According to Jenifer’s Twitter account, this single just hit 15 million streams and was certified gold.

“Les choses simples” is a collaboration between French singers Jenifer and Slimane. Released on October 26th, 2018, it was the third single from Jenifer’s eighth studio album Nouvelle Page. It reached number 16 on the French charts and number 8 in Belgium.

Song information from Wikipedia.

About the Artists

Jenifer

Jenifer Bartoli is a singer and actrice from Nice, France. When she was 10 years old she had her first performance opening for French singer C. Jérôme in Corsica. When she was fourteen she claimed to be of legal age so that she could perform in piano bars and restaurants in the Côte d’Azur, and in 1997 she participated in the show Graines de Star, in which she was a finalist. At sixteen years old she left Nice by herself to follow her dreams in Paris, where she performed in bars. She got her breakthrough in 2002 when she appeared on and won the first season of the show Star Academy. She released her first studio album Jenifer in 2002. The album was certified Platinum, and the single “Au Soleil” was one of the big hits of the summer. She has won eight NRJ Music Awards and one MTV Europe Music Award.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Slimane

Slimane Nebchi, who performs under the stage name Slimane is a singer/songwriter of Algerian origin from Chelles, in the Île-de-France region of France, east of Paris. He got his start playing in bars in the Pigalle neighborhood of Paris and posting videos on YouTube. He also participated in several television contests: Nouvelle Star in 2009, Popstar and X-Factor in 2011 and Encore une chance in 2012. Though he didn’t win any of them, it did get him noticed. Then, in 2016 he went on the fifth season of The Voice : La plus belle voix, which he won. He released his first album À bout de rêves in July of 2016, which reached number one in France, Belgium and French-speaking Switzerland and was certified double platinum. The first single off of of this album, entitled “Paname”, was also certified platinum.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

’emmener’ – This verb means ‘to take’ when referring to taking people. If discussing taking things the verb ‘apporter’ should be used instead.

‘en + present participle’ – The preposition ‘en’, when followed by a present participle, means ‘while’. Here the example is ‘en tenant’ which means ‘while holding’. Note that the ‘me’ here for ‘my hand’ comes between ‘en’ and the present participle ‘tenant’.

‘le long de’ – While in some contexts this will be translated more literally as ‘the length of’, more often it is simply translated as ‘along’.

‘rendre + adj’ – The verb ‘rendre’, meaning ‘to give back’, is used to say that someone is made to feel a certain way in French, providing the feeling is an adjective. For example “tu me rends heureux” (you make me happy), or the example in the song to make ‘Tu pourrais me rendre malade’ (you could make me sick). If the feeling is a noun, the verb ‘faire’ is used. For example ‘Tu m’as fait peur !’ (you scared me!).

‘être d’accord avec’ – While this can be translated more literally as ‘to be in agreement with’, more often it is simply translated as ‘to agree with’.

‘n’en avoir rien à cirer’ – Literally translating as ‘to not have anything to polish/wax’, this phrase means ‘to not give a damn’, ‘to not give a s**t’ or ‘to not give a rat’s ass’.

‘jouer de ses charmes’ – Translating literally as ‘to play your charms’, this phrase means ‘to use your charms’ or ‘to use you wiles’.

‘croquer la pomme’ – This phrase has biblical origins. It is a reference to the story of the serpent tempting Eve to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, which is often mistranslated as ‘apple’. I’ve seen several different meanings associated with his phrase: ‘to succumb to temptation’, ‘to make a mistake’, ‘to do something silly’ or ‘to make love’. The latter meaning likely comes from the fact that Adam and Eve became aware of their nudity after eating the fruit.

