AVANT QUE L’OMBRE…

Avant que l’ombre…  (Before the shadow … ) is a song from Mylène Farmer’s sixth studio album, Avant que l’ombre…   released on 4 April 2005.

It was chosen to become the first single from the live album Avant que l’ombre … à Bercy , released on December 02, 2006. According to the poll below it is your favorite song from the album. Although performed in full version only once during live concerts, the song is among the most iconic creations of Mylene and Laurent.

The lyrics of the song Avant que l’ombre… were written by Mylène. Music Avant que l’ombre… composed by Laurent Boutonnat.

“Avant que l’ombre…” is the most mystical song of the album of the same name, but also one in which the text is easier to understand. Speaking to Jesus Christ, the singer evokes her fear of death while affirming that the life has nevertheless allowed her to know love. This slow song ends with a long musical bridge “that looks like a final judgement”. “The music is sweet and the vocals symbolize screams of pain” according to author Erwan Chuberre, when the album was aired for the first time on 28 March 2005, “Avant que l’ombre…” was regarded as the best song of the album.

It is Mylène who alone provides the long and magnificent choirs that conclude the song.

There is no official remix of this track.

The live version of the song started playing on the radio October 20, 2006.

There is a story of a saint who was such an upright, honest and considerate man that an angel came to him and said, “You have lived an exemplary life, showing kindness and compassion to everyone. God has sent me to grant you any wish you may desire.”

The saint did not hesitate. He said, “My greatest desire is that whenever my shadow falls behind me as I walk, may whatever it falls on be blessed.”

The idea of the shadow is mentioned frequently in the Bible, usually as God’s protective presence: “I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand.” (Isaiah 51:16)

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust.'” (Psalm 91:1-2) Like a mother bird protecting her young by covering them with her wings, far greater will God’s loving presence be with us.'”

What is there to fear when we walk in the shadow of God’s love?

Is that what Mylene has found her inspiration for the song? It is very personal, it is truly intimate conversation with God, with Jesus and ultimately with the Higher Power. Although we might never know what exactly frightened her to write such profound text but the depth of the lyrics are simply unmatched by any others of her lyrics. The music is also atypical for Laurent. There is no familiar “formula” for the successful tune. The musical picture it paints is as profound and powerful as the lyrics.

The song is well suitable for the last hour of someone who is departing from this life and taking one last look at their life. It the judgment day time when all we can say in our defense that we did for love. We were not perfect, we have done deeds that we regret, we are guilty and embraced of wrong doings of the past and nothing we can do now to fix it as it is in the past (she repeats it like an echo many-many times). It is really hard to find teh write words for the song. It meant to felt deeply and honestly, introspectively and with an acceptance. I am glad I haven’t written this chapter in the beginning of my journey of 155 chapters of Mylene. Thank you Mylene! It is incredibly spiritual treat. 🧡

The radio broadcasts of this song, sublime but not very “calibrated” FM, will be very rare despite the sending to the radio stations of an edit version much shorter than the full version of the concert. The live single is available on November 27, 2006, under a single medium, a CD single offered in limited edition.

Many Internet sites announced “Déshabillez-moi” as the first single from the live album, but “Avant que l’ombre… (live)” was finally chosen. On 20 October, Jeune Reims was the first French radio to broadcast the song. Among the promotional media sent to radio stations, the MP3 contained an unreleased remix of the song “L’amour n’est rien…“, the fourth single from the album Avant que l’ombre….

The live version of the song enters for its first week in the French top singles in 10th position before falling regularly in the rankings in the following weeks. This single sold around 30,000 copies in France.

The title Avant que l’ombre… is available on the album Avant que l’ombre…  (2005), on the album Avant que l’ombre…  in Bercy (2006) in live version and on the 2001.2011 (2011) and Best Of Volume 1 / Volume 2 (2011) albums in studio version.

We find the song Avant que l’ombre…  on Mylène’s second best of, 2001.2011 released on December 5, 2011. It is the only song (besides the unpublished Sois moi – Be me) selected to appear on this best of not having been a single studio which therefore gives it a really important place in Mylène’s career.

The clip directed by François Hanss, is an excerpt from the concert. It is broadcast on television Tuesday, November 14, 2006.

Advertising spots were broadcast the previous days on NRJ, announcing the broadcast of the clip exclusively on M6 from 7.15 am. The channel NRJ12 will finally toast politeness on the terrestrial channel by broadcasting the clip from 6:12 am.

This clip will initially be broadcast in its full version, then the channels, probably frightened by its unusual length for a clip (07’39), will then offer a truncated version.

No televised performance for the song Avant que l’ombre… 

Mylene indeed created an iconic finale of the concert with her royal exit. Everything is to support the grand dramatic finish. Her Imperial robe with the long trail, looking stunning heading towards the stairs. She is a master of grand finales. This one among the most powerful ones. She left her clothing behind as she ascended to the top behind the curtain of water as if through the vail of life and another realm…she has nothing to cover her gorgeous body with (except a skin tight bikini) reminding us all that in the end we will face the judgment day covered with nothing.

No TV commercial listed for this live single but broadcast of extracts of the song and the clip in the various advertising spots for the album and the video Avant que l’ombre…  in Bercy .

