J.B.G Question

[OGRE]

This is more of a French language question than a translation question.
Excerpt from J.B.G is listed as:

Une James Bond Girl
Ça sauve plus d'une vie
C'est l'ecstasy
Une James Bond Girl
C'est de la dynamite
Ses lettre sont J.B.G.

However, the song is sung as (emphasis added):

Une James Bond Girl
Ça sauve plus d'une vie
C'est l'ecstasy....car
Une James Bond Girl
C'est de la dynamite
Ses lettre sont J.B.G.

Does the "car" server a meaning purpose or is it simply a language construct that makes it easier to transition to "Une".

[Seapaddler]

car means because

[Cooney]

Car and Parce Que are basically the same - both mean "because" (though my dictionary gives "for" in the sense of because as an additional meaning on car). I would take a guess that maybe parce que is more formal, as that is what's taught in school, but I don't honestly know.

[OGRE]

Thanks for replies. Anyone wish to venture a guess (educated or otherwise) as to why the written lyrics don't contain the "car".

Each language has words and phrases that are used for transition, sometimes even ad lib, that don't show up in the written lyrics but do exist in the song itself.

I note in the song that there is a long vowel sound (i.e., "une") on the tails of a long vowel sound (i.e., the "e" sounding "y" at the end of ecstasy). In fact the long vowel "e" is applified and extended when sung. Regardless of French or English, we don't like to follow vowel sound with vowel sound, so our language creates constructs to intersperse a consonent inbetween vowel sounds. For example, in English we use "an" (instead of "a") in front of vowel sounding words to avoid having to run vowel sounds back to back.

I was wondering if the "car" is being used to provide a consonent filler between Ecstasy and Une, possibly "ad lib" by Alizée.

[aFrenchie]

Originally Posted by Cooney

I would take a guess that maybe parce que is more formal, as that is what's taught in school, but I don't honestly know.

I'd tend to think the opposite. "Parce que" is more used verbally, "car" more formal...

[Cooney]

Originally Posted by aFrenchie

I'd tend to think the opposite. "Parce que" is more used verbally, "car" more formal...

Ooh, interesting! Good to know, thanks. Usually my French prof's taught the formal stuff, glad to know they occasionally gave us something useful :-)

[garçoncanadien]

that is probably accented for a musical reason, maybe to complete 4 beats to a 4/4 measure or to emphasize the downbeat. Similar to how she accents "c'est pas ma faute", when the e is not pronounced in spoken French.

[heyamigo]

i got a question:

is "james" pronounced differently in french? because when alizee sings "Une James Bond Girl..." the james part sounds nothing like how its pronounced in english. it sounds like some totally different word, i thought she was saing "agent bond girl" at first.

[garçoncanadien]

it is indeed pronounced differently.

[OGRE]

Originally Posted by garçoncanadien

it is indeed pronounced differently.

And after pronouncing it the English way for 30 some odd years, it is nigh near impossible to pronounce it in French at the tempo sung in J.B.G.