This one goes out by request. “Gloria” is a song by French band Indochine featuring Italian actress and singer Asia Argento. It appears on their 13th album 13, which was released in 2017.
Indochine (French for Indochina) is a French rock/new wave band formed in 1981 by Parisians Dominique Nicolas and Nicola Sirkis. In April of 1982, the group opened on tour for Taxi Girl. However, they gained popularity with each show and were eventually pulled from the tour as it was feared that their popularity would eclipse that of the headliners. Their first album L’Aventurier was released in November of 1982, selling more than 250,000 copies. The single of the same name was a huge hit in the summer of 1983 and sold more than 500,000 copies. Their popularity continued throughout the ’80s, both in France and internationally, with hits such as “3 nuits par semaine”, “3e sexe”, “Tes yeux noirs” and “Canary Bay”.
Although the ’90s would lead to a period of decline in popularity, the band would make a comeback with the release of their 2002 album Paradize. Led by the single “J’ai demandé à la lune” it entered the French sales charts at number three and would go on to sell more than a million copies, earning Diamond certification. This album won Indochine an MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Act, a Victoire de la musique award for Best Pop/Rock Album, and an NRJ Music Award for Best French Language Album.
With more than 13 million albums sold, they are the highest-selling French group ever. They were the first French rock group to fill the Palais Omnisports in Paris-Bercy in 2003 and the Stade de France in 2010. In 2011 they were awarded a Victoire d’Honneur (Victory of Honnor) at the Victoires de la musique awards ceremony to celebrate their 30-year career. In 2017 they received the Award d’honneur (Honor Award) at the NRJ music awards to crown their 36-year career.
Asia Argento, born Aria Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento, is an Italian actress, singer, and director. She is the daughter of filmmaker Dario Argento and is best known as an actress for her roles in the films such as XXX, Land of the Dead, and Marie Antoinette. She has won two David di Donatello awards for Best Actress for the movies Let’s Not Keep in Touch and Traveling Companion.
‘sain et sauf’ – The adjective ‘sain’ means ‘healthy’, ‘well’ or ‘sound’, and the adjective ‘sauf’ means ‘safe’. Together this phrase is the equivalent of the English phrase ‘safe and sound’.
‘s’effacer’ – While the verb ‘effacer’ means ‘to erase’, ‘to delete’ or ‘to wipe off’, when reflexive this verb means ‘to fade’.
‘ne … plus que’ – This is a common form of negation. Used in the same way as ‘ne … pas’ (sandwiched around the verb), it means ‘only’.
‘il y a’ – This phrase means ‘there is’ or ‘there are’. It would translate literally as ‘it has there’. It appears in this song as the negative form ‘il n’y a pas’.
‘baiser’ – As a noun this word means a ‘kiss’. This term should be used with caution however. As a verb, this word is a vulgur way of saying ‘to have sex’, similar to using the term ‘f**k’ in English.
‘faire du mal’ – Literally translating as ‘to do bad’, this phrase means ‘to harm’ or ‘to hurt’.
‘aller + inf’ – The verb ‘aller’ means ‘to go’. As in English, when this verb is used with a place, it implies movement towards that place. But when it is used with another verb, it implies that that action will be preformed in the future. For example ‘I am going to the store’ ‘(je vais au magasin’) vs ‘I am going to eat’ (‘je vais manger’).
‘libre’ – While this term usually translates as ‘free’, this is only in the sense of being ‘available’ or ‘at liberty’. For example ‘I’m free this afternoon’, or ‘He’s free to do as he pleases’. To say that something is ‘without cost’ one would use the term ‘gratuit’.
‘se quitter’ – Reflexive pronouns reflect that an action is being performed on oneself. For example ‘je me leve’ means ‘I get (myself) up’ or ‘il se brosse les dents’ means ‘he brushes (his own) teeth’. However, they can also have a reciprocal meaning of ‘each other’. For example ‘on se parle’ means ‘we are speaking to each other’, or the example in this song ‘se quitter’ meaning ‘to leave each other’.
