Je te veux

Cover of the original 1903 sheet music for "Je te veux"

"Je te veux" sung by Yvonne George

"Je te veux" ("I want you") is a song composed by Erik Satie to a text by Henry Pacory. A sentimental waltz with erotic lyrics, it was written for Paulette Darty, whose accompanist Satie had been for a period of time. The text consists of two verses and a repeated chorus.

The song was registered with SACEM on 20 November 1902, but Roland-Manuel argued it had actually been composed in 1897. Satie composed various versions of the "Je te veux" waltz: for piano and voice, for an orchestra of brass instruments, and for full orchestra (including a trio). The piano and voice version was first published in 1903.^[1] The composer later arranged the work for solo piano, adding a middle section between the second chorus and the second verse.

The melody was performed to the public in 1903, at the La Scala music hall in Milan, Italy. In 1925, the song was recorded with Yvonne George as singer. "Je te veux" was also recorded by Mathé Altéry, Régine Crespin, Gigliola Negri, Nicolaï Gedda, and Davide Bassino, and later by sopranos Jessye Norman, Marie Devellereaum and Angela Gheorghiu. Other notable renditions include those by the Japanese group ALI PROJECT^[2] and the Japanese chip musician SAITONE.PP.

John Cage instructs the performer to do the piano and voice version as part of his "Sonnekus²".^[3]

In popular culture

• The song appears as the background music for the NES game Binary Land (1984)
• The song is on the 2nd CD of the soundtrack of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)
• The game Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure (2012) uses the song as a theme for the fictional holiday "Fête de Paris"^[4]
• The instrumental version is used in a 2015 commercial for Cesar dog food

Lyrics

Words of Je te Veux [5]

REFRAIN: J'ai compris ta détresse Cher amoureux Et je cède à tes voeux Fais de moi ta maîtresse Loin de nous la sagesse Plus de tristesse J'aspire à l'instant précieux Où nous serons heureux Je te veux Je n'ai pas de regrets Et je n'ai qu'une envie Près de toi là tout près Vivre toute ma vie Que mon corps soit le tien Que ta lèvre soit mienne Que ton coeur soit le mien Et que toute ma chair soit tienne REFRAIN Oui je vois dans tes yeux La divine promesse Que ton coeur amoureux Vient chercher ma caresse Enlacés pour toujours Brûlant des mêmes flammes Dans un rêve d'amour Nous échangerons nos deux âmes REFRAIN   REFRAIN: I understand your distress Dear lover And I yield to your wishes Make me your mistress Far from us is wisdom No more sadness I look forward to the beautiful moment When we will be happy I want you I have no regrets And I have only one desire Beside you there so close To live all my life May my body be yours May your lips be mine May your heart be mine And may all my flesh be yours REFRAIN Yes I see in your eyes The divine promise That your loving heart Comes looking for my caress Joined forever Burning in the same flames In a dream of love We will swap our two souls REFRAIN

References

1. Gillmor, Alan M. (1992). Erik Satie (2nd ed.). Twayne Pub. p. 281. ISBN 0-393-30810-3.
2. ALI PROJECT (2005). Kamigami no Tasogare. (last track)
3. "Sonnekus". johncage.info.
4. Rhythm Thief Original Soundtrack - Fête de Paris (Je te veux).
5. "Je te veux (Satie, Erik)". International Music Score Library Project. Retrieved 2016-05-25.

External links

• Je te veux: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project