J'attendrai

[SabreHawk]

Ok so I know most any of us here are familiar with this most lovely song by Rina Ketty, J'attendrai.

And im sure as is mandatory for any Uboat sub fan, all have seen Das Boot and know of the song as the Captain's favorite......as he said to the radio man, "Put the record on, you know the one."
Well, I for many years after first hearing it back in 82' when the movie first released wished I knew the lyrics, and even before I found them in english I already knew what they must surely be saying.
And of course it's a love song, saying to her love that she will wait for him, as long as it takes, and always will wait until his return.
And what a perfect song to sooth one's soul, when so far away from her and the rest of the civilized world out there in the vast expanse of the sea,...........and at war.
Well I thought some might not know the lyrics, and like me had always wanted to know. So here they are,.

Here's a video with both english and french subtitles


J'attendrai ( I will wait )

I will wait.......
Day and night, always wait
Your return
I will wait.
For the bird who flies just try to forget
In nest
Time passes and short
Beating sadly
In my heart so heavy
And yet, I'll wait
Your return
I will wait.......
Day and night, always wait
Your return
I will wait.
For the bird who flies just try to forget
In nest
Time passes and short
Beating sadly
In my heart so heavy
And yet, I'll wait
Your return
The wind brings me
Sounds distant
My door
I listen in vain
Alas, nothing
Nothing comes
I will wait.
Day and night, always wait
Your return
I will wait.........
For the bird who flies just try to forget
In nest
Time passes and short
Beating sadly
In my heart so heavy
And yet, I'll wait
Your return
And yet, I'll wait
Your return
(Instrumental)
Time passes and short
Beating sadly
In my heart so heavy
And yet, I'll wait
Your return


Oh, and one more thing I did a youtube search and found a lovely and talented and verrrry beautiful singer doing a more modern version. Now usually I dont like modern versions of songs like this as they tend to either not do it justice, or just sounds lame. Well this one may not do the original justice, but certainly isn't lame by any stretch. In fact quite sexy me thinks.
The singer, Dalida I'd never heard of but I sure do like her. So much better than the run of the mill American Divas these days, she is quite elegant.

[Schroeder]

Thanks for posting.

[Jimbuna]

Nice voice and very pretty but I still prefer the original

[SabreHawk]

Well yes I too think the original by Rina Ketty is the better one, but Dalida showed up in that youtube search so I watched it and thought wow, now thats a classy lookin lady.
On her version one has to give it credit on it's own and not consider the original too much. Dalida's has a certain disco overtone to it, and I like her elegance.

So, I then yesterday got interested in finding the lyrics to another Das Boot song and it's writer and the woman performing it in the film.
Yeah you geussed, it's Monique and the song "Mon Gars". Well that search didnt turn up much on her, as she didn't do too much before or after Das Boot, but I did find some stuff and the lyrics showed up at Uboat.net's forums. And yes in both french and english.
It's Rita Cadillac but she was not born by that name and well, she fit the part well cause she was in fact an exotic dancer and singer, but her work in film is quite limited. She was born Nicole Yasterbelsky in Paris, France, in 1936, the name Rita Cadillac was obviously and assumed stage name.
She died Apr 05, 1995 in Deauville, France of cancer.
Not much more info on her, or photos either to my dismay as I had hoped to find some.
The film peroformance is on youtube of course as well as many other Das Boot related stuff.



But anyway, here is the lyrics to Mon Gars in french :
The song was written by Klaus Doldinger for the film.

Allez viens mon gars la vie te tend les bras,
Un petit tour un deux trois un p'tit coup toi et moi
C'est pas plus difficile que ça il suffit d'y croire et puis voilÃ*
C'est tout miel, c'est tout ciel, c'est tout rêve et soleil..
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ*, le temps n'attend pas
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ*, tant que je te tends les bras
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ*, le temps n'attend pas
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ* et serre-moi contre toi
Embrasse moi.
Ah! Comme c'est doux ta bouche avide dans mon cou,
Ah! Comme c'est fou tes dents de loup sur mes genoux
Vas-y mon chou va jusqu'au bout et tout d'un coup grand méchant loup
Eh, ne crains rien, j'me sens bien, quel festin, allez viens...
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ*, le temps n'attend pas
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ*, tant que je te tends les bras
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ*, le temps n'attend pas
Allez viens mon gars, viens lÃ* enferme-moi dans tes bras
Caresse moi.
Range tes outils, déjÃ*, éteins l'incendie,
Un p'tit tour et fini un p'tit coup et puis merci
J't'avais dit, c'est pas pour la vie, juste pour une nuit, un peu de folie
Pauvre ami, rien compris, ben tant pis, tiens pardi

