Barbara Pravi’s “Voilà”: A French Song That Moves the Soul
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To Move Your Soul
Barbara Piévic (born 10 April 1993), known professionally as Barbara Pravi, is a French singer and songwriter. After signing with Capitol Music France in 2015, she released five extended plays with the label. She represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Voilà", securing second place, the best result for France since 1991.
The version of this song I share with you is of André Rieu and the 15-year-old Emma Kok, performing Barbara Pravi's song Voilà live on Vrijthof square in Maastricht. It's overwhelmingly beautiful, and like others in the crowd that the camera pans to, you cannot help but tear up to the glorious rendition sung by the tiny, etheral Kok.
This is me. Here I am. Accept me for what I am, voilà. That's the simple but powerful message found in Barbara Pravi's song.
A French Song With Translation & Story
Voilà - Barbara Pravi
The "Voilà" lyrics are simple and direct, portraying a woman hiding in the shadows, held back by insecurities. The singer says she wants to be seen and heard and for people to tell their friends about her; she is a dark-eyed girl with a big dream, and she only wants her stories to touch people.
Pravi deeply connects with Persian literature, as her maternal grandfather is of Iranian descent. As a survivor of domestic violence, Pravi is fighting to end violence against women. She has frequently.
contributed to music initiatives intended to promote causes involved with women's rights. Pravi was also invited to perform "Notes pour trop tard" and speak at Emlyon Business School through TEDx to speak about her career and how she found self-confidence.
In this article, I share the lyrics in French and English and a link to both YouTube videos of Barbara and Emma Kok singing the song. Enjoy.
French Version
Écoutez Moi
Moi la chanteuse à demi
Parlez de moi
À vos amours, à vos amis
Parler leur de cette fille aux yeux noirs et de son rêve fou
Moi c’que j’veux c’est écrire des histoires qui arrivent jusqu’à vous
C’est tout
Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis
Me voilà même si mise à nue j’ai peur, oui
Me voilà dans le bruit et dans le silence
Regardez moi, ou du moins ce qu’il en reste
Regardez moi, avant que je me déteste
Quoi vous dire, que les lèvres d’une autre ne vous diront pas
C’est peu de chose mais moi tout ce que j’ai je le dépose là, voilà
Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis
Me voilà même si mise à nue c’est fini
C’est ma gueule c’est mon cri, me voilà tant pis
Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà juste ici
Moi mon rêve mon envie, comme j’en crève comme j’en ris
Me voilà dans le bruit et dans le silence
Ne partez pas, j’vous en supplie restez longtemps
Ça m’sauvera peut-être pas, non
Mais faire sans vous j’sais pas comment
Aimez moi comme on aime un ami qui s’en va pour toujours
J’veux qu’on m’aime parce que moi je sais pas bien aimer mes contours
Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà qui je suis
Me voilà même si mise à nue c’est fini
Me voilà dans le bruit et dans la fureur aussi
Regardez moi enfin et mes yeux et mes mains
Tout c’que j’ai est ici, c’est ma gueule c’est mon cri
Me voilà, me voilà, me voilà
Voilà, voilà, voilà, voilà
English Version
Listen to me
Me, the wannabe singer
Talk about me
To your loves, to your friends
Tell them about this girl with black eyes and her crazy dream
Me, what I want is to write stories that reach you
That’s all
Here, here, here, here I am, Here I am
even if stripped naked I am afraid, yes
Here I am in the noise and in the silence
Look at me, or at least what’s left
Look at me, before I hate myself
What to tell you, that another’s lips won’t tell you
It’s not much but all that I have I drop it there, that’s it
Here, here, here, here is who I am, Here I am
even if stripped bare it’s over
It’s my mouth, it’s my cry, here I am too bad
Here, here, here, here
I am my dream, my desire, like I’m dying, like I laugh at it
Here I am in the noise and in the silence
Don’t go, I’m begging you stay a long time It may not save me, no
But to do without you I don’t know how
Love me as we love a friend who goes away forever
I want us to love me because I don’t know how to like my outlines
Here, there, here, here I am, Here I am
even if exposed it is finished
Here I am in the noise and in the fury too
Look at me, finally, and my eyes and my hands
All that I have is here, it’s my mouth, it’s my cry
Here I am, here I am, here I am
Here we are, here we are, here we are
Here
Listen To The Song
Emma Kok
André Rieu together with the 15-year-old Emma Kok, performing Barbara Pravi's song Voilà live on Vrijthof square in Maastricht
Barbara Pravi
This is the Grand Final LIVE Eurovision 2021 version that made this song internationally famous. Barbara Pravi represented France at the Grand Final
