“Yael Naim – Paris” (French w/English lyrics)

Yael Naïm (Hebrew: יעל נעים‎‎, born 6 February 1978 in Paris, France), is an Israeli–French singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in 2008 in the US after her hit single “New Soul” was used by Apple in an advertising campaign for its MacBook Air. The song peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Yael Naïm was born in Paris, France to Sephardic Jewish immigrants from Tunisia.

At the age of four, she moved with her family to Ramat HaSharon, Israel, where she spent the rest of her childhood. She served in the Israel Defense Forces as a soloist in the Israeli Air Force Orchestra.

She began her singing career with a part in the musical Les Dix Commandements, and her first solo album, In a Man’s Womb (recorded in Los Angeles with Kamil Rustam), was released in 2001. She also sang the song “You Disappear” by Bruno Coulais for the film Harrison’s Flowers. In her early work, she was credited simply as Yaël. She also performed a duet with Din Din Aviv titled “Mashmauyot”.

Naïm joined with percussionist David Donatien and, over a period of two years, they arranged and recorded thirteen of Naïm’s songs in a studio in her apartment in Paris.[4] These were released as her second album, Yael Naïm, on 22 October 2007, on the Tôt ou tard label. The songs are in French, English and Hebrew and received critical acclaim. The album entered the French album chart at No. 11 the week after its release. Her style has been described as having a touch of folk and a touch of jazz, with mysterious and evocative words sung with a delicate and intentionally husky voice.

Apple featured her song “New Soul” in its debut commercial for the MacBook Air laptop. Steve Jobs himself picked the song for the launch of the laptop line. Owing to high U.S. digital sales, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart week of 16 February 2008, at No. 9, becoming Naïm’s first U.S. top ten single, and making her the first Israeli solo artist to ever have a top ten hit in the United States. “New Soul” moved up to No. 7 the following week. The song was also featured on the soundtrack of the movies The House Bunny and Wild Target.

Her third album was released in November 2010. The first single from this new record was “Go to the River”.

https://youtu.be/6R2y_2zQ4_w

LYRICS

(English translation)

I ran to a different place so far
As far as I could
And I’m in Paris

The lights burn grey and clouds
I’m happy and feel good but I’m so cold
In Paris

Turning round and round in enchanted spell bounded alleys swallow me
I’m in Paris

Beautiful buildings you’re old and so noble
But will you keep me warm
In Paris?

I came here to get a bit blinded
Beautiful illusion of mine, try to catch me
I’m in Paris

\n Getting lost again
Sad dream. I’m famous already
And they know of me
Here in Paris

Now your voice is whispering to me from afar
“I miss you, come back to me already from Paris.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you and..
And Paris”

If it’s so good for me here then why am I crying again

The plane is landing and there are no clouds

Happiness percolates into me again
Goodbye Paris