‘on te gardera’ – Most often in song lyrics we see the colloquial use of the pronoun ‘on’, meaning ‘we’. ‘On’ is also used to mean people in general or an unspecified person. This could be translated as ‘one’, however in English, we usually translate it as ‘you’. For example ‘you (one, people) can return your (their) library books in the dropbox’. However the latter meaning can also be translated in the passive voice, for example, ‘library books can be returned in the dropbox’. I have chosen the passive voice of ‘you will be taken care of’ as the best translation for this phrase in this context.
Activities
We’ve created flashcards, games, and exercises to practice vocabulary and grammatical concepts found in this song. Check out our Activities Page to take your learning further!
Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown
Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.
GloriaGloriaGloria | noun | masc sing and pl
[Verse 1] Ààat, to, in | prepl’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsassautassautassault, attack | noun | masc singdesde + lesof the | prep + def art | masc and fem pljardinsjardingarden, yard; inner sanctum; personal outlet; haven, retreat, sanctuary | noun | masc pl Ambreambreamber | noun | masc singetetand | conjdiamantdiamantdiamond | noun | masc sing Plusplusmore | advbeauxbeauhandsome, attractive, beautiful | adj | masc plquequethat, than | conjjamaisjamaisnever, ever | adv L’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsabsolueabsoluabsolute, total, complete | adj | fem singnécessiténécessiténecessity; requirement, obligation; poverty, need | noun | fem sing Etetand | conjtestesyour | poss adj | masc and fem plcheveuxcheveuhair | noun | masc pldansdansin | preptestesyour | poss adj | masc and fem plyeuxœileye | noun | masc pl Leslesthe | def art | masc and fem plplusplusmore | advbeauxbeauhandsome, attractive, beautiful | adj | masc plyeuxœileye | noun | masc pldude + lefrom the, of the | prep + artmondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc singnousnouswe, us | pron | first pers plregardentregarderto watch, look at | verb | third pers pl pres Ààat, to, in | prepcombiencombienhow much, how many, to what extent | advrisques-risquerto risk | verb | sec pers sing prestutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform Lelethe | def art | masc singrisquerisquechance, likelihood; risk, danger | noun | masc singdedeof; from | prepmourirmourirto die | verb | infindemaindemaintomorrow | adv Dansdansin | prepd’deof; from | prep | shorted to d' before vowelsautresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem plterritoiresterritoireterritory, area, land, domain | noun | masc sing Ililhe, it | pron | il y a = there is/there aren’nenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' | shortened to n' before vowelsyyhere, there | adv | il y a = there is/there areaavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | il y a = there is/there areplusplusmore | adv | ne … plus que = onlyqu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowels | ne … plus que = onlyununa | indef art | masc singbaiserbaiserkiss | noun | masc sing Ununa | indef art | masc singbaiserbaiserkiss | noun | masc singquiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or relnousnouswe, us | pron | first pers plsépareséparerseparate, divide | noun | third pers sing pres Etetand | conjquiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or relnousnouswe, us | pron | first pers plferafaireto do, make | verb | third pers sing fut | faire du mal = to harm, hurtdude + lefrom the, of the | prep + artmalmalache; evil, wrong | noun | masc sing | faire du mal = to harm, hurt JejeI | pron | first pers singveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing presmourirmourirto die | verb | infinavecavecwith | preptoitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform Oui,ouiyes | advaussiaussitoo, also, as well; so | adv
[First Chorus] Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pletetand | conjtoi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informalfortsfortstrong; loudly | adj | masc plcommecommelike, as; because, since | conjdesde + lesof the | prep + def art | masc and fem plrois,roiking | noun | masc pl Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pletetand | conjtoi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informtutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, informlelehim, it | pron | masc sing, dir objsavaissavoirto know | verb | sec pers sing imperf Vousvousyou | pron | sec pers pl, also used for sec pers sing formaletetand | conjmoi,moime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers singononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we'essayeraessayerto try, test; try on | verb | third pers sing fut Touttouteverything; anything | pronetetand | conjtouttouteverything; anything | pronencoreencorestill, yet; again | adv Ààat, to, in | preps’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelseffacereffacererase; delete; wipe off | verb | infin | s'effacer = to fade Ununa | indef art | masc singjourjourday | noun | masc singdedeof; from | preptoitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
