Papaoutai

Dad, Where Are You?

Papaoutai by Stromae

Recommended by Anonymous

"Your blog needs some international lovin'."

I had a little trouble with the language barrier here, even after looking at a few translations and watching the music video in which this boy tries to get his father (portrayed by a plaastic manikin) to hang out with him.

The title translates to Father, where are you? But I can't decide whether the boy's dad is supposed to have walked out or whether he's just emotionally distant.

Whatever the case may be literally, the boy's feelings are perfectly clear. At first, I thought there was kind of a disconnect between the upbeat music and the sad meaning of the song. Then it clicked...the boy isn't sad. I mean, maybe he's a little sad.

But the main emotion here is frustration.

You've got the kind of erratic, disconnected piano part in the background. Then, the repetitiveness of the chorus really represents the way this boy is trying and trying to engage with his father, but nothing changes. It's irritation colored by disappointment.

Où t'es? Papaoutai?
Où t'es? Papaoutai?
Où t'es? Papaoutai?
Outai otai où Papaoutai?

Où t'es? Papaoutai?
Où t'es? Papaoutai?
Où t'es? Papaoutai?
Outai otai où Papaoutai?

Finally in that rap-like interlude, you can hear it move all the way into the realm of anger, or maybe desperation. The climax before the fall.

It's pretty cool.

Overview:

Genre:
House / Eurodance

Favorite Lyrics:
Outai, papaoutai?

Verdict:
The dancing though.