“Jesus! I’m afraid! / Jesus! Of the hour / Which brings me back / To swept away dreams / To forgotten worlds.” It looks like a prayer. And it is with this sweet song (Avant que l’ombre…  ) that Mylène Farmer begins her new album. The apprehension of a woman in the face of death with all the same the satisfaction, when the time comes, of having loved. (…) The melody of the voice takes the texts to music (keyboards, programming, guitars) where ballads pleasantly dominate. Stand out Dans les rues de Londres, evoking the English author Virginia Woolf; Avant que l’ombre…  with the tenacious gimmick; the fragile Redonne-moi, L’amour n’est rien … or Peut-être toi . ” (Ouest France – 12/04/2005)

to read more about Franck Sorbier’s work with Mylene Farmer on Avant que l’ombre…costumes VISIT THIS PAGE

“Laurent Boutonnat the accomplice took care of the music we find beautiful ballads (Before the shadow … , I am waiting ) […]. “(Télé 2 Weeks – 04/25/2005)

“Innocent and sinful, childish and perverse, Mylène Farmer, frail and deadly voice, seeks her status in prayer (Avant que l’ombre… and Ange, parle-moi..) . ), and quotes Virginia Woolf ( Dans les rues de Londres ). In short, Mylène Farmer is back from hell, and there is something to shudder. ” (Madame Figaro – 04/29/2005)

Avant que l’ombre…  was therefore performed during the thirteen concerts Avant que l’ombre…  in Bercy from January 13 to 29, 2006.

This is the finale of the show. Arrangements for the stage: Yvan Cassar

The water curtain of was not initially planned for the finale of the show Before the shadow … in Bercy but for the painting Fuck them all. A pyrotechnic final with magicians was in fact planned, but it turned out to be unconvincing during rehearsals at Bercy. It was only a few days before the premiere that it was decided to use the water curtain for Avant que l’ombre …

It was originally planned to only display letters and words on the curtain. of water. It was during rehearsals that a technician had fun showing Mylène’s silhouette appearing on the concert poster. Compelling results that will be selected for the show.

20,000 liters of water were used for each concert. The water was at a temperature of about 15 ° C.

The use of the writing water curtain for Bercy 2006 concerts was a world first. It was Michel Kintzig, the artistic director of the concerts who discovered this process during a convention for the Renault company and proposed the idea to Mylène. It was then in the early stages of development by the company Aquatic Show.

The stage images for Before the shadow … created by Alain Escalle are inspired by the latent image of Christ appearing on the Shroud of Turin (more info).

The sublime final dress worn by Mylène and designed by Franck Sorbierhas been fully embroidered, and there are real Tahitian cultured pearls on it. The color red was chosen to recall the coat created by Franck Sorbier for the opera La Traviata, which Mylène really liked. This coat is one of the few concert costumes that was not made in duplicate. It is therefore a unique piece.

Dress of the final concerts Before the shadow … in Bercy (just like all of the costumes) are created by Franck Sorbier

TOURNEE Nº5 (2009)

For the 2009 Tour (indoor concerts and in stadiums from May 2 to September 19, 2009), there is an interlude Avant que l’ombre…  which concludes the piano-voice table of the show. The arrangement of the song – which has become a purely musical interlude – for these concerts was entrusted to Yvan Cassar.

REMIXES

Best remixes of this song ever – by Polyedre!

Remixes: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=Avant%20que%20l%27ombre..%20remix%20mylene%20farmer

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LYRICS WITH TRANSLATION

Âpreté des sons
Tourmente des vents
Mémoire
Qui m'oublie
Qui me fuit
Jésus, j'ai peur
Jésus, de l'heure
Qui me ramène
A des songes emportés
A des mondes oubliés, oh
Jésus, j'ai peur
De la douleur
Des nuits de veille
Mémoire inachevée
Qui ne sait où elle nait
Avant que l'ombre, je sais
Ne s'abatte à mes pieds
Pour voir l'autre coté
Je sais que
Je sais que
J'ai aimé
Avant que l'ombre, gênée
Ne s'abatte à mes pieds
Pour voir l'autre coté
Je sais que j'aime
Je sais que j'ai
Jésus, j'ai peur
Oh! Jésus! Seigneur!
Suis-je coupable?
Moi qui croyais mon âme
Sanctuaire impénétrable
Jésus, j'ai peur
Jésus, je meurs
De bruler l'empreinte
Mais laisser le passé
Redevenir le passé
Passé
Passé
Passé
Passé
Passé
Passé
Passé
Avant que l'ombre, je sais
Ne s'abatte à mes pieds
Pour voir l'autre coté
Je sais que
Je sais que
J'ai aimé
Avant que l'ombre, gênée
Ne s'abatte à mes pieds
Pour voir l'autre coté
Je sais que j'aime
Je sais que j'ai
Jésus, j'ai peur
Jésus, de l'heure
Qui me ramène
A des songes emportés
A des mondes oubliés, oh
Jésus, j'ai peur
De la douleur
Des nuits de veille
Mémoire inachevée
Qui ne sait où elle nait

Roughness of the sounds
Torment of the winds
Memory
Who forgets me
That flees from me
Jesus, I am afraid
Jesus, of the hour
That brings me back
To dreams that have been swept away
To forgotten worlds, oh
Jesus, I am afraid
Of the pain
Of nights of vigil
Unfinished memory
Who does not know where it is born
Before the shadow, I know
Does not fall at my feet
To see the other side
I know that
I know that
I loved
Before the shadow, embarrassed
Did not fall at my feet
To see the other side
I know I love
I know I have
Jesus, I'm afraid
Oh Jesus! Oh, Lord!
Am I guilty?
I who thought my soul
impenetrable sanctuary
Jesus, I am afraid
Jesus, I am dying
To burn the imprint
But let the past
Become the past again
Past
Past
Past
Past
Past
Past
Past
Before the shadow, I know
Did not fall at my feet
To see the other side
I know that
I know that
I loved
Before the shadow, embarrassed
Did not fall at my feet
To see the other side
I know I love
I know I have
Jesus, I am afraid
Jesus, of the hour
That brings me back
To dreams that have been swept away
To forgotten worlds, oh
Jesus, I am afraid
Of the pain
Of nights of vigil
Unfinished memory
Who does not know where it is born