“Life in pink, life in black, oh, this rollercoaster” — Claude explores the ups and downs in the “C’est La Vie” lyrics

The Netherlands are ready for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, with Claude set to take the big stage, singing in both English and French. Since its release, his song “C’est La Vie” has become a fan favourite, and everyone is eager to see what kind of performance he will bring this May.

With a heartfelt music video and empowering lyrics, the Netherlands is capturing the audience’s hearts. Claude pays tribute to his African roots by incorporating French—one of the official languages of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Claude is from.

The song beautifully reflects life’s diverse palette of colours—its ups and downs, joys, and challenges. Now, let’s explore the lyrics!

Scroll down to read the “C’est La Vie” lyrics

Netherlands at Eurovision 2025: Claude with “C’est La Vie”

Claude comes from the small port town of Boma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the age of nine, he moved with his family to the Netherlands, where they settled in an asylum seekers’ centre in Alkmaar, north of Amsterdam. Adjusting to Dutch language and society took time, as he had never attended school in Congo due to his family’s financial struggles.

From a young age, Claude loved singing, occasionally performing at school events. He even auditioned for the Dutch version of The Voice Kids at one point. However, his musical journey truly began when he took part in a casting for pop singers at the music label Cloud 9.

After signing with Cloud 9, Claude made his debut in 2022 with the French-language single “Ladada (Mon dernier mot).” The song became a massive hit in the Netherlands, topping airplay and sales charts and dominating the music scene for months. His following singles were just as successful. Riding on this commercial success, Claude released his debut album, Parler Français, in late 2024.

What do the “C’est La Vie” lyrics mean?

Claude’s song, titled “That’s Life” in English, is deeply autobiographical. It is sung in both English and French, the official language of his homeland.

He reflects on the period when he and his mother moved from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Netherlands, a time when life was not always easy. However, he found strength in his mother’s voice—her singing comforted him and reassured him that, even when life brings you down, better days are always ahead.

That’s life
She sang to me
I remember
I was little
Oh I was just a little boy but I remember
The melody, the melody

Even as an adult, Claude still experiences days when he’s deeply in love with his life, savouring every moment. Yet, there are other days when he feels completely miserable. Despite these ups and downs, he still sees life as a great miracle. And whenever he faces a tough time, his mother’s voice echoes in his mind, reminding him: “That’s life.”

That’s life, and what a miracle
Sometimes in love, sometimes miserable
And I still hear my mama’s voice inside of me

The uplifting message is that life isn’t made up of just good days or bad days; it’s a mixture of both. So, when life seems challenging, you have to keep singing, make your voice heard, accept the reality, and continue singing until the hard times pass. Singing becomes a metaphor for pushing forward and not giving up.

Oh, that’s life
Life in pink
Life in black
Oh, this rollercoaster
And I will sing until it’s over
It goes la-la-la-la-la

“C’est La Vie” lyrics — Claude (Netherlands Eurovision 2025)

Songwriter (music and lyrics): Arno Krabman, Claude Kiambe, Joren van der Voort, Léon Palmen

What do you make of Claude’s “C’est La Vie”? Are you singing along? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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