[Verse 2] Dorénavant,dorénavantfrom now on | advjejeI | pron | first pers singrentrerentrergo back, come back, return | verb | first pers sing pres Dansdansin | preplalathe | def art | fem singcourcourcourtyard; schoolyard; court (of ruler); courtiers, entourage; courting, wooing; court, tribunal | noun | fem singdesde + lesof the | prep + def art | masc and fem plgrandsgrandbig, large; grand, great, tall | adj | masc pl Lalathe | def art | fem singbrumebrumemist, haze, fog | noun | fem singsursuron, upon; on top of, above | prepleslesthe | def art | masc and fem plplainesplaineplains, prairie | noun | fem pl Républiquerépubliquerepublic; society | noun | fem singitalienneitalienItalian | adj | fem sing JejeI | pron | first pers singvaisallerto go | verb | first pers sing pres | aller + inf = to be going to do somethingt’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowelsattendreattendreto wait (for) | verb | infinlongtempslongtemps(for) a long time | adv Aussiaussitoo, also, as well; so | advlongtempslongtemps(for) a long time | advquequethat, than | conjtutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, informlelehim, it | pron | masc sing, dir objcroiscroireto believe, think | verb | sec pers sing pres JejeI | pron | first pers singmememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers singsenssentirto feel; to smell; to sense, appreciate | verb | first pers sing pres | se sentir = to feelbienbienwell; a lot; good, fine | advavecavecwith | preptoitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform Quequethat, than; let; so, so that | conjjejeI | pron | first pers singveilleveillerstay awake, stay up; be on watch, be watchful; stay with, stay by s.o.'s side, keep watch over | verb | first pers sing presquiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or relvaallerto go | verb | third pers sing presgâchergâcherwaste, squander, ruin, spoil | verb | infintatayour | poss adj | fem singbeautébeautébeauty | noun | fem sing Auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc singtempstempstime | noun | masc singdesde + lesof the | prep + def art | masc and fem plcompliquéscompliquécomplicated; intricate; difficult | adj | masc pl Ààat, to, in | prepcombiencombienhow much, how many, to what extent | advrisques-risquerto risk | verb | sec pers sing prestutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform Lelethe | def art | masc singrisquerisquechance, likelihood; risk, danger | noun | masc singdedeof; from | prepsesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers, sing and pl reflexquitterquitterto leave | infin | se quitter = separate, leave each otherdemaindemaintomorrow | adv JejeI | pron | first pers singveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing prespartirpartirto leave | verb | infinavecavecwith | preptoitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform Partirpartirto leave | verb | infinavecavecwith | preptoitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform Moimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers singaussiaussitoo, also, as well; so | adv
[Chorus] Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pletetand | conjtoi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informalfortsfortstrong; loudly | adj | masc plcommecommelike, as; because, since | conjdesde + lesof the | prep + def art | masc and fem plrois,roiking | noun | masc pl Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pletetand | conjtoi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informalononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we'lelehim, it | pron | masc sing, dir objsavaitsavoirto know | verb | third pers sing imperf Vousvousyou | pron | sec pers pl, also used for sec pers sing formaletetand | conjmoi,moime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers singononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we'essayeraessayerto try, test; try on | verb | third pers sing fut Touttouteverything; anything | pronetetand | conjtouttouteverything; anything | pronencoreencorestill, yet; again | adv Ààat, to, in | preps’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelseffacereffacererase; delete; wipe off | verb | infin | s'effacer = to fade
[Bridge] Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers plétionsêtreto be | verb | first pers pl imperflibreslibrefree, available; independent; at liberty; open | adj | masc or fem pl Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, informlelehim, it | pron | masc sing, dir objsaurassavoirto know | verb | sec pers sing fut Jamaisjamaisnever, ever | advassezassezenough, sufficiently, plenty; rather, quite | adv
