La Vie Qu'on Aime Lyrics in English by Mentissa
Enraye comes from the verb enrayer, which literally means to jam, like when a machine's gears get stuck. It's a word you might use for a jammed printer or a rifle that won't fire.
In this song, Mentissa uses it in a powerful metaphorical sense, asking "Qu'est-ce qui nous enraye?" (What is it that's jamming us?). She's questioning what stops us from moving forward, as if an invisible mechanism in our lives has malfunctioned and brought everything to a halt. This unique imagery makes it a very memorable word.
Have you ever looked around and thought, "Is this really it?" That's the feeling at the heart of Belgian singer Mentissa's song. She's tired of waiting for things to get better and sick of hearing clichés like "Que tout s'arrange toujours" (That everything always works out). Instead, she sees a world where "Plus rien ne tient debout" (Nothing is standing anymore) and asks a huge question: "Si c'est la vie qu'on aime / C'est quoi la vie / Si c'est la vie qu'on mène" (If this is the life we love / What is life / If this is the life we lead).
This isn't just a sad song, though. It's a powerful call for change. Mentissa feels she doesn't recognize herself anymore and declares, "J'veux changer d'soleil" (I want to change suns), a beautiful way of saying she needs a completely new start. She questions what holds us back, asking "Qu'est-ce qui nous enchaîne" (What chains us), while pointing out that we're all running so fast we ignore the pain "que l'on connaît par coeur" (that we know by heart). It's a song for anyone who feels restless and ready to find a life that feels more real.
