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On the subject of credits, there is the question of who wrote the lyrics to J'ai Pas Peur. I haven't seen anything but the credits Tennant/Lowe but the lyrics are in french. I know the french lyrics are basically a translation of the lyrics to I'm Not Scared but would Tennant/Lowe have been able to do this translation. I doubt so. So, who did the translation and adaptation of the lyrics into french?

I think Neil Tennant. Yup, he's that clever.

telys wrote: Thu 25 Dec 2025, 6:00 pm […] I know the french lyrics are basically a translation of the lyrics to I'm Not Scared but would Tennant/Lowe have been able to do this translation. I doubt so. […]

Cause nobody outside France ne parler pas French. We all know that, right?

You would be amazed to see in how many languages Dua Lipa wrote and sang lyrics. What a propper education can do.

domino wrote: Fri 26 Dec 2025, 11:26 am

telys wrote: Thu 25 Dec 2025, 6:00 pm […] I know the french lyrics are basically a translation of the lyrics to I'm Not Scared but would Tennant/Lowe have been able to do this translation. I doubt so. […]

Cause nobody outside France ne parler pas French. We all know that, right?

You would be amazed to see in how many languages Dua Lipa wrote and sang lyrics. What a propper education can do.

Judging by his promunciation of the lyrics in Paris City Boy, I highly doubt Neil's proficiency in the french language.

Judging Neil's pronounciation ten years later and mistaken it for his orthographic knowledge is highly doubtful as well.

Maybe he translated it himself and a friend helped with some minor changes. In this case, the text still comes from Neil.

Geowayne also points out that the title itself isn't quite right for "I'm not scared". Maybe it was him after all.

domino wrote: Fri 26 Dec 2025, 10:30 pm Judging Neil's pronounciation ten years later and mistaken it for his orthographic knowledge is highly doubtful as well.

Maybe he translated it himself and a friend helped with some minor changes. In this case, the text still comes from Neil.

Geowayne also points out that the title itself isn't quite right for "I'm not scared". Maybe it was him after all.

Well, do you have any other proof or circumstantial evidence pointing towards Neil's knowledge of french?
I'd definitely say that his pronounciation reveals a low level of french.
If somebody helped him with the translation of the lyrics, well then that person might deserve a credit. And if so, who was it? "A friend" doesn't really suffice, it's like "A bloke I met on the tube the other day". Was it Ms Kensit? To my ears she does a pretty good job with the french lyrics.

BTW:
"J'ai pas peur", doesn't it word by word translate into "I have not fear"?

Robbie Williams co-wrote Your Disco Needs You for Kylie in a similar playful, camp mood, using deliberately basic, school-level french: "vous êtes jamais seuls
Vous savez ce qu'il faut faire"
Possibly inspired by PSB it was his attempt at French disco

Maybe I’m Not Scared was originally written in french, just playful fun-sounding slogans like « Oh, débarrasse-moi de ces chiens », chosen for their sound and attitude rather than their meaning. That would explain the English lyrics too: they’re just stylish pop mumbo-jumbo.