This beat-box and rap-style track on my album “Howl”, was inspired by the aria “Ah! je ris de me voir” (meaning, “I laugh to see myself”), Marguerite’s aria from Charles Gounod’s opera, “Faust “ (1859). This aria is also known as “The Jewel Song”.
The opera is loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s tragic play, “Faust”, part 1. In the opera, Marguerite (a.k.a. Margarita) has found a casket of jewels at her door. She has never had jewels of any sort, and she tries them on and preens in the mirror. She laughs at her reflection. She imagines that others do not recognize her and believe that she is actually a princess. She also thinks of Faust, and sings that if he could see her now, he would find her truly beautiful. The jewels, left for Marguerite by Faust, is part of a deal that Faust makes with the devil to get back his youth (and win the love of Marguerite, in exchange for his soul.
I thought that this situation is pretty relevant today. The world goes round but nothing really changes, does it? People think that glamour, beauty and a sexy image will get them love, but love doesn’t work that way.
Margarita’s Jewel Song – Lyrics
It’s so strange to see myself
so beautiful in this mirror.
Is that me, Margarita?
Answer me, answer me.
Ah! je ris de me voir
si belle en ce miroir,
Est-ce toi, Marguerite, est-ce toi?
Réponds-moi, réponds-moi,
Réponds, réponds, réponds vite!
Non! Non!
Ce n’est plus toi!
All this jewelry that I wear –
You say I’m vain, but I don’t care.
Gold and a diamond solitaire
Am I still just Margarita?
Glam enough for a millionaire
is my tiara with rubies rare
Like a goddess styled my hair
Now will you notice Margarita?
I see a star reflected there.
Everyone stares at the jewels I wear.
See how they shimmer in the glare.
Am I more than Margarita?
Super-sexy, fair and square,
from my toenails to my hair.
But you ignore the jewels I wear.
Why don’t you love Margarita?
Is it me that I see?
Mirror, mirror tell me.
Tell me, really, is it me?
Tell me the truth of what I see.
Mais je m’en fiche je suis vaniteux.
Je porte tous ces brillants bijoux –
or et solitaire diamant –
Suis-je toujours juste Margarita?
Ah s’il était ici! - Ah, if only he were here
S’il me voyait ainsi! - to see me
Comme une demoiselle – like a lady
Il me trouverait belle - he would find me beautiful
Le plus belle Margarita – most beautiful Margarita
Now I’ll match this with a pair
of stilettos that I’ll wear.
I can strut from here to there.
Look at me, I’m Margarita.
Super-sexy, fair and square,
from my toenails to my hair.
But you ignore the jewels I wear.
Why don’t you love Margarita?
Is it me that I see?
Mirror, mirror tell me.
Tell me, really, is it me?
Tell me the truth of what I see.
It’s so strange to see myself
so beautiful in this mirror.
Is that me, Margarita?
It isn’t me, it isn’t Margarita.