La Seine, taken from the soundtrack of ‘’Un monstre à Paris’’

Mostly known by his nickname: -M-, Mathieu Chedid (1971-) is an award winning singer and song writer of Lebanese descent. -M- is a play on the word “aime” – “like” or “love” in French– and his own initial. He is the son of singer Louis Chedid and grandson of French poetess Andrée Chedid, who has written lyrics for several of his songs most notably “Bonoboo” from the album “Je Dis Aime”. He began his music career at the age of six, making his debut on his fathers 1978 song “T’a Beau Pas Être Beau”. His live performances place a strong emphasis imagery and the nature of Chedid’s alter ego -M-. Chedid emphasizes his mysterious nature through his clothes, and hair which is shaped like an M. He is famed for his guitar-playing abilities. Since 2018, he has been the most awarded artist at the Victoires de la Musique Awards with 13 awards, tied with Alain Bashung.

Produced by Matthieu Chédid, Un Monstre à Paris is the official soundtrack to the 2011 Bibo Bergeron-directed animation about a flea-turned-monster’s relationship with a cabaret singer during the Seine flood of 1910. The 22-track largely instrumental collection features vocal contributions from two of the film’s stars, Vanessa Paradis (Lucille) and -M- himself (Franccoeur), including the single “La Seine.”

Elle sort de son lit
Tellement sûre d’elle
La Seine, la Seine, la Seine
Tellement jolie elle m’ensorcelle
La Seine, la Seine, la Seine
Extralucide la lune est sur
La Seine, la Seine, la Seine
Tu n’es pas saoul
Paris est sous
La Seine, la Seine, la Seine

She’s overflowing her banks
So sure of herself
The Seine, the Seine, the Seine
So pretty, she’s bewitching me
The Seine, the Seine, the Seine
The prophetic moon is reflected on
The Seine, the Seine, the Seine
You are not drunk
Paris is (drowning) under
The Seine, the Seine, the Seine

Je ne sais, ne sais, ne sais pas pourquoi
C’est comme ça, la Seine et moi
Je ne sais, ne sais, ne sais pas pourquoi
C’est comme ça, la Seine et moi

I don’t know, don’t know, don’t know why
This is how it goes between the Seine and me
I don’t know, don’t know, don’t know why
This is how it goes between the Seine and me

Extra Lucille quand tu es sur
La scène, la scène, la scène
Extravagante quand l’ange est sur
La scène, la scène, la scène

Great Lucille, when you are
On stage, on stage, on stage
Extravagant when the angel is
On stage, on stage, on stage

Je ne sais, ne sais, ne sais pas pourquoi
C’est comme ça, la Seine et moi
Je ne sais, ne sais, ne sais pas pourquoi
C’est comme ça, la Seine et moi

I don’t know, don’t know, don’t know why
This is how it goes between the Seine and me
I don’t know, don’t know, don’t know why
This is how it goes between the Seine and me

Sur le pont des arts
Mon cœur vacille
Entre deux eaux
L’air est si bon
Cet air si pur
Je le respire
Nos reflets perchés
Sur ce pont

On the Bridge of the Arts [name of a real bridge in Paris]
My heart is shaky
Between two waters
The air is so good
That air is so pure
I breathe it
Our perched reflections
On that bridge

C’est comme ça, la Seine et moi
On s’aime comme ça la Seine et moi
On s’aime comme ça la Seine et moi
On s’aime comme ça la Seine et moi

This is how it goes between the Seine and me
That’s how we love each other, the Seine and I
That’s how we love each other, the Seine and I
That’s how we love each other, the Seine and I