“Papa Maman” feels like opening a secret journal and reading a deeply honest letter to Mom and Dad. Bilal Hassani sings about moments when everything seems to fall apart: the nausea, the tears, the mirror that “terrifies” him with a blurry future. Yet, even while confessing Je touche le fond (I’ve hit the bottom), he keeps repeating Je vous en veux pas (I don’t blame you). This refrain turns the song into both an apology and a reassurance. He yearns for the simplicity of childhood, remembers the hope and ambition he once had, and clings to the love that still holds him up.
Underneath the vulnerability beats a pulse of quiet resilience. The singer stretches out a hand, inviting someone to grab it, determined to keep living and to be thankful even if tomorrow were the end. “Papa Maman” is, ultimately, a reminder that asking for help is courageous, that love remains a lifeline, and that a single promise — J’irai mieux demain (I’ll feel better tomorrow) — can keep the light on when the night feels longest.