"Papaoutai" (2013) by Stromae is a deeply personal song about growing up without a father, inspired by the Belgian artist’s own life. The title, a play on "Papa, où t'es?" ("Dad, where are you?"), reflects the search for an absent parent, as his Rwandan father was killed in the 1994 genocide.
It's disturbing how many people think this is an anthem about empowerment, victory, strength, or joy. There's a comment going about, something like, "My cat heard this & became a lion." How can anyone be so emotionally clueless as to not hear the agony? We are so f*ing lost...
@smartalek180Given the excerpt that shows up on reels and such (where you don’t hear parts like the bridge), I think a lot of people associate it with something like the Lion King and the wide open grass plains. Even I didn’t initially catch the wording, and I studied French in high school.
I don't understand the happy comments. The song sings of loss and grief, the author's father lost his life in one of the horrendous atrocities ever committed in modern history: genocide in Rwanda.
Holy crap I was not ready for this. That man was singing from the bottom of his soul. Update: It's been brought to my attention that this song is actually using AI vocals. It's been mentioned quite a bit now... I get it, I get it, I get it. No need to repeat it over and over again.
@Raafie ... yea uh, let me rephrase. That AI is producing statistically likely vocal output from the bottom of it's weights? Bottom of it's matrices? ... Never mind.
"Papaoutai" is a French-language song, although I was terrible in my high school French class! Lol. There was no dedication on my part, whatsoever. I had to look up the definitions of the words, but I immediately recognized the language. ❤
Assistindo daqui do Pantanal de mato grosso do Sul, completamente apaixonada e emocionada por ter visão e audição e poder contemplar as obras de Deus 😮🙏🏻🙌🏻
"Dites-moi où il est ton papa ? Dites-moi où il est ton papa ! Sans même avoir à parler lui, Il sait ce qui ne va pas. Ah sacré papa, Dites-moi où tu es caché ? Ça doit faire au moins mille fois que j'ai Compté mes doigts."
@sonicGD2006you are right. In a general sense the song is about absent fathers. But it’s inspired by the artists own history of growing up without a father because of the genocide
Found this from Afro guardians channel. This is beautiful I been watching RUclips for years seeing the indigenous Africans all over South Sahara Africa makes me want to visit. Ivory coast then south Africa then Kenya here I come ❤️
His father, a Rwandan architect, was killed in the Tutsi Genocide during the Rwandan war in 1994 when Stromae was just a boy hence the passion and soul of this song!
Where is everyone listening from? 🌍
Home
France😊
New Jersey
Burmese
Bangladesh
Who else came after hearing this on so many RUclips Shorts?
👍👍👍❤❤❤
Here😂
Me
Exactly how i came here.
Same
This is what i call the magic of music - you don’t understand a thing, but your body is vibing like it knows every word. Vibe 1000%.
It's about absentee fathers.
I am french, I get the lyrics, check them out, from the artist called Stromae and are beautiful. Talking about his dad.
That's exactly how I feel!
Exactly 💯💯💯
"Papaoutai" (2013) by Stromae is a deeply personal song about growing up without a father, inspired by the Belgian artist’s own life. The title, a play on "Papa, où t'es?" ("Dad, where are you?"), reflects the search for an absent parent, as his Rwandan father was killed in the 1994 genocide.
Understand 0℅😂
Vibe 500℅❤
1001% AI. Enjoy
if you listen via youtube music you can see the lyric translation as the song plays. its beautiful.
100/' yes
Rytt😂
About life without Father...
Understanding 0%
Enjoy 100%
It means dad where are u it comes from a movie when he's dad was missing I hope this helps
@TENDAIMITI-y8sthanks for information 😊
@TENDAIMITI-y8sThanks
Same 🎉😢
@PoninBty-g1d6dkoi nhi enjoy karo😅
“Father, where are you” sounds like a song worth singing before a revolution.
It s about a son that lost his dad cos of Rwanda genocide
The revolution is happening. Men are steppin' up and becoming responsible dads😊. This is encouraging! PAPA ou t'es Papa where you?
Gone 7/11 to get milk and cigarettes
@MiriamZucarellode hwfdgggx💘💕😊
@MiriamZucarello 😔
No kidding, but every time the singer shouts, I feel relieved from all my problems like I’m the one screaming out my emotions.
Language doesn't matter for music lover.. lov fro🇮🇳
Right ...
I understand every word but not signification of the song
Lol music lover. It's AI
Here to listen after hearing it on so many reels 😂
Me too
Same
Same
Same
Yes me also
God Bless Everyone in this Tumultuous Time 🙏 ❤ from Singapore 🇸🇬
Oh beloved papa
Tell me where are you hiding
I must have counted 1000 on my fingers
Where are you dad where are you 😢😢
It's disturbing how many people think this is an anthem about empowerment, victory, strength, or joy.
There's a comment going about, something like, "My cat heard this & became a lion."
How can anyone be so emotionally clueless as to not hear the agony?
We are so f*ing lost...
