Langues de bois literally translates to "wooden tongues". It's a fantastic French idiom for insincere, clichéd, or evasive talk, often used by politicians or public figures.
In her rebellious anthem "Je Veux," ZAZ sings, "J'en ai marre des langues de bois!" (I'm sick of the doublespeak!). She's rejecting the empty, superficial language of high society and embracing a life of raw honesty and authenticity.
Have you ever wanted to tell the world to keep its fancy cars and expensive jewelry? That's exactly what French singer ZAZ does in this song. She runs through a whole list of luxury items people might dream of, from a "suite au Ritz" (a suite at the Ritz hotel) to the "Tour Eiffel" (the Eiffel Tower) itself, and says, "Je n'en veux pas!" (I don't want it!). She's not interested in money or status symbols. For her, happiness isn't something you can buy.
So what does she want? Simple things: "d'l'amour, d'la joie, de la bonne humeur" (love, joy, a good mood). She rejects polite society and its rules, proudly declaring, "Moi je mange avec les mains / Et j'suis comme ça!" (I eat with my hands / And that's how I am!). This song is a cheerful anthem about finding freedom by being true to yourself and choosing genuine happiness over material wealth. She invites you to forget your assumptions and join her in her world, saying "Bienvenue dans ma réalité!" (Welcome to my reality!).
ZAZ is the stage name of Isabelle Geffroy, a French singer and songwriter born in Tours in 1980. Trained at a regional conservatory from childhood, she blends jazz, French chanson, soul and acoustic styles, and her warm, raspy voice has often been compared to Édith Piaf.
She broke through in 2010 with 'Je veux', the lead single from her self-titled debut album, which topped the charts in France, Belgium and Switzerland and sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide. The song's joyful rejection of money and status for love and freedom made her one of the most recognizable voices in modern French music.