Tuesday, April 28, 2009

'Plaisir D'Amour' the title song for True Blood Season One Episode Nine

I recently did a Season 2 Spoiler show for my Blogtalk radio show, where we looked at what we might know about the upcoming episode by knowing examining the title song for that episode.

I can't tell you how many emails I received from folks saying they felt so stupid for not realizing that the True Blood episodes were named for songs. It's OK but I thought it might be a good idea to look back at the song, the artist and the lyrics for each of last season's episode title songs.


So let's look back to Season 1, Ep 9 Plaisir D'Amour which originally aired: November 2, 2008

"Plaisir d'amour" is a classical French love song which is sometimes (falsely) considered to be "pop", written in 1780 by Jean Paul Égide Martini (1741-1816). It was arranged for orchestra by Hector Berlioz.. It could not be a "pop" song because of the style in which it is written and the fact that 1780 was in the "classical period" of music.

In True Blood we hear a version of the classical French song sung by the great Joan Baez.

Joan Chandos Baez (born January 9, 1941 in Staten Island, New York) is a folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. Many of her songs are topical and deal with social issues. It was first recorded by Joan in her 1961 album, Joan Baez Vol.2

Lyrics

PLAISIR D’AMOUR

(English translation)
The joys of love last but a moment.
The grief of love lasts a lifetime.

I’ve given up everything for the ungrateful Sylvia.
She is leaving me and taking another lover.

The joys of love last but a moment.
The grief of love lasts a lifetime.

“As long as that water flows gently
Towards that brook at the edge of the meadow,
I’ll love you,” Sylvia repeated to me.
The water still flows. She has changed though.

The joys of love last but a moment.
The grief of love lasts a lifetime

French
Plaisir d'amour ne dure qu'un moment.

chagrin d'amour dure toute la vie.

J'ai tout quitté pour l'ingrate Sylvie.
Elle me quitte et prend un autre aimant.

Plaisir d'amour ne dure qu'un moment.
chagrin d'amour dure toute la vie.

Tant que cette eau coulera doucement
vers ce ruisseau qui borde la prairie,

Je t'aimerai me répétait Sylvie.
L'eau coule encore. Elle a changé pourtant.

Plaisir d'amour ne dure qu'un moment.
chagrin d'amour dure toute la vie.

At about 2:16


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