You’ve probably seen the video. A tall, lanky Belgian man with a sharp side part and a sweater vest shifts between two personas—one male, one female—in a split-screen performance that feels more like a short film than a pop song. It’s Stromae. The song is "Tous les Mêmes." And if you’re like millions of other non-French speakers, you’ve spent a fair amount of time hunting for tous les memes lyrics english because the vibe is infectious, but the meaning feels heavy.
There’s a specific kind of frustration when you realize a song you’ve been dancing to for three years is actually a brutal takedown of gender stereotypes and toxic relationship cycles. It’s not just a "club banger." It’s a mirror.
The Literal Translation vs. The Soul of the Song
Let’s get the literal stuff out of the way first. When you look for tous les memes lyrics english, the title itself translates to "All the Same." But it’s not just about everyone being identical. It’s about the predictable, exhausting patterns men and women fall into during an argument.
The chorus kicks off with: "Vous les hommes êtes tous les mêmes / Machos mais cheap / Incapables de nous satisfaire." Basically, "You men are all the same / Macho but cheap / Incapable of satisfying us."
It’s harsh. It’s blunt. But then Stromae flips the script. He isn’t just attacking men; he’s playing out a dialogue where both sides are trapped in their own clichés. He uses the French language’s rhythmic staccato to mimic the nagging, the defensiveness, and the ultimate resignation of a couple that has had the same fight five hundred times.
Breaking Down the Verse: The "Macho but Cheap" Contradiction
One of the most interesting parts of searching for tous les memes lyrics english is seeing how translators handle the word "cheap." In French, it carries a slightly different weight—it’s not just about money. It’s about being low-quality in character. Stromae is calling out the "alpha" persona that many men try to project while being emotionally bankrupt or unwilling to put in the actual work a relationship requires.
💡 You might also like: Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me to Sleep: The Dark Folklore of a Viral Lullaby
He sings about the "unpredictable" nature of the partner—the one who says "see you tomorrow" but actually means "see you never." It’s that flaky, non-committal energy that defines modern dating, even though this song came out way back in 2013. Some things never change, honestly.
Why the Music Video Changes Everything
You can't talk about the lyrics without talking about the visual. Stromae’s "Paul van Haver" (his real name) persona is split down the middle. One side is the "man"—half-shaved head, aggressive posture. The other is the "woman"—long hair, makeup, and a more fluid movement style.
When you read the tous les memes lyrics english while watching the video, you realize he’s performing a duet with himself.
He’s showing how we internalize these gender roles. The lyrics aren’t just a dialogue between two people; they are a dialogue between the masculine and feminine expectations we all carry. When he sings as the woman, he’s mocking the "hysterical" trope. When he sings as the man, he’s mocking the "indifferent" trope. It’s genius, really. He’s basically saying that we are all playing parts in a play someone else wrote.
The Cultural Context of Stromae’s Wordplay
Stromae is the king of the "double entendre." If you're just looking at a basic Google Translate version of the lyrics, you’re missing about 40% of the art.
📖 Related: Kate Moss Family Guy: What Most People Get Wrong About That Cutaway
Take the line about "les règles." In French, this can mean "the rules," but it’s also the word for "periods" (menstruation). He’s making a jab at the lazy excuse men often use to dismiss women’s emotions. But he turns it back on the man, too, suggesting that men have their own cycles of moodiness and inconsistency.
- "C’est la vie" energy: The song captures a very European sense of "it is what it is." There's no happy ending in these lyrics.
- The Horn Section: That iconic trumpet hook? It’s intentionally loud and "bratty." It mimics the sound of an argument where nobody is listening.
- The "Easy" Lyrics: Despite the deep themes, the French is actually quite accessible, which is why it's a favorite for French teachers to use in class.
Honestly, it’s kind of wild that a song this cynical became a global wedding floor filler. People are out there doing the "Tous les Mêmes" dance while the lyrics are basically saying "Relationships are a cyclical nightmare of disappointment."
Common Misconceptions in English Translations
Most people think the song is a feminist anthem. It’s actually more of a "humanist" critique. Stromae isn't taking a side. By the end of the song, the "all the same" label applies to everyone. We all use the same excuses. We all use the same insults.
Another thing people get wrong when looking for tous les memes lyrics english is the tone of the bridge. The part where he goes "Rendez-vous, rendez-vous, rendez-vous au prochain règlement" isn't just about a meeting. "Règlement" refers to a "settling of scores." He’s saying, "See you at the next fight." It’s a loop. There is no exit.
The Legacy of "Tous les Mêmes" in 2026
Even now, years after its release, the song trends on TikTok and YouTube. Why? Because the "macho but cheap" line is timeless. As long as people are ghosting each other or having circular arguments about who did the dishes, these lyrics will stay relevant.
👉 See also: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
Stromae’s ability to package heavy sociological critiques into a 4-minute pop song is something few English-speaking artists have mastered quite as well. Maybe Kendrick Lamar. Maybe Lily Allen in her prime. But Stromae does it with a theatricality that transcends the language barrier.
If you’ve been singing the "bla bla bla" parts of the chorus, now you know. It’s not just filler. It’s the sound of someone tuning out their partner because they’ve heard it all before.
Actionable Steps for Music Lovers
If you want to truly appreciate the depth of this track beyond just a quick search for tous les memes lyrics english, here is how to dive deeper:
- Watch the "Leçon" series: Stromae released "lessons" on YouTube showing how he built the beat. It gives you a much better feel for the "aggressive" intent behind the music.
- Compare different translations: Don't just stick to the first result. Look at sites like Genius where users annotate the cultural slang used in the French verses.
- Listen to the live version: His performance at the Centre Bell in Montreal is legendary. You can see the physical strain of switching between the two "characters" in the song, which adds a whole new layer to the lyrics.
- Explore the "Racine Carrée" album: This song is part of a larger narrative about loneliness and modern life. If you like "Tous les Mêmes," you’ll find "Papaoutai" and "Quand c'est?" equally haunting once you have the translations.
Understanding the lyrics doesn't just help you sing along—it changes how you feel the beat. It’s not just a dance song anymore. It’s a conversation.