C'est la vie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

C'est la vie may refer to:

• C'est La Vie (radio), a Canadian radio program
• C'est La Vie (comic strip)

Contents 1 Meaning 2 Songs containing the phrase C'est la vie 3 Use in other media 4 See also

[edit] Meaning

In French, this phrase roughly translates as "it is the life". In context, it relates to traditional sayings, like "this is the life", or "that's life for you". It's debated whether or not this phrase is positive or negative in tone; most argue that it can be used in either way. All that changes is the manner in which it is said.

[edit] Songs containing the phrase C'est la vie

• Greg Lake had a big hit in 1977 with the ballad "C'est la Vie" that he penned with Peter Sinfield. The song first appeared on the album Works Volume I by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
• Freddie Mercury uses the phrase C'est la vie in his song There Must Be More To Life Than This
• In 1986, songwriter Robbie Nevil released a song called "C'est La Vie". It was a #1 dance hit that spent two weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1987.
• Shania Twain also sang a song titled "C'est la vie", the lyrics go "c'est la vie, that's life and that's how it's going to be".
• The 1996 rock-musical by Jonathan Larson, Rent (musical), features the phrase in the song "Voice Mail #1", in which Mark's Mother remarks "Oh and Mark - we're sorry to hear that Maureen dumped you. I say 'c'est la vie,' so let her be a lesbian".
• Alex Fox produced an instrumental album in 1997 named C'est la vie.
• B*Witched, a girl pop band from Ireland, released a #1 debut single "C'est la Vie!" The lyrics go, "Say you will, Say you won't, say you'll do what I don't, say you're true, say to me - c'est la vie!"
• The Swedish band Ace of Base also recorded a song titled C'est La Vie (Always 21). It appeared on their Greatest Hits Album released in 2000.
• In Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (2003) Minako Aino (Sailor Venus/Sailor V) sings her image song "C'est la vie". In Japanese pronunciation both "Sailor V" and "C'est la vie" are both pronounced similarly (see raa bui and see raa bii, respectively).
• Vanessa Carlton also has her own version of "C'est la vie" on her sophomore album, Harmonium.
• A song named "You Never Can Tell" sung by Chuck Berry also featured the phrase C'est La Vie in the chorus. This song was featured in Quentin Tarrantino's Oscar Award winning movie Pulp Fiction. In the film, John Travolta and Uma Thurman enter a twist contest and dance to the song.
• Robbie Williams uses the phrase C'est la vie in his song Old Before I Die.
• Bon Jovi uses the phrase C'est la vie in their song One Wild Night.
• Incubus use the phrase C'est la vie in their song New Skin.
• L'Arc~en~Ciel uses the phrase C'est la vie in their song C'est la vie.
• Puff Daddy uses the phrase C'est la vie in his song Been Around the World.
• Elton John uses the phrase C'est la vie in his song Dear John.
• The Format uses the phrase c'est la vie in their song Dog Problems.
• Comedy duo French & Saunders parodied pop group ABBA with a song called "C'est La Vie" .[1]
• Bob Seger covered the song You Never Can Tell By Chuck Berry. Both songs contain the phrase C'est La Vie in the lyrics, and Seger's version is titled "C'est La Vie".
• The Brighton-based Hotknives use the phrase c'est la vie in their song The Rules Of The Game.
• La Toya Jackson recorded a song called "C'est La Vie" for her unreleased album Startin' Over.
• Kim English recorded a song called "C'est La Vie" for her newly released sophomore album titled, My Destiny.
• The Smile Rays recorded a song called "C'est La Vie" for there upcoming album in 2006. The song is about getting robbed and as they say "C'est la Vie"
• Man Man recorded a song called "Ice Dogs" which used the phrase 'C'est la vie'. This was the final track on their second album, Six Demon Bag.
• In Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr. Evil's version of the song "Just the Two of Us" uses the phrase "C'est la Vie."
• Jason Mraz uses the phrase C'est la vie in his song "Dreamlife of Rand McNally".
• Karel Gott uses the phrase C'est la vie in his song "C'est la vie". Song has Czech and Germanic interpretation.
• Colleen Fitzpatrick (Vitamin C) uses the phrase C'est la vie in her song "Smile".
• SHING02 uses the phrase "C'est la vie" in his song "Luv (Sic) pt. 2". C'est la vie, as they say L.O.V.E evidently, see every song has a sequel
• Martin Maxa uses the phrase "C'est la vie" in his song and as title of his album.
• Gang Starr uses the phrase "C'est la vie" in the song "Ex-Girl To Next Girl" ("You and I had a past, c'est la vie, much respect girl, but now you're my ex girl and I'm straight with the next girl").
• Akcent uses the phrase in the song "French kiss". "Cause everytime she's teaching we go "C'est la vie!"
• Quantice Never Crashed uses the phrase "C'est la vie" in the song "Paper Airplanes."

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[edit] Use in other media

• In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, James T. Kirk says the phrase when commenting on the death of the antagonist's crew when the Enterprise self-destructed with them aboard.

• Edd, from the cartoon show Ed, Edd, n' Eddy, says the phrase after he and his two friends "kidnap" Kevin and tie him up to a light post when Kevin threatens to expose them for their thievery of a diary.

• In Addams Family Values Gomez says it after Lurch accidentally bakes a cake with the stripper already inside it.

[edit] See also

• List of French phrases used by English speakers