Ennemie is the feminine form of the French word for "enemy". It's a powerful word that lies at the very heart of this song, which is titled "Ma Meilleure Ennemie" (My Best Enemy).
Stromae uses this striking oxymoron to describe a relationship filled with conflicting emotions—love and hate, blessing and curse. This person is both the best and worst thing in his life, his closest friend and his greatest adversary, making "ennemie" the perfect word to capture this beautiful and painful contradiction.
This song is a rollercoaster of feelings about one person! Stromae and Pomme sing back and forth, describing a relationship that is completely contradictory. One moment they say, "Je t'aime" (I love you), and the next, "je te hais" (I hate you). They call this person both "la meilleure chose qui m'est arrivée" (the best thing that happened to me) and "la pire chose qui m'est arrivée" (the worst thing that happened to me). The whole song is built on these opposite ideas, like calling the person "la pire des bénédictions" (the worst of blessings) and "la plus belle des malédictions" (the most beautiful of curses).
So why stay in a relationship like that? The song gives a pretty cynical reason, quoting an old saying: "Plutôt qu'être seul, mieux vaut être mal accompagné" (Better to be badly accompanied than to be alone). It seems the fear of being lonely is stronger than the pain of the relationship. The title itself, "Ma Meilleure Ennemie" (My Best Enemy), says it all. This isn't just a lover; it's a rival you can't live without. The song ends with a final, perfect contradiction: "Je t'aime, je te quitte" (I love you, I'm leaving you).
Paul Van Haver, known by his stage name Stromae, is a Belgian singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer born in 1985 in Brussels. His unique sound blends hip-hop and electronic music, captivating audiences across Europe and beyond. Stromae rose to international fame with his 2009 hit "Alors on danse," which topped charts in several countries.
His 2013 album Racine carrée was a major success, featuring hit singles like "Papaoutai" and "Formidable," and selling millions of copies. Renowned for his artistic music videos and thoughtful lyrics, Stromae stands out as a creative force in modern Francophone music. He continues to innovate while drawing on diverse influences, from hip-hop to electronic and world music.