Paroles, paroles

"Paroles, paroles"
Cover of single
Single by Dalida and Alain Delon
from the album Julien
B-side	"Pour ne pas vivre seul"
Released	17 January 1973 (1973-01-17)
Recorded	1972
Studio	Des Dames
Genre	Bossa nova chanson
Length	4:05
Label	International Shows
Composer(s)	Gianni Ferrio
Lyricist(s)	Michaële
Producer(s)	Orlando
Music video
"Paroles, paroles" on YouTube

"Paroles, paroles" (French: [paʁɔl(ə) paʁɔl(ə)]; "Words, words"), also given as "Paroles... Paroles...", is a song by French singer Dalida featuring French actor Alain Delon, with music by Gianni Ferrio and lyrics by Michaële [fr], released on 17 January 1973 as the lead single from Dalida's upcoming album Julien (1973). It is a cover of the 1972 Italian song "Parole parole", originally performed by Mina and Alberto Lupo.

The lyrics, adapted from the Italian version, describe the conversation of a man offering a woman caramels, bonbons et chocolat ("caramels, candies and chocolate") followed with a shower of compliments, to what she says they mean nothing to her because they are just paroles – i.e. empty words. The song achieved big success in France and internationally, especially in Japan and Mexico, becoming one of the most recognizable French songs of all time. The first music video was released in 2019, over 46 years after the songs's release.^[1]

Dalida's release sparked numerous covers in various languages, mostly due to her international career. The song was an unavoidable part of her repertoire, carrying her on tours in Europe, Japan, Latin America, the Arab world and the Francophone countries of Africa. Today it is regarded as Dalida's signature song and one of the classics of French chanson. While the expression paroles, paroles entered everyday language, immediately upon its release it was picked up by French politicians, and is ever since "used to evoke those who make promises and never hold them".^[2]