‘où nous en sommes’ – Literally translating as something like ‘where are we about it’, it means ‘where we stand’.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

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

Leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl

[Verse 1]
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelsemmeneremmenerto take, lead | verb | infin | used with people, not things trèstrèsvery | adv loinloinfar, distant | adv
Uneunea | indef art | fem sing vaguevaguewave | noun | fem sing ununa | indef art | masc sing nuage,nuagecloud | noun | masc sing enento, in; while | prep | | en + pres part = while + pres part mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing tenanttenirhold; take hold of, grip, grasp; restrain; manage, run; maintain, keep | verb | pres part lalathe | def art | fem sing mainmainhand | noun | fem sing
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing diredireto say, to tell | verb | infin quequethat, than | conj tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform asavoirto have | verb | sec pers sing pres touttoutall, entirely, very | adv
Touttoutall, entirely, very | adv cecethis, that | pron | masc sing quequethat, than | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsattendaisattendreto wait (for) | verb | first pers sing imperf enento, in; while | prep | | en + pres part = while plus pres part soufflantsoufflerblow; exhale; pant, gasp; sigh; catch your breath | verb | pres part sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl couscouneck | noun | masc sing

[Chorus]
Emmène-emmenerto take, lead | verb | sec pers sing impera | used with people, not thingsmoimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing enento, in | prep baladebaladestroll, walk | noun | fem sing | en balade = walking
Lelethe | def art | masc sing longlonglong; lengthy; thin; a lot, too much | adj | masc sing | le long de = along, the length of desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl quaisquaiplatform; quay, wharf, dock | noun | masc pl ououor | conj enento, in | prep forêtforêtforest, woods | noun | fem sing
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing rendrerendregive back, take back, restore, return; make, drive; render, interpret, convey | verb | infin | rendre qqn/qch + adj = to make s.o. + adj maladesick, ill; crazy, insane; uneasy, worried, anxiousadj | masc and fem sing
Enento, in | prep ununa | indef art | masc sing motmotword | noun | masc sing tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond
Lelethe | def art | masc sing cielcielsky | noun | masc sing seraitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing cond d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsaccordaccordagreement; permission, consent; harmony, match, fit; understanding, rapport | noun | masc sing | être d'accord avec = to agree with
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing aimeaimerto like, to love | verb | third pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl
Monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing cœurcœurheart | noun | masc sing contrecontreagainst | prep tontonyour | poss adj | masc sing corpscorpsbody | noun | masc sing and pl
Sisiso | adv tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform aimesaimerto like, to love | verb | sec pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl

[Post-Chorus]
Non,nonno, not | adv nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' faisonsfaireto do, make | verb | third pers pl pres paspasstep; footprint; speed, pace | noun | masc sing commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl
Commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl
Non,nonno, not | adv nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' faisonsfaireto do, make | verb | third pers pl pres paspasstep; footprint; speed, pace | noun | masc sing commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl
Commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl

[Bridge]
Sisiso | adv tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform aimesaimerto like, to love | verb | sec pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl

[Verse 2]
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelsinviterinviterto invite; to pay for, treat someone | verb | infin | s'inviter = to show up, arrive ààat, to, in | prep dinerdinerdinner | noun | masc sing
Toutestoutall | adj | fem pl leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl plusplusmore | adv bellesbeaubeautiful, attractive, handsome; pleasant; good, excellent | adj | fem pl tables,tabletable | noun | fem pl j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsenenabout it, some (of it), of them | pron aiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres rien(ne) … riennothing, not … anything | pron | in cases where the 'ne' is grammatically necessary it is often omitted in coll lang | n’en avoir rien à cirer = to not give a damn ààat, to, in | prep cirercirerto polish, wax | verb | infin | n’en avoir rien à cirer = to not give a damn/s**t/rat's ass
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond jouerjouerto play | verb | infin | jouer de ses charmes = use your charmes, use you wiles dedeof; from | prep testesyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl charmescharmecharm, allure, seductiveness, appeal; spell | noun | masc pl | jouer de ses charmes = use your charmes, use you wiles
Arriverarriverto arrive | verb | infin devantdevantin front of, before, ahead of | prep moi,moime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin baisserbaisserlower, drop | verb | infin leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl armesarmeweapon, firearm | noun | fem pl

