Erik Satie’s (1866-1925) instantly recognisable "Je te veux" was originally scored for voice and piano, however, over the years this well-loved melody has also been scored for chamber orchestra, and most famously – solo piano. Translated into English, the title simply means ‘I Want You’, and the original song was performed by soprano Paulette Darty. The text is by Henry Pacory .
"Je te veux" is in 3/4 time, which gives it its distinct waltz feel throughout. The piece has often been described as a ‘nostalgic’ or ‘sentimental’ waltz, with the lyrics veering away from this and actually being quite exotic and sensual. This dichotomy between the lyrics and the music creates a certain charm about this work, and is perhaps one of the reasons that it is so well-loved today. In the piano version, Satie adds an extra section between where the text verses would come, which allows Satie to develop the nostalgic melody further. The sheer change in character in this work in comparison to many other works by Satie of this time makes "Je te veux" a real stand-out for the composer. A lot of Satie’s other works are much darker in their general atmosphere, whereas "Je te veux" is much lighter and seemingly positive in character. The piece could be seen as quite reflective, and rather ironically this has become one of Satie’s most famous compositions.