Within The Electric Phantom’s « l’Homme et la Mer » (Man and Sea), an electro gothic masterpiece emerges. This haunting composition delves deep into the intricate dance between humanity and the natural realm, weaving a tapestry of melancholic voice and dark soundscapes.
One of the most thrilling poets of the 19th century, Charles Baudelaire was a fun phantom to be around, and relevant to listen to in our society.
Spectral Presence: A Journey into the Mind of Charles Baudelaire
His verses continue to ring true in today’s society. This ethereal link spans time, encouraging us to explore the deep temptation of solitude embodied by Baudelaire’s poems.
« Man and Sea » serves as a meditation on the boundless ocean’s mysteries, portraying nature’s awe-inspiring might. Baudelaire’s verses serve as the foundation, delving into the intricate rapport between humanity and the sea. Feelings of wonder and fear entwine, representing humanity’s yearning for escape and harmony amidst a tumultuous world.
Beyond Melancholy: Baudelaire’s Existence Exploration
Baudelaire’s reflection led to great insights. In between melancholy thoughts and his never-ending search for drink, he deconstructed the commercialism that irritated him. He faced the duality of humanity’s essence in his lyrics, from carnal living to spiritual wandering.
Baudelaire’s Search for Solitude: A Conflict of Viewpoints
As Baudelaire’s phantom emerged, I grappled with his contradictions. His legacy exhibited both opulence and bitterness, revealing the conflict between his ancestors and his artistic endeavors. His contempt for nature collided with my own adoration, sparking a discussion about the intricacies of his existence.
Loneliness in the Modern Era: Baudelaire’s Influence
In the 2020s, solitude’s grip resurfaces, casting its shadow across bustling cities and narrow rooms. The current yearning for connection in the midst of urban solitude echoes Baudelaire’s thoughts. Nature’s retribution echoes his denigration, illustrating the perilous dance between the allure of urban life and the harsh embrace of solitude.
The world is hell, he said. He was deeply torn between the ideal and « the spleen » (deep existential angst).
He experimented with different paths and found different conclusions:
- Wine, artificial paradises, an escape but not a solution.
- Les fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil), vice, and debauchery leading to self-loathing.
- Exalting Satan, to make a pact with the devil is not more helpful.
- Death, the last way.
My clash with Charles Baudelaire
« But Charles, your family paid for your dandy lifestyle! »
When I find inconsistency in a ghost, he generally grumbles and does not return for a few months.
In 1844, Baudelaire spent nearly half of a significant capital he had inherited two years before. A lawyer was legally responsible for managing his fortune and paying him his « allowance ». Baudelaire had expensive tastes and was bitter about this intervention for the rest of his life.
In crafting my first album, I couldn’t overlook Baudelaire’s resonance. « L’Homme et la Mer, » the second track, epitomizes our collaboration. Electronic beats mix with soaring synthesizers to create an immersive audio experience. With verses expertly woven into sound, the listener is drawn deep into the convergence of poem and music:
The 2020s, the spleen is back?
The modern feeling of loneliness and sadness in big city is nothing new. And it is relatively widespread in France, where streets and rooms are too narrow.
Charles Baudelaire denigrated nature, and nature returns the favor. The contrast between the lure of the big city and loneliness in a single room or in the countryside can be deadly.
Baudelaire is one of the major figures in the world’s literary history. Composing my first album with 12 of the best poets of France without him would have been a misstep.
Bringing my artistry to one of his poems has been an exciting experience.
« To escape the fate of those tormented slaves of Time, get drunk.
Drink deep, never ceasing.
Whether wine, poetry, or virtue, the choice is yours. »
Charles Baudelaire (Paris 1821 – 1867).
L’Homme et la Mer, the second track of my first album available here. From the haunting electronic beats to the soaring synthesizers, every aspect of the song has been expertly crafted to enhance the emotional impact of the poem. The result is a truly immersive listening experience that draws the listener deep into the world of the poem and the music.
The Lyrics video. You will find the translation below.
Sources:
https://literariness.org/2017/11/13/symbolism-aestheticism-and-charles-baudelaire/
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/charles-baudelaire
L’Homme et la Mer
Homme libre, toujours tu chériras la mer !
La mer est ton miroir ; tu contemples ton âme
Dans le déroulement infini de sa lame,
Et ton esprit n’est pas un gouffre moins amer.
Tu te plais à plonger au sein de ton image ;
Tu l’embrasses des yeux et des bras, et ton coeur
Se distrait quelquefois de sa propre rumeur
Au bruit de cette plainte indomptable et sauvage.
Vous êtes tous les deux ténébreux et discrets :
Homme, nul n’a sondé le fond de tes abîmes ;
Ô mer, nul ne connaît tes richesses intimes,
Tant vous êtes jaloux de garder vos secrets !
Et cependant voilà des siècles innombrables
Que vous vous combattez sans pitié ni remord,
Tellement vous aimez le carnage et la mort,
Ô lutteurs éternels, ô frères implacables !
Note : I moved a few lines for the chorus.
Man and the Sea
Free man, you will always cherish the sea!
The sea is your mirror; you contemplate your soul
In the infinite unrolling of its billows;
Your mind is an abyss that is no less bitter.
You like to plunge into the bosom of your image;
You embrace it with eyes and arms, and your heart
Is distracted at times from its own clamoring
By the sound of this plaint, wild and untamable.
Both of you are gloomy and reticent:
Man, no one has sounded the depths of your being;
O Sea, no person knows your most hidden riches,
So zealously do you keep your secrets!
Yet for countless ages you have fought each other
Without pity, without remorse,
So fiercely do you love carnage and death,
O eternal fighters, implacable brothers!
Translation by William Aggeler (Fresno, CA: Academy Library Guild, 1954).