Maxou

Childhood memory of course. My first stay in Paris when I was 6 - my father was on duty there for the holidays, in late October. Well, that was the same year Vanessa was singing the Gainsbourg-penned single "Dis-Lui Toi Que Je T'Aime". More exactly, I remember an afternoon in Neuilly-Plaisance, where a couple of my mother's friends were living. I guess I kinda re-played the music video there by singing it, not too far from their house, more or less. I've known this song by heart since I got a cassette from my cousins' sometime before, in 1989.

Feels strange to tell that Vanessa... Was somewhat the 80's Louane! I admire both of them!

As for the lyrics... It must tell the story of a teenager's secret loving for a celebrity - I have experienced this too before I found my ideal boyfriend at 16, and kept all my romances secret. But because of our age difference, neither did him nor I compare to Vanessa and her boyfriend from 1988 to 1991, Florent Pagny.

"East of Eden" is a reference to James Dean, and knowing that Vanessa was a fan of the late actor... "A little maximum, bigger than life (...) stronger than death" means that she has a big crush on him although he is gone forever.

As for the title song "Marilyn & John" and "Cut Cut Brother", Vanessa has also recorded an English version, all 3 of them appear on the American release of her debut LP.