I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)

Grace Jones' 'I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)' is a haunting and enigmatic song that blends elements of tango with a sense of urban noir. The lyrics paint a picture of a mysterious and unsettling presence, someone who seems both familiar and threatening. The repeated line 'Strange, I’ve seen that face before' suggests a sense of déjà vu, as if the protagonist is haunted by a figure from their past or a recurring nightmare. This figure is likened to a predator, 'like a hawk stealing for the prey,' and their presence is as inevitable as 'the night waiting for the day.'

The song's setting in Paris, with references to 'hausmann boulevard' and 'Parisian music drifting from the bars,' adds a layer of romantic melancholy. The rainy nights and echoing footsteps create a cinematic atmosphere, evoking the feeling of walking through a city filled with memories and ghosts. The bilingual lyrics, switching between English and French, enhance the sense of dislocation and alienation. The French lines, 'Tu cherches quoi / A rencontrer la mort / Tu te prends pour qui / Toi aussi tu détestes la vie,' translate to 'What are you looking for / To meet death / Who do you think you are / You also hate life,' adding a dark philosophical edge to the song.

The narrative takes a turn towards the end, with a glimpse into the life of 'Joel,' a character who seems to be living a transient and unfulfilled existence. The description of his room, with 'photos, without regret, without melodrama,' and the abrupt departure, 'the door is slammed, Joel is gone,' suggests a life of fleeting connections and unresolved emotions. Grace Jones' delivery, with its cool detachment and underlying intensity, perfectly captures the song's themes of existential angst and the haunting presence of the past.