Playing (and singing!) "Complainte de la Butte"

My first attempt at making a video where I'm singing and playing.

This is "Complainte de la Butte," a French song that I heard sung by Rufus Wainwright. It was used in the film "Moulin Rouge!" I love this song so much.

I realize I don't have the greatest voice (or French accent) in the world, but I love to sing and speak French so I hope you don't judge me too harshly on technique :)

Also, I've heard variations in the lyrics so I'm just going by what I heard in the actual song. Even the lyrics on the sheet music are different. By the way, you can get the sheet music at www.musicnotes.com

I hope you enjoy it (without your ears bleeding :P)


Lyrics and Translation:

La lune trop bleme pose un diademe sur tes cheveux roux
La lune trop rousse de gloire eclabousse ton jupon plein d'trous
La lune trop pale caresse l'opale de tes yeux blases
Princesse de la rue soit la bienvenue dans mon coeur brise

Chorus:
The stairways up to la butte
Can make the wreched sigh
While windmill wings of the moulin
shelter you and I

Original Song:
[Les escaliers de la butte sont durs aux misereux
Les ailes du moulin protegent les amoureux]
Petite mandigotte je sens ta menotte qui cherche ma main
Je sens ta poitrine et ta taille fine
J'oublie mon chagrin
Je sens sur tes levres une odeur de fievre de gosse mal nourri
Et sous ta caresse je sens une ivresse qui m'aneantit

Chorus:
The stairways up to la butte
Can make the wreched sigh
While windmill wings of the moulin
shelter you and I

Original Song:
[Les escaliers de la butte sont durs aux misereux
Les ailes du moulin protegent les amoureux]
Et voila qu'elle trotte la lune qui flotte, la princesse aussi
La da da da da da da da da da
Mes reves epanouis
Les escaliers de la butte sont durs aux misereux
Les ailes du moulin protegent les amoureux




English Translation:
The moon, all too fair, in your russet-red hair sets a sparkling crown
The moon, all too red with glory, is spread on your poor, tattered gown
The moon, all too white, caresses the light in your world-weary eyes
Princess of the street, do allow me to greet you, my broken heart cries
The steps of Montmartre, all uphill, are hardest on the poor
The sails of the mill, like wings, shelter all paramours
I feel, beggar-girl, your fetters, they curl as they seek out my wrists
I feel your young breasts, your thin little waist
I lose my regrets
I taste on your mouth the feverish breath of a half-starving waif
And with your caress I sense drunkenness erasing my life
The steps of Montmartre, all uphill, are hardest on the poor
The sails of the mill, like wings, shelter all paramours
And see how she skips, the moon how she drifts,
The princess in tow
Da da da da da da da da da da
My reveries grow
The steps of Montmartre, all uphill, are hardest on the poor
The sails of the mill, like wings, shelter all paramours

Category:

Music

Tags:

• singing
• playing
• yamaha
• keyboard
• rufus
• wainwright
• complainte
• de
• la
• butte
• french
• moulin
• rouge
• piano

[redhot654]

This is freaking aaamazing, your voice is soo good! I could never play and sing this at the same time, you have a lot of concentration.

[VampiressKarmina]

Thank you! And trust me, it took time. This was a bit easier because the patterns on piano were easier. I've been trying Alicia Keys and I still don't have the hang of it @.@

[InuYashaetKagome]

In wich part of the film is this song used?

[VampiressKarmina]

It's used very briefly at the beginning when Christian talks about coming to Paris. If I remember correctly, I think it shows a train when the intro of this song's playing.

[jorginardilin]

wow, amazing voice and piano skills! what a talented girl! you should upload more videos... btw can you do a tutorial to play this song??? it would be awesome! =D

[mydlands]

Your voice really suits the French. Truly wonderful job!

[FredsThings]

Your voice and your accent are both adorable! I'm actually french and I didn't hear pronounciation mistakes! Very good!

[4katwin4]

C`est Magnifique ! Bravo !!

[kristinelizabeth23]

omg so beautiful!

[cobaxus]

Formidable!

[HeLeNa646]

Ok so I have been trying to figure out how to play this and tryiing to figure it out by ear is just not working this time! Do you think you coul d help me and send me the chords? This song is so beautiful and so far as I have been cruising thinternet yours has been the best fantastic job!

[brookiecookie888]

This is amazing. x.x

I love Rufus Wainwright but the way you sing it.. it's just so much more.

[ninskimig123]

could you, like, maybe do a tutorial for this? :D I have been able to make out the first verse by looking at your hands, but I can't figure out the chorus... and I can't read sheet music :) It would be awesome if you could do a tutorial, or just film your hands while you play it slowly :D

[GaldonEyeStudios]

Vraiment belle.