Flight of the Conchords: ‘Foux Da Fa Fa’
I came across this video today and it cracked me up. It’s called “Foux Da Fa Fa” from episode 8 of a show called “Flight of the Conchords.” These guys are taking all of the cheesy things you learn in first year French like “Where is the library?”, “I would like a croissant”, and “Here is my passport”, mixing it together to form this musical masterpiece. I’ll put a link to the .mp3 below. To download, just right-click and select “Save Target As…”. Oh, and here on Google Maps you can see the park where they filmed.
Note: The following mp3 is NOT from the album; it is simply the lower quality sound from the YouTube video. If you want the high-quality version of the song, then you should spend the $0.99 and buy the album single, which you can find HERE.
Update: October 15, 2008: I added English subtitles to the video below using Overstream.net’s free program. You can also see this video with English subtitles that I put over on YouTube.
“Foux Da Fa Fa” Translation:
I would like a croissant.
I am delighted.
Where is the library?
Here’s my passport.
Ah, Gerard Depardieu.
A baguette! [laughs]
A baguette! [laughs]
[Chorus] *Note: “foux da fa fa”, as far as I can tell as a fluent French speaker, is a nonsensical French-sounding phrase.
And now the trip to the supermarket.
Grapefruit
Pineapple
Orange juice
Beef
Soup of the day
Camembert
Jacques Cousteau
Baguette!
Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
Hello, mister.
Hello my small foreign currency exchange office.
How are you doing?
I’m doing okay.
How are you doing?
I’m doing okay.
Voilà! A conversation in the park!
Where is the book?
At the library.
And the dance music?
At the dance club.
And the dance clubs?
It’s here, baby!
One, two, one, two, three, four!
[Chorus]
Where is the swimming pool?
Pardon me?
Where is the swimming pool?
Uh…
Splish splosh ["frenchified" splashing noises]
Uh…
Eh…
I don’t understand.
Do you speak the French?
Eh?
Do you speak the French?
Uh … no.
Hmmmm.
[Chorus]
“Foux Da Fa Fa” French Lyrics:
*Note: gramatical errors in red.
Je voudrais une croissant. [Should be "un", since croissant is masculine.]
Je suis enchanté.
Où est la bibliothèque?
Voilà mon passeport.
Ahh, Gérard Depardieu.
Baguette. [laughs]
Baguette. [laughs]
[Chorus]
Et maintenant le voyage à le supermarché. [Should be "au" since à + le = au]
Pamplemousse.
Ananas.
Jus d’orange.
Bœuf.
Soupe du jour.
Camembert.
Jacques Cousteau.
Baguette.
Bonjour.
Bonjour.
Bonjour.
Bonjour monsier.
Bonjour mon petit bureau de change.
Ça va?
Ça va. Ça va?
Ça va.
Voilà le conversation dans le parc. [Should be "la", since conversation is feminine.]
Où est le livre?
À la bibliothèque.
Et la musique danse?
À la discothèque.
Et les discothèques?
C’est ici, baby. Un, deux, un, deux, trois, quatre.
[Chorus]
Où est la piscine?
Pardonne-moi?
Où est la piscine?
Uhh…
Splish splosh.
Huh?
Euh?
Je ne comprends pas.
Parlez-vous le français? [The definite article "le" is not needed.]
Uh…
Parlez-vous le français? [The definite article "le" is not needed.]
Uh..non.
Oh.
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Comments
This is my favorite show! It’s the only show on HBO that I can watch with my 10 year old (some of the episodes anyway). You should check it out Pete, it’s right up your alley as far as comedy goes.
Yes, I love the show too! We don’t have HBO, but I was able to watch all of the episodes a couple of months ago on YouTube. That was, until HBO complained and they removed the majority of them! I love the robot video too…it’s hilarious.
Hi,
Thanks very much for the lyrics and the translation. The grammatical errors are funny, but were also probably intentional as the point of the songs was they were saying all the French they learnt in school.
Hey D, you might want to do your homework before you go around offering your corrections. HERE is a link to the lyrics on HBO’s site (page 2 of the document).
It is clearly called “Foux da fa fa.”
This song on their newly-released self-entitled album is titled “Foux Du Fafa.” But whatever, it’s a great song!
Thanks for that bit of info, Joel. I stand corrected. Strange how the title on the original lyrics doesn’t match the title on their new album!
Thanks for posting the lyrics and the english version. This is one of my favorite songs by them. I don’t have HBO, but did buy the Season one DVD. They are amazing and hystericial! We had the pleasure of seeing them live last week! It was awesome! Hope youget to see all the shows. It is a hoot and a great time. Their songs never get old!
At first I was taken in by the funny lyrics, but now I’m in love with the music of this song. It seems to be a parody of some genre of French pop (1970s vintage, if the video has anything to do with it), and Jemaine’s deep voiceover is reminiscent of Serge Gainsbourg. Does anyone have any more specific ideas as to what “Foux da Fafa” is sending up, musically speaking?
THANKYOU
VERY much appreciated. This was the first link that came up on google for me. Now just to understand how to pronounce those words. Not quite as easy for an Australian.
Cheers.
We love this song, but on the subtitles of the DVD, this line: “Bonjour mon petit bureau d’échange.” is listed as “Bonjour mon petit poire au dijon.”
Is it mislisted? Or is that what they’re really saying? If so, what does that mean? My little Dijon pear? My little mustard pear?
Squirrelsaurus Reply:
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 am
Thanks for the insight, Laurie. If that’s what they put on the DVD, then somebody needs to lose his job. The HBO website shows HERE shows that the French is “Bonjour mon petit bureau de change”, nothing about a Dijon pear!
Cripes, my French is wrong! It’s “bureau de change” not “bureau d’échange!” better fix that!
Brilliant! Je l’aime beaucoup!
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