[Chorus]
Emmène-emmenerto take, lead | verb | sec pers sing impera | used with people, not thingsmoimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing enento, in | prep baladebaladestroll, walk | noun | fem sing | en balade = walking
Lelethe | def art | masc sing longlonglong; lengthy; thin; a lot, too much | adj | masc sing | le long de = along, the length of desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl quaisquaiplatform; quay, wharf, dock | noun | masc pl ououor | conj enento, in | prep forêtforêtforest, woods | noun | fem sing
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing rendrerendregive back, take back, restore, return; make, drive; render, interpret, convey | verb | infin | rendre qqn/qch + adj = to make s.o. + adj maladesick, ill; crazy, insane; uneasy, worried, anxiousadj | masc and fem sing
Enento, in | prep ununa | indef art | masc sing motmotword | noun | masc sing tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond
Lelethe | def art | masc sing cielcielsky | noun | masc sing seraitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing cond d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsaccordaccordagreement; permission, consent; harmony, match, fit; understanding, rapport | noun | masc sing | être d'accord avec = to agree with
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing aimeaimerto like, to love | verb | third pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl
Monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing cœurcœurheart | noun | masc sing contrecontreagainst | prep tontonyour | poss adj | masc sing corpscorpsbody | noun | masc sing and pl
Sisiso | adv tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform aimesaimerto like, to love | verb | sec pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl

[Post-Chorus]
Non,nonno, not | adv nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' faisonsfaireto do, make | verb | third pers pl pres paspasstep; footprint; speed, pace | noun | masc sing commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl
Commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl
Non,nonno, not | adv nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' faisonsfaireto do, make | verb | third pers pl pres paspasstep; footprint; speed, pace | noun | masc sing commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl
Commecommelike, as; because, since | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl autresautreanother, other | adj | masc and fem pl

[Verse 3]
Emmène-emmenerto take, lead | verb | sec pers sing impera | used with people, not thingsmoimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing | mon grand = big guy, big boy grand,grandbig, large; grand, great, tall | adj | masc sing | mon grand = big guy, big boy fais-faireto do, to make | verb | sec pers sing imperamoimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing croquercroquermunch, crunch | verb | infin | croquer la pomme = succumb to temptation; make a mistake, do something silly; to make love lalathe | def art | fem sing pommepommeapple | noun | fem sing | croquer la pomme = succumb to temptation; make a mistake, do something silly; to make love
Derrièrederrièrebehind | prep ununa | indef art | masc sing sentimentsentimentopinion, sentiment; intention; impression, feeling | noun | masc sing sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers, sing and pl, reflex cachentcacherhide, conceal; disguise; suppress | verb | third pers pl pres | se cacher = hide, go into hiding leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl grandsgrandbig, large; grand, great, tall | adj | masc pl hommeshommeman; human beings, humanity, mankind | noun | masc pl
Fais-faireto do, to make | verb | sec pers sing imperamoimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing volervolerto fly; to steal | verb | infin monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing | mon grand = big guy, big boy grandgrandbig, large; grand, great, tall | adj | masc sing | mon grand = big guy, big boy dis-direto say, tell | verb | sec pers sing imperamoimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl enenabout it, some (of it), of them | pron sommesêtreto be | verb | first pers pl pres
Derrièrederrièrebehind | prep ununa | indef art | masc sing sentimentsentimentopinion, sentiment; intention; impression, feeling | noun | masc sing sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers, sing and pl, reflex cachentcacherhide, conceal; disguise; suppress | verb | third pers pl pres | se cacher = hide, go into hiding leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl grandsgrandbig, large; grand, great, tall | adj | masc pl hommeshommeman; human beings, humanity, mankind | noun | masc pl

