Every once in a while, I find a song so beautiful that I can’t stop listening to it. It’s on repeat and it either keeps me calm while I’m working or allows my imagination to play when I’m not. The one keeping me company these days comes from Lara Fabian and it is called Danse. It is from the album Le Secret and it’s simply breathtaking.
There’s something about French songs that touches my heart. Not that there aren’t plenty of songs in other languages that can move me, but French has a certain… silky texture to it. Danse fascinates me because of the way Lara’s voice intertwines with the melody, the latter bringing a rather metallic touch to it. It’s a surprisingly well-made combination. It lifts you higher and higher and then it allows you to fly on your own. It’s soothing and tough, slow and quick, granting you brief moments to catch your breath before you are pushed forth (or above) once more.
It feels like an antithesis, really. It is perfect for dancing or for taking refuge in it and emerging more determined to go on. The song gives you energy. Not the “I’m going to take over the world” kind, but something subtler, more personal. Pay attention to the lyrics and you will understand why the melody is perfect for them. Take it as you will: either life itself is a dance, or you are invited to dance through life. Either way, you will be no stranger to pain and fear. And yet, our dreams give us wings.
Throughout the video we see a girl – a ballerina – dancing. Now, I’m sure we all know how much effort, pain and sacrifice go hand in hand with dancing. But the result is fascinating. A form of magic, we could say. So yes, we will stumble and maybe even fall… sometimes so deep that it might seem impossible to get back up again. Unfortunately, there are times when those who fall are unable to escape. But if they manage to rise again… what beauty promises to wait for them!
Personally, I have a soft spot for books and songs that lean more towards the darker side. However, I will never not watch again and again a video like the one for Danse. It is simple, elegant, full of light and a sense of peace. Lara’s voice, the dance and the background make you feel as if you are stepping into a different age, while still keeping you anchored in our times. Why? Because more often than not, we forget to live in the present, to acknowledge what we have now: what is good and beautiful, what is bad and unpleasant. Again, think of life as a dance. It’s never only what we see, there’s always something more to it… and it’s different for each and every one of us.
Take a deep breath. Dance! Alone or with the one you love, it doesn’t matter. Just dance. Give yourself the chance to dream, to rise above pain. Even if you take a step back, don’t give up. Until the day you die, nothing is truly impossible. Let this wonderful voice wash over you; relax, even if only for a few minutes.
by Elena Atudosiei
