Erik Satie (1866-1925): La Diva de ?l?Empire?* (composed ca. 1900; first published 1919) Text: Dominique Bonnaud and Numa Bles Original Key/Recorded Key: G Major Teach-Track begins: m. 1 Accompaniment Track begins: m. 1 Pianist: Daniel Michalak * Although on the title page of this song the words ?l?Empire? are not set in quotation marks, they should be (in order to conform with the way they appear within the text of the song itself). Notes © 1999 by Daniel O. Michalak
Sous le grand chapeau Greenaway, Under the large hat Greenaway, Mettant l'éclat d'un sourire, Wearing the flash of a smile, D'un rire charmant et frais With a laugh charming and fresh De baby étonné qui soupire, Of a baby astonished who sighs, Little girl aux yeux veloutés, Little girl with eyes velvety, C'est la Diva de l'Empire. It is the Diva of the Empire. C'est la rein' dont s'éprennent It is the queen with whom become enamored Les gentlemen The gentlemen Et tous les dandys And all the dandies De Piccadilly. Of Piccadilly. Dans un seul "yes" elle met tant de douceur In a single ?yes? she places so much of sweetness Que tous les snobs en gilet à coeur, That all the snobs in waistcoats, L'accueillant de hourras frénétiques, Welcome her with hurrahs frenzied, Sur la scène lancent des gerbes de fleurs, On the stage they toss some bouquets of flowers, Sans remarquer le rire narquois Without noticing the laugh mocking De son joli minois. On her pretty little face. Elle danse presque automatiquement She dances almost automatically Et soulève, oh très pudiquement, And lifts up, oh very decorously, Ses jolis dessous de fanfreluches, Her pretty petticoat of frills, De ses jambes montrant le frétillement. Of her legs showing the quivering. C'est à la fois très très innocent It is both very very innocent Et très très excitant. And very very exciting.