[Chorus]
Emmène-emmenerto take, lead | verb | sec pers sing impera | used with people, not thingsmoimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing enento, in | prep baladebaladestroll, walk | noun | fem sing | en balade = walking
Lelethe | def art | masc sing longlonglong; lengthy; thin; a lot, too much | adj | masc sing | le long de = along, the length of desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl quaisquaiplatform; quay, wharf, dock | noun | masc pl ououor | conj enento, in | prep forêtforêtforest, woods | noun | fem sing
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing rendrerendregive back, take back, restore, return; make, drive; render, interpret, convey | verb | infin | rendre qqn/qch + adj = to make s.o. + adj maladesick, ill; crazy, insane; uneasy, worried, anxiousadj | masc and fem sing
Enento, in | prep ununa | indef art | masc sing motmotword | noun | masc sing tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform pourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | sec pers sing cond
Lelethe | def art | masc sing cielcielsky | noun | masc sing seraitêtreto be | verb | third pers sing cond d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsaccordaccordagreement; permission, consent; harmony, match, fit; understanding, rapport | noun | masc sing | être d'accord avec = to agree with
Ililhe, it | pron | third pers sing aimeaimerto like, to love | verb | third pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl
Monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing cœurcœurheart | noun | masc sing contrecontreagainst | prep tontonyour | poss adj | masc sing corpscorpsbody | noun | masc sing and pl
Sisiso | adv tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform aimesaimerto like, to love | verb | sec pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl
Sisiso | adv tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform aimesaimerto like, to love | verb | sec pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl choseschosething | noun | fem pl simplessimplesimple, plain; easy straightforward; humble modest | adj | masc and fem pl

Lyrics with Translation

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

Les choses simples
The Simple Things

[Verse 1]
Tu pourrais tu pourrais m’emmener très loin
You could, you could take me very far
Une vague un nuage, en me tenant la main
A wave, a cloud, while holding my hand
Tu pourrais tu pourrais me dire que tu as tout
You could, you could tell me you have everything
Tout ce que j’attendais en soufflant sur nos cous
Everything I was waiting for while blowing on our necks

[Chorus]
Emmène-moi en balade
Take me for a walk
Le long des quais ou en forêt
Along the quays or in the forest
Tu pourrais me rendre malade
You could make me sick
En un mot tu pourrais
In a word you could
Le ciel serait d’accord
Heaven would agree
Il aime les choses simples
It likes the simple things
Mon cœur contre ton corps
My heart against your body
Si tu aimes les choses simples
If you like the simple things

[Post-Chorus]
Non, ne faisons pas comme les autres
No, let’s not do like the others do
Comme les autres
Like the others
Non, ne faisons pas comme les autres
No, let’s not do like the others do
Comme les autres
Like the others

[Bridge]
Si tu aimes les choses simples
If you like the simple things

[Verse 2]
Tu pourrais tu pourrais m’inviter à diner
You could, you could invite me to dinner
Toutes les plus belles tables, j’en ai rien à cirer
All the prettiest tables, I don’t give a damn
Tu pourrais tu pourrais jouer de tes charmes
You could, you could use your charms
Arriver devant moi, me faire baisser les armes
Arrive in front of me, make me lower my weapon

[Chorus]
Emmène-moi en balade
Take me for a walk
Le long des quais ou en forêt
Along the quays or in the forest
Tu pourrais me rendre malade
You could make me sick
En un mot tu pourrais
In a word you could
Le ciel serait d’accord
Heaven would agree
Il aime les choses simples
It likes the simple things
Mon cœur contre ton corps
My heart against your body
Si tu aimes les choses simples
If you like the simple things

[Post-Chorus]
Non, ne faisons pas comme les autres
No, let’s not do like the others do
Comme les autres
Like the others
Non, ne faisons pas comme les autres
No, let’s not do like the others do
Comme les autres
Like the others

[Verse3]
Emmène-moi mon grand, fais-moi croquer la pomme
Take me big guy, make me succumb to temptation
Derrière un sentiment se cachent les grands hommes
Behind a feeling hide great men
Fais-moi voler mon grand dis-moi où nous en sommes
Make me fly big guy, tell me where we stand
Derrière un sentiment se cachent les grands hommes
Behind a feeling hide great men

[Chorus]
Emmène-moi en balade
Take me for a walk
Le long des quais ou en forêt
Along the quays or in the forest
Tu pourrais me rendre malade
You could make me sick
En un mot tu pourrais
In a word you could
Le ciel serait d’accord
Heaven would agree
Il aime les choses simples
It likes the simple things
Mon cœur contre ton corps
My heart against your body
Si tu aimes les choses simples
If you like the simple things
Si tu aimes les choses simples
If you like the simple things