carmen

Stromae's 'Carmen' is a poignant critique of love in the era of social media, wrapped in a melody that is both catchy and haunting. The song cleverly uses the metaphor of Twitter's blue bird to represent fleeting love and the superficiality of online relationships. The lyrics suggest that love has become commodified, much like the interactions on social media platforms where follows and likes are currency. Stromae warns of the dangers of equating social media popularity with real-life affection, highlighting the plastic smiles that often accompany hashtagged interactions.

The chorus of 'Carmen' repeats the idea that love has become a consumable product, with the repetition of 's'aime' (love) and 'consomme' (consume) underscoring the transactional nature of modern relationships. The song suggests that love is now driven by the market dynamics of supply and demand, with people always seeking more options and discarding relationships as easily as they would a product that no longer serves them. This consumerist approach to love is critiqued as ultimately leading to isolation ('Et puis chacun pour soi'), despite the illusion of connection.

Stromae also touches on the consequences of this disposable culture, where everything, including emotions, can be bought and sold. The final verse hints at a cycle of purchase, love, disposal, and eventual payment—a metaphor for the emotional cost of treating relationships as commodities. The song closes on a somber note, suggesting that before true love can be found, society may self-destruct ('Mais avant on crèvera tous, comme des rats'), a stark warning about the direction in which we are headed.