L’Oiseau

It's Québec culture time!

I was surfing Youtube for some old songs with the missus this weekend, looking for TV show themes from our childhood. Given the search engine features in Youtube I got some more or less apropos suggestions. Nevertheless, I found this gem.

I remember seeing this kid on our state-of-the art 12-inch TV. It is vague, mind you, but I do remember it. Here is it reproduced, as I saw it, including horrendous recording quality, such was the technology of the time, and of course, in black and white.

His name is René Simard, born in Chicoutimi in 1961. He is arguably one of the most beloved Québécois artists of all time. I understand, from a very reliable source who's actually met the man, that he is a polite, caring, simple and genuine, and this is despite super-stardom status here in Québec.

Urban legend has it that the sound-board operators had to crank down the gain on the kid's microphone during the song, because he would routinely peg the meters. Raw power, insane talent. Stirring, truly stirring.

This particular recording is from a Canadian stage, probably 1970 or 1971, before his trip to Japan (1974) where he brought down the house.

And I've translated it for you below.

"L'Oiseau" (The Bird)

Je connais les brumes claires La neige rose des matins d'hiver Je pourrais te retrouver Le lièvre blanc qu'on ne voit jamais Mais l'oiseau, l'oiseau s'est envolé Et moi jamais je ne le trouverai Car j'ai vu, l'oiseau voler J'ai vu l'oiseau, je sais qu'il partait Je l'ai entendu pleurer Le bel oiseau que le vent chassait	I know well the light mists The pink snow of winter mornings I could find it again for you The white hare which we never see But the bird, the bird has flown away And I will never find it Because I saw the bird fly I saw the bird, I know he was leaving I heard it crying The beautiful bird that the wind chased away
Je voudrais tout te donner Mais toi pourquoi ne me dis tu rien Quel est-il ton grand secret Un secret d'homme Je le comprends bien Mais tu sais je peux te raconter Combien l'oiseau est parti à regret Si un jour tu m'écoutais Tu apprendrais tout ce que je sais L'oiseau part et puis revient Tu le verras peut-être demain	I want to give you everything But why do you not tell me anything What is it your great secret A Man's secret I understand so well But you know I can tell you The regret with which the bird left If someday you really listened to me You would learn all that I know The bird leaves and then returns Maybe you'll see it tomorrow
Si jamais je rencontrai Ce bel oiseau qui s'est envolé S'il revient de son voyage Tout près de toi le long du rivage Moi vois-tu je lui raconterais Combien pour toi je sais qu'il a compté C'est l'oiseau que tu aimais L'oiseau jaloux je l'ai deviné S'il revient de son voyage Je lui dirais que tu l'attendais	If ever I meet The beautiful bird that flew away If ever it returns from its voyage Near you on the shoreline You see, I would tell it How very much it meant to you This bird whom you loved so The jealous bird, I had guessed If it returns from its voyage I will let it know that you were waiting.