On fait semblant

Song Meaning

Zaho's "On fait semblant" isn't just a song; it's a stark psychological portrait of modern alienation. The title, translating to "We Pretend," immediately sets the stage for a deep dive into the masks we wear. The opening lines, with the childlike counting game turning sinister ("Vite, à 3 je me cache, à 4 tu me trouves, à 5 je m'efface"), highlights how quickly innocence is lost, replaced by the need to disappear, to self-erase, in the face of societal pressures. Zaho captures the feeling of perpetually running the same film reel, questioning its purpose when genuine heroes and heroines are absent, replaced by facades. The repeated plea, 'bas les masques' (masks down), becomes a desperate cry for authenticity. The pre-chorus and chorus amplify this sense of existential fatigue. The daily grind, the overwhelming urge to abandon everything, the slow descent into madness – these are universal anxieties, but Zaho frames them within a specific context of forced performance. The question posed in the chorus, 'Faut-il qu'on se test / Mais que faut-il qu'on prétexte' (Do we have to test ourselves / But what excuse do we have?), exposes the underlying tension. Why the constant need to prove oneself, and what fabricated reasons do we conjure to justify this exhausting charade? The stark refrain, 'On fait semblant oui on fait semblant' (We pretend, yes we pretend), is not just a confession but an indictment of a culture that demands constant pretense. The second verse further darkens the mood, evoking a sense of inescapable doom ('Condamné sans recours'). The imagery of 'petits crissou' (little cries) dying suggests the slow erosion of our inner selves, the silencing of authentic expression. Zaho's repetition of 'Quand j'ai mal moi je fais semblant' (When I hurt, I pretend) in the third verse underscores the personal toll of this constant performance. It's a raw admission of vulnerability masked by forced normalcy. "On fait semblant" is more than just a song; it's a mirror reflecting the anxieties and artificiality of modern life, forcing us to confront the masks we wear and the price we pay for wearing them.