| Mon Amour ( A rose under the desert sky) | 3-01-04. 法語 +英語，Mon Amour ( A rose under the desert sky) 我的愛（沙漠天空下的玫瑰） |
| Mon amour, sur l'eau des fontaines, mon amour | 我的愛，在噴泉的水面上，我的愛， |
| Où le vent les amène, mon amour | 風兒將它們吹送過來，我的愛。 |
| Le soir tombé, qu'on voit flotter | 當夜幕降臨，只見那裡水面漂浮著 |
| Des pétales de roses | 玫瑰花瓣。 |
| Mon amour, le rosier suit les traces, mon amour | 我的愛，玫瑰花叢順著舊痕攀生，我的愛 |
| Sur le mur et enlace, mon amour | 在牆上交織纏繞，我的愛。 |
| Leurs noms gravés et chaque été | 他們的名字被刻下，每年夏天 |
| D'un beau rouge sont les roses | 玫瑰都是美麗的鮮紅。 |
| Mon amour | 我的愛， |
| What I meant to you, mon amour | 我對你意味著什麼？ |
| Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart | 宛如憂傷而甜美的旋律，在我心頭縈繞。 |
| And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour | 每一次哭憶往昔，你是我親密的愛人，我的愛。 |
| Mon amour, sur l'eau des fontaines, mon amour | 我的愛，在噴泉的水面上，我的愛， |
| Où le vent les amène, mon amour | 風兒將它們吹送過來，我的愛。 |
| Le soir tombé, qu'on voit flotter | 當夜幕降臨，只見那裡水面漂浮著 |
| Des pétales de roses | 玫瑰花瓣。 |
| Mon amour | 我的愛， |
| What I meant to you, mon amour | 我對你意味著什麼？ |
| Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart | 宛如憂傷而甜美的旋律，在我心頭縈繞。 |
| And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour | 每一次哭憶往昔，你是我親密的愛人，我的愛。 |
| Why you leave me standing, mon amour | 為何留下我獨自佇立，我的愛？ |
| Tears are running from the dark into my face into the sand | 淚水隨著黑夜流下，沿著我的臉頰，滴落沙地。 |
| And every hour I wonder why | 每時時刻，我不停地追問：為什麼？ |
| Our love had to die like a rose under the desert sky. | 我們的愛必將凋零，就像一朵沙漠天空下的玫瑰。 |
| Mon amour, mon amour…… | 我的愛……我的愛…… |
| ( The English passages are transcribed from the recording. Some phrases appear grammatically unconventional, but are preserved as heard. Several online lyric sources differ from the actual vocal performance. ) |
| Mon Amour ( A rose under the desert sky) | 3-01-04. 法语 +英语，Mon Amour ( A rose under the desert sky) 我的爱（沙漠天空下的玫瑰） |
| Mon amour, sur l'eau des fontaines, mon amour | 我的爱，在喷泉的水面上，我的爱， |
| Où le vent les amène, mon amour | 风儿将它们吹送过来，我的爱。 |
| Le soir tombé, qu'on voit flotter | 当夜幕降临，只见那里水面漂浮着 |
| Des pétales de roses | 玫瑰花瓣。 |
| Mon amour, le rosier suit les traces, mon amour | 我的爱，玫瑰花丛顺着旧痕攀生，我的爱 |
| Sur le mur et enlace, mon amour | 在墙上交织缠绕，我的爱。 |
| Leurs noms gravés et chaque été | 他们的名字被刻下，每年夏天 |
| D'un beau rouge sont les roses | 玫瑰都是美丽的鲜红。 |
| Mon amour | 我的爱， |
| What I meant to you, mon amour | 我对你意味着什么？ |
| Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart | 宛如忧伤而甜美的旋律，在我心头萦绕。 |
| And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour | 每一次哭忆往昔，你是我亲密的爱人，我的爱。 |
| Mon amour, sur l'eau des fontaines, mon amour | 我的爱，在喷泉的水面上，我的爱， |
| Où le vent les amène, mon amour | 风儿将它们吹送过来，我的爱。 |
| Le soir tombé, qu'on voit flotter | 当夜幕降临，只见那里水面漂浮着 |
| Des pétales de roses | 玫瑰花瓣。 |
| Mon amour | 我的爱， |
| What I meant to you, mon amour | 我对你意味着什么？ |
| Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart | 宛如忧伤而甜美的旋律，在我心头萦绕。 |
| And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour | 每一次哭忆往昔，你是我亲密的爱人，我的爱。 |
| Why you leave me standing, mon amour | 为何留下我独自伫立，我的爱？ |
| Tears are running from the dark into my face into the sand | 泪水随着黑夜流下，沿着我的脸颊，滴落沙地。 |
| And every hour I wonder why | 每时时刻，我不停地追问：为什么？ |
| Our love had to die like a rose under the desert sky. | 我们的爱必将凋零，就像一朵沙漠天空下的玫瑰。 |
| Mon amour, mon amour…… | 我的爱……我的爱…… |
| ( The English passages are transcribed from the recording. Some phrases appear grammatically unconventional, but are preserved as heard. Several online lyric sources differ from the actual vocal performance. ) |
| Mon Amour ( A rose under the desert sky) | 3-01-04. French & English，Mon Amour ( A rose under the desert sky ) |
| Mon amour, sur l'eau des fontaines, mon amour | My love, upon the waters of the fountains, my love, |
| Où le vent les amène, mon amour | Where the wind carries them, my love, |
| Le soir tombé, qu'on voit flotter | As evening falls, we see them drifting— |
| Des pétales de roses | Petals of roses. |
| Mon amour, le rosier suit les traces, mon amour | My love, the rosebush follows the traces, my love, |
| Sur le mur et enlace, mon amour | Climbing the wall and twining round them, my love, |
| Leurs noms gravés et chaque été | Their names engraved there; and every summer, |
| D'un beau rouge sont les roses | The roses bloom a beautiful red. |
| Mon amour | Mon amour |
| What I meant to you, mon amour | What I meant to you, mon amour |
| Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart | Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart |
| And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour | And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour |
| Mon amour, sur l'eau des fontaines, mon amour | My love, the rosebush follows the traces, my love, |
| Où le vent les amène, mon amour | Climbing the wall and twining round them, my love, |
| Le soir tombé, qu'on voit flotter | Their names engraved there; and every summer, |
| Des pétales de roses | The roses bloom a beautiful red. |
| Mon amour | Mon amour |
| What I meant to you, mon amour | What I meant to you, mon amour |
| Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart | Play like a sad and sweet melody in my heart |
| And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour | And every memory I cry, you’re my dear, mon amour |
| Why you leave me standing, mon amour | Why you leave me standing, mon amour |
| Tears are running from the dark into my face into the sand | Tears are running from the dark into my face into the sand |
| And every hour I wonder why | And every hour I wonder why |
| Our love had to die like a rose under the desert sky. | Our love had to die like a rose under the desert sky. |
| Mon amour, mon amour…… | Mon amour, mon amour…… |
| ( The English passages are transcribed from the recording. Some phrases appear grammatically unconventional, but are preserved as heard. Several online lyric sources differ from the actual vocal performance. ) |
Introduction to the Original Lyrics' Author：
The lyrics of “Mon Amour (A Rose Under the Desert Sky)” were written in two parts. The first, second, and fourth sections directly use the French lyrics from the first vocal adaptation of Concierto de Aranjuez, namely the French song “Aranjuez, mon amour.” The author of these lyrics was the French artist Guy Bontempelli. He was a lyricist, composer, singer, writer, pianist, guitarist, translator, and painter — a multidisciplinary artist active