Térébenthine is the French word for "turpentine", a strong-smelling solvent derived from pine resin, often used to thin paint. It's a very unusual and powerful word to find in a pop song.
Louane uses it as a striking metaphor for a hidden, intense feeling in her chest. Like turpentine, this emotion is potent, volatile, and perhaps even a bit dangerous, suggesting a love that is all-consuming and unforgettable.
Jour 1 invites us into the electric whirlwind of a brand-new romance. Louane compares every moment spent with her partner to “day one” – that very first, heart-racing instant when love feels fresh, daring, and limitless. As she counts the days (one, two, nine, ten, a thousand), she shows how the excitement escalates: from secret hotel rendezvous and late-night dancing to dreamy boat rides. Each number marks a new chapter of passion, intensity, and playful adventure.
Yet beneath the bubbly pop beat lies a hint of vulnerability. Louane admits to a sweet addiction to love, fearing that the magic will fade if her partner ever replaces her. By repeating “C’est le jour un, celui qu’on retient,” she clings to that first-day spark, hoping it will return again and again. The song is both a celebration of love’s thrilling beginnings and a confession of how deeply we rely on those feelings to keep our hearts beating fast.