@smartalek180 Didn't know the meaning of this song until I saw this comment. I'm pretty sure it was the same for everyone.
@smartalek180Given the excerpt that shows up on reels and such (where you don’t hear parts like the bridge), I think a lot of people associate it with something like the Lion King and the wide open grass plains. Even I didn’t initially catch the wording, and I studied French in high school.
67
Yes I agree,I heard this song and it spoke to my heart.I searched for it and now I know why as it resonated with my soul.
Anyone from india 🇮🇳😂😂
Me
Yes sir
Papa uthe😅
Yeah ..lyrics isn't the criteria to njoy music bro ..it's the singer who creates the soul in the musik
Yes Bro...I am....
Listening from India🇮🇳🇮🇳
Greetings from Portugal! Humanity united by music!
This song was always awesome but this version it's another level. Made for an epic. Movie.
C'est de l'iA
Afrobeats. We are on another level. This version gives me goosebumps
I don't understand the happy comments. The song sings of loss and grief, the author's father lost his life in one of the horrendous atrocities ever committed in modern history: genocide in Rwanda.
SMH
Sometimes you dont need to understand everything to enjoy music
I do, its a Song of Faith, no matter what I current situation is. Ashay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know
White people don’t even know what he is saying he speaks of pain…
Greetings from Brazil to all brothers and sisters! 🇧🇷
Selam
Olá
@MiriamZucarello Olá, tudo bem? 😊
@lalesukurova5795 Merhaba! 😊
Salve irmão
Holy crap I was not ready for this. That man was singing from the bottom of his soul.
Update: It's been brought to my attention that this song is actually using AI vocals. It's been mentioned quite a bit now... I get it, I get it, I get it. No need to repeat it over and over again.
It's AI..
Your ai
@Raafie ... yea uh, let me rephrase. That AI is producing statistically likely vocal output from the bottom of it's weights? Bottom of it's matrices?
... Never mind.
Thanks
This is someone has already sang from his soul.this is stromae s song he sang about his lost dad in his childhood 😢❤
Müzik budur evrensellik,sadece güçlü bir his, tüylerinin diken diken olması, anlamasanda sende birşeyler uyandırması ❤👍
TURKISH❤❤
@mazharshaikh4618 bencede doğru
jaıgvb
🥳🥳😎😎😎
Adi 😂 🎉oooooo
😢
❤❤❤
Heavenly Father your people are crying out to you! Fitting for this generation
🫡🫡🫡
I am here
🙏
🥰🥰🥰 From Tanzania. I real like the music though I don't understand anything
Damn true,, music never depends on any language
Soul melting.. . (Even a single word cant understand)...
WHERE ARE YOU FATHER!!!!!!! Such a spiritual meaning, that’s why it melts your soul ❤
Əslində onun atasını darıxır ona görədə atası üçün belə musiqi edib😢
Bağlı Almanca
@malgorzatanosal4346he knows he wrong. I have counted a thousand times. Where are u father
10/10 from 🇬🇧
It's so pleasant to see everyone joining and coming together.
Let's get through this s*** together.
Какое дерьмо, мой колониальный друг чьи предки 500 лет насиловали Африку? И продолжают это делать и сегодня, поделив с соседями потоки 😂
This song was Originally released in 2012
Who are here after hearing this on so many YT shorts?
Jestem z Polski. Nie myślałem, że francuski rap o ojcu, śpiewany przez kogoś kto go stracił, tak mnie poruszy. Dobry utwór.
Its ai its shit
@vergilpraiser8442fr but don't swear pls
Love from Germany 🇩🇪
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 🙌
So beautiful song love from India 🇮🇳
Is this african or indian
@LINDazena-g1cscaming and scamming
It's a sad song about his father who went to shop and never return coz war killed him
@LINDazena-g1c it's AI. it's neither
@SFSPerseverance69420
Stop lying
Didn't understand a word
Beautiful song none the less
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
From India,West Bengal 😊
Finally a good song
Its sh_t in comparison to the real version.
it's AI generated
@SFSPerseverance69420I know
Love this song from srilanka 🇱🇰..❤❤❤
Pozdrawiam Sri Lanka
🥰 iam sl
Sri Lankan ❤
Same same 😂
Thank you for this awesome song 💓🏆🍀 *
My mum's dad died a few months ago. She is devastated, i pray Christ comforts us and more people
🇱🇰 Sri lanka 🇱🇰
Wewe
❤
Felt it and understood it before I looked at translation- love and blessings to everyone in these terrible times
0% anger 0% alcohol 0% smoking 100% papaoutai
100% AI
100%kid
You have any idea how many ppl don't mind smoking? Of course I'm talking not cheap corporate made 😂
"Papaoutai" is a French-language song, although I was terrible in my high school French class! Lol. There was no dedication on my part, whatsoever. I had to look up the definitions of the words, but I immediately recognized the language. ❤
I lost my father like that
Why i want to stand on pride rock and listening to this
After so much struggle, i found this song...😂😂
Det när låten riktiga bra 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Canada 🇨🇦 love this song
2:12 OU'T'ES PAPAOUTAI! Love it when he goes full out with his voice.