[Chorus] Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pletetand | conjtoi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informalfortsfortstrong; loudly | adj | masc plcommecommelike, as; because, since | conjdesde + lesof the | prep + def art | masc and fem plrois,roiking | noun | masc pl Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pletetand | conjtoi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informalononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we'lelehim, it | pron | masc sing, dir objsavaitsavoirto know | verb | third pers sing imperf Vousvousyou | pron | sec pers pl, also used for sec pers sing formaletetand | conjmoi,moime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers singononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we'essayeraessayerto try, test; try on | verb | third pers sing fut Touttouteverything; anything | pronetetand | conjtouttouteverything; anything | pronencoreencorestill, yet; again | adv Ààat, to, in | preps’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelseffacereffacererase; delete; wipe off | verb | infin | s'effacer = to fade
[Outro] GloriaGloriaGloria | noun | masc sing and pl Ààat, to, in | prepnosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem plfantômesfantômeghost, phantom | noun | masc pl GloriaGloriaGloria | noun | masc sing and pl Sainssainhealthy, well; sane; wholesome, good, sound | adj | masc pl | sain et sauf = safe and soundetetand | conjsaufssaufsafe | adj | masc pl | sain et sauf = safe and sound Iciicihere | advetetand | conjlàlàthere; here; (right) now | adv Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we'teteyou; yourself | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers singgarderagarderto keep, save; take care of, look after | verb | third pers sing fut Lalathe | def art | fem singvievielife | noun | fem singetetand | conjtoitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we'teteyou; yourself | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers singgarderagarderto keep, save; take care of, look after | verb | third pers sing fut
Lyrics with Translation
Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.
Gloria Gloria
[Verse 1] À l’assaut des jardins Attacking gardens Ambre et diamant Amber and diamond Plus beaux que jamais More beautiful than ever L’absolue nécessité Absolute necessity Et tes cheveux dans tes yeux And your hair in your eyes Les plus beaux yeux du monde nous regardent The most beautiful eyes in the world are looking at us À combien risques-tu How much are you risking Le risque de mourir demain The risk of dying tomorrow Dans d’autres territoires In other territories Il n’y a plus qu’un baiser There is only a kiss Un baiser qui nous sépare A kiss that separates us Et qui nous fera du mal And that will hurt us Je veux mourir avec toi I want to die with you Oui, aussi Yes, as well
[First Chorus] Nous et toi, forts comme des rois Us and you, strong as kings Nous et toi, tu le savais Us and you, you knew it Vous et moi, on essayera You all and I, we will try Tout et tout encore Everything and everything again À s’effacer To fade Un jour de toi A day of you
[Verse 2] Dorénavant, je rentre From now on, I’m going back Dans la cour des grands In the court of the greats La brume sur les plaines The mist on the plains République italienne Italian republic Je vais t’attendre longtemps I’ll wait a long time for you Aussi longtemps que tu le crois As long as you believe it Je me sens bien avec toi I feel good with you Que je veille qui va gâcher ta beauté Let me be watchful for who is going to spoil your beauty Au temps des compliqués In the time of complicated things À combien risques-tu How much are you risking Le risque de se quitter demain The risk of leaving each other tomorrow Je veux partir avec toi I want to leave with you Partir avec toi Leave with you Moi aussi Me too
[Chorus] Nous et toi, forts comme des rois Us and you, strong as kings Nous et toi, on le savait Us and you, we knew it Vous et moi, on essayera You all and I, we will try Tout et tout encore Everything and everything again À s’effacer To fade
[Bridge] Nous étions libres We were free Tu le sauras You’ll knowit Jamais assez Never enough
[Chorus] Nous et toi, forts comme des rois Us and you, strong as kings Nous et toi, on le savait Us and you, we knew it Vous et moi, on essayera You all and I, we will try Tout et tout encore Everything and everything again À s’effacer To fade
[Outro] Gloria Gloria À nos fantômes To our ghosts Gloria Gloria Sains et saufs Safe and sound Ici et là Here and there On te gardera You will be taken care of La vie et toi Life and you On te gardera You will be taken care of
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