteopath?
Caché dans son dos
Hidden in it’s back
Attendant la fièvre
Waiting for the fever
Mais le monde a changé
But the world has changed
Le monde a changé
The world has changed
Mais le monde a changé
But the world has changed
Le monde a changé
The world has changed