Hi everyone ☺️ From Ghana 🇬🇭
From lndia 🇮🇳
@anonymously-f9lGreece 🇬🇷
I am
I'hi india
From Poland 🇵🇱
This is so gorgeous...
my brain doesnt understand but my soul does.
Lion King vibe)
From Ottoman 🇹🇷
Listening From Honolulu Hawaii. ALOOOHaaa🤪🤪
Understanding 50 o/o watching from Zambia half Zambian half Zimbabwean
Moin!!!!
All of us have our 1% African in us when listening to this
From Finland 🇫🇮
❤❤❤
Let’s admit we all came from an Instagram reel of some travel blogger living their best life
Assistindo daqui do Pantanal de mato grosso do Sul, completamente apaixonada e emocionada por ter visão e audição e poder contemplar as obras de Deus 😮🙏🏻🙌🏻
Am from Kenya
Polska pozdrawi Kenię
"Dites-moi où il est ton papa ?
Dites-moi où il est ton papa !
Sans même avoir à parler lui,
Il sait ce qui ne va pas.
Ah sacré papa,
Dites-moi où tu es caché ?
Ça doit faire au moins mille fois que j'ai
Compté mes doigts."
Thanks
Thanks
The most goated song ever
0:38 the best part of this song
My favourite is at 3:29
@LuloBathande i like the middle when he starts screaming lmao so much soul in computer code xD
@supacreamcrownkingwhats wrong with you man?
@dotmind1the song's made with ai so thats why he said computer's code did a good job in copying human emotions
@supacreamcrownkinglikewise😅
from Kenya
The song is about the pain and struggle of growing up without a father who had been killed in the Rwandan genocide
Thanks for explaining...❤
WoW
Falso, habla sobre el padre ausente y el niño que vive para llamar la atención del padre.
@sonicGD2006you are right. In a general sense the song is about absent fathers. But it’s inspired by the artists own history of growing up without a father because of the genocide
Thanks for explaining. It is heart wrenching though
İstemsizce gelen bı ürperti ve keyif .
From Greece 🇬🇷 💙
Best song of the year 2026
Song made by AI -> Best song of 2026.
Such an emotional song. Sorry Simba for losing your Father in a such small Age
утэй папа утэй - утэй мама утэй, утэй дядя утэй, утэй утэй тётя утэй
BEST SONG EVER BRO
Facts 🎉❤
This & jujutsu edit 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Nice song 👍⚡
Damn, I listing the brazil to all those people that made music!
After hearing this song, just once on them short reels. I came here. It's a vibe, and now it's my new ring tone.
10/10 from 🇬🇧🇬🇧, mate!!!
Listening from france 🇫🇷 👌
Listening from India 🇮🇳🤟
I envy you.
Found this from Afro guardians channel. This is beautiful I been watching RUclips for years seeing the indigenous Africans all over South Sahara Africa makes me want to visit. Ivory coast then south Africa then Kenya here I come ❤️
Papaoutai with headphone 🎧❤ ......just awesome 🫠
Very nice song
Beginning reminds me of rafiki from lion king, some majestic feeling lol
2:08 🔥🔥🔥
Bester ❤
Magnifique la reprise
Des francophones ici? dédicace à tous les fils qui ont grandi sans père.
👏👏
I dou kno what he is saying but im digging it. Man put his soul
His father, a Rwandan architect, was killed in the Tutsi Genocide during the Rwandan war in 1994 when Stromae was just a boy hence the passion and soul of this song!
It's ai I googled it the original is different
69% audience from India 😂😂
Yes
Unemployment 😂...
AZERİBAİJAN
Me too 😂
I'm from iran
Who came here after the shorts of Tom Cruise movies!!!
This is my favorite one
❤
I from kurdistan 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👏👏🎉🎉🎉
Какой красивый ремикс, спасибо!!!
I don't understand but I love it! ❤
The singer lost his dad in a rewanda genocide so the some is talking about growing up without a father papaote means father where are you
memorizing0% but ur own words100
I'm from yt shorts 😂😂😂
I love so much this melodie❤thanks for positive vibration ❤
You must really learn what the song is about. Its a very sad song.
❤❤❤❤
U love this song, I can stop listening to it
my cousin showed this to me and thought it said bumbum instead of papa 😂 now im addicted to it
Listening from Canada
Hi
The music used to make me move; now the words make me bleed. A masterpiece of grief hidden in plain sight. 💔
Kenyans 🇰🇪 let’s gather here and celebrate this masterpiece ✊🏾
YES
Kenya 🇰🇪 🇰🇪 listening from nairobi
Same here 😂😂😂
Me to🎉🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪 in Nairobi🎉🎉🎉🎉
I'll crack neet 2026.... ❤
Understand 0%
enjoy 100%
Correct
Its not enjoyment
❤😂