Ever imagined a world without airplanes? French artist MPL takes us on a journey to this very future in his beautiful and thoughtful song, Sans Avion, which means 'Without Airplanes'. In this world, airports are no longer bustling travel hubs but have become quiet museums. People visit them like ancient castles to remember a time when giant metal birds soared through the sky. There's a feeling of sweet sadness, a melancholy, as the singer imagines walking on empty runways and dreaming of faraway places like Japan.
The song beautifully captures the memory of flying: the thrill of takeoff with a 'tight heart' (cœur serré) and the magical view of the world from above a 'sea of clouds' (mer de nuages). But even with these 'broken wings' decorating the landscape, the song isn't all sad. It's also about human imagination and resilience. MPL suggests that life will go on, and love and travel will simply find new, perhaps even more magical, ways to exist. It’s a poetic reminder that even when we lose something big, we find new ways to dream and connect.