Blog: Analyzing Security, Surveillance in Sinsemilia's Song Lyrics

This blog post delves into Sinsemilia's reggae song 'Je préfère cent fois,' released in 1998, exploring its themes of security, surveillance, and the perceived dullness of French society. The song critiques the increasing reliance on technology, the remote control of ideas, and the adoption of an Americanized lifestyle, suggesting that these developments stifle individuality and genuine freedom. It highlights the preference for being unconventional and free, even with risks, over conforming to a caged and standardized society. The author expresses a personal connection to the song's message, finding it both motivating and reflective of the modern world's challenges, ultimately encouraging listeners to break free from societal constraints. The blog includes key vocabulary from the song and references for further exploration. Desklib provides solved assignments for students.

Blog 2
Name:
Song title: Je préfère cent fois
Theme: Security, surveillance and dullness in French society
On a placé la France
Sous vidéo surveillance
Kidnappé l'insouciance
Entre les barreaux de la méfiance (mistrust or distrust)
Regards fuyants, sourires éteints
La peur de l'autre au quotidien
On est plus sauvages que des chiens
A quoi va ressembler demain?
Si pour être en sécurité (safe)
Il faut fermer son coeur à clef
J'préfère cent fois me faire plomber
Comme un oiseau en liberté (freely)
Plutôt que de vivre planqué
Comme, comme, comme le cafard sous un évier
On a plongé la France
Dans la bêtise et l'ignorance
Etouffé l'intelligence
Sous les dossiers de la finance

Cerveaux (brain) branchés sur la télé
Nos idées sont téléguidées
Même les enfants sont abrutis (stupid)
Qui va censurer la connerie?
Si pour être quelqu'un de censé
Il faut mettre sa tête aux normes
J'préfère cent fois être cinglé
Comme la tempête, le vent, la marée
Plutôt que d'être sans intérêt
Comme, comme, comme un ciel triste et tempéré
On a connu en France
L'insurrection, la résistance
Reste aujourd'hui la bonne conscience
Grâce aux oeuvres de bienfaisance (charitable)
On est rangés et bien pensants
Charitables de temps en temps
Le monde peut baigner dans le sang
La police protège nos enfants (protect our children)
Les voitures crament dans les banlieues
Les braves gens trouvent ça scandaleux
C'est pourtant la règle du jeu
Qui sème la haine (hatred) récolte le feu
Si pour être civilisé

Il faut mettre sa vie en cage
J'préfère cent fois être un sauvage (savage)
Au risque d'attraper la rage
Que d'être sage comme une image
Je, je, je n'veux pas jaunir avant l'âge
Alors écoute ça: Not' civilisation ne cesse de s'enfoncer
Matériels uniquement sont les progrès
Les richesses humaines en bourse ne sont pas cotées
Méprisées, gaspillées depuis tant d'années
L'exemple Américain partout s'est imposé
Mais sur la route du Paradis le diable peut-il nous guider
Le monde qui s'construit auprès des studios Disney
Apocalypse Now serait plus approprié Espérer (hope) me semble de
plus en plus dur
Tant j'ai l'impression qu'on fonçe direct dans le mur
Pour dire vite, et pour conclure
J'ai vraiment peur pour notre futur ...
Ten vocabularies learnt in the song:
la méfiance (f) – mistrust or distrust
en sécurité (m) – safe
en liberté (m) – freely

Cerveaux (m) – brain
abrutis (f) – stupid
de bienfaisance (f) – charitable
protège (f) – protect
haine (m) – hatred
un sauvage (m) – savage
Espérer (f) – hope
The song that I have chosen to research on is the one sung by the reggae band Sinsemilia
that speaks about the dullness that has come upon the French society. The song is in French
language and it was released in the year 1998. The band’s lead vocalists Rike and Mike had sung
the song and Fabien Daian, Ivan Gwenael Olivier, Eric Monod, and Luc Patrice Feliciantonio Di
have written it amongst others. The song was a part of the 1998 album Résistances and the genre
was reggae. Reggae is a genre in music that had its origins in Jamaica during the 1960s and
mostly denotes political comment and social gossip. Apart from this album, the band has
released numerous other albums over the years with their debut album Première Récolte released
in 1996 gaining tremendous success.
The song tries to convey the message that the modern society has become dull with
increased surveillance and inclination towards the American way of living. The song also tries to
convey that it is better to be devoid of any surveillance, security and safety if it means locking
the self in cages. The modern society has become dependent on technology and gadgets to make
people feel free and safe but the opposite is happening. People’s ideas are being remote-

controlled by the government and even the children are turning out to be stupid. The song tries to
convey the message that it is preferable to be crazy like the wind and tide if sanity means being
putting the head up to the standards of the caged society.
In my personal view, I find the song to be very motivating and reflecting the sad truth of
modern society. The song has a universal appeal because although the singer is talking about the
French society, the situation is similar in societies across the world. The song has a strong
message that it tries to convey the listeners and succeeds greatly. The song has a pessimistic
undertone and ends in similar manner as well. However, I found the song to be very strong in its
message because despite being pessimistic, the song manages to instill fire in my heart and
encourages me to break the shackles of the cage called society and come out free.

Bibliography:
Annie Villeneuve. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.annievilleneuve.com/
Reuters.com. (2019). Vancouver Games anthem gets French-language redo. Retrieved from
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-song/vancouver-games-anthem-gets-french-
language-redo-idUSTRE61R3IP20100228
Stephan Moccio - Pianist, composer, arranger, songwriter, producer. (2019). Retrieved from
http://www.stephanmoccio.com/