Rendez-vous manqués

Nilda Fernández's song "Rendez-vous manqués" delves into the theme of missed connections and the fleeting nature of human interactions. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of various encounters that the narrator experiences, each marked by a sense of incompletion and longing. The song opens with a missed rendezvous with a woman from the narrator's neighborhood, described as a 'jolie pute' who collects cigarette butts from the ground. This imagery sets a tone of melancholy and lost opportunities, hinting at a world where beauty and despair coexist.

As the song progresses, the narrator recounts a series of brief and unfulfilling meetings. There's a rapid encounter with a physically resilient body, a rendezvous with an important friend who leaves coins in a machine, and a quarter-hour meeting that amounts to nothing. These interactions are characterized by their brevity and lack of depth, emphasizing the transient nature of human connections. The repeated plea to 'relevez moi femmes' (lift me up, women) underscores the narrator's desire for meaningful engagement and support from the women around him.

The song also touches on themes of vulnerability and dependence. The narrator's repeated calls for help from 'femmes trop belles' (too beautiful women) and 'femmes sauvages' (wild women) suggest a yearning for rescue from a life of monotony and despair. The imagery of being lifted from a bowl or a cage further highlights the narrator's sense of entrapment and his hope for liberation. Through its poignant lyrics and evocative metaphors, "Rendez-vous manqués" captures the essence of human longing and the perpetual search for connection in a fragmented world.