Allez va mon gars, c'est ça, le temps n'attend pas,
Allez va mon gars, c'est ça, y'a d'autres filles que moi,
Allez va mon gars, c'est ça, le temps n'attend pas,
Allez va mon gars, c'est ça, bientôt tu m'oublieras,
La vie va. (bis)

And the english translation :

Come on, come here my guy, life opens its arms to you,
A small turn, one two three, a little ride, you and me
It is no more difficult than that, it is enough to believe in it, and then here it is
It is all honey, it is all sky, it is all dream and sun.
Come on, come here my guy, come there, time does not await
Come on, come here my guy, come there, as long as I open my arms to you
come here my guy, come there, time does not await
Go come here my guy, come there and hold me tight
kiss me.
Ah! How your avid mouth in my neck is sweet,
Ah! How crazy your wolf's teeth on my knees
Go ahead my dear, go to the end, and suddenly great big wolf,
Don't be afraid of anything, I feel well, what a feast, go, come...
Come on, come here my guy, come there, time does not await
Come on, come here my guy, come there, as long as I open my arms to you
Come on, come here my guy, come there, time does not await
Come on, come here my guy, come there hold me prisoner in your arms
Stroke me.
Pack up your tools, already, extinguish the fire, a little turn and over
a little ride and then, thank you
I had said to you, it is not for life, just for a night, a little madness
Poor friend, understood nothing, whatever,
Come on, go away my guy, that's it, time does not await
Come on, go away my guy, that's it,there are other girls than me,
Come on, go away my guy, that's it, time does not await,
Come on, go away my guy, that's it, soon you will forget me, The life goes on. (bis)

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by SabreHawk

and thought wow, now thats a classy lookin lady.

Ah...now the truth surfaces

[SabreHawk]

Well ya gotta admit she has a much more classy way of shaking her hips, and im sick of how the American divas keep going over the top with their dance routines.
Dalida's style was just as sexy,(perhaps more so) without trying to look like well...........you know.

So eat your heart out Britney Spears.

Another female group I really think brings style and grace is that trio known as "Bond". Now they are one classy act.

[Jimbuna]

[Skybird]

Grrr, this kind of music is depressing, time to get the better mood right on track with a German classic:

[Jimbuna]

[Sailor Steve]

I've always preferred these guys.

[SabreHawk]

Oh my Sky, ok whatever turns ya on mate.

Ok, I also have to admit im into one soap opra, the Bold and the Beautiful. I watch it at lunchtime since it got slid into the 12:30 time slot a few years ago. Didn't watch at first but well you know what happens when even though you aren't watching but just listening, you get interested one day and then................

Well one of the actresses in fact sang J'attendrai in a film in her younger days, and again a very elegant yet sexy performance.
She is none other than the lovely Leslie Ann Down.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Grrr, this kind of music is depressing, time to get the better mood right on track with a German classic:

I'm assuming the Google translation didn't quite capture the essence of this one. Although I think I understand now why there is livestock on the stage.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I'm assuming the Google translation didn't quite capture the essence of this one. Although I think I understand now why there is livestock on the stage.

Possible. It's an evergreen, and also an often used saying now. Very funny song, and the way Raabe sings it is superb. He excels in copying style and behavior of the German big Bands of the 20s and early 30s, and the Comedian Harmonists that Sailor Steve already has linked to ("Veronika", another very ironic classic song that was almost scandalous at it's time). Performing like this is what made him one of the most successful singers and musical entertainers in German-speaking Europe. Quite popular the guy, and thus, plenty of albums.

He also sometimes rips apart modern pop and rock songs, mercilessly illustrating their deficits then when forcing them into getting sung in his style of the 20s. Hilarious!

He also does a lot of research for "new, forgotten" musical pieces from that era, to revive them, he also composes song like that himself, I think.

Another really famous classic, from 1934:



as a bonus, the special version for Steve:




Brilliant performer with a very good Big Band!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I've always preferred these guys.

Oh yes

I've quite a bit of their stuff

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Oh yes

I've quite a bit of their stuff

One of these days I'm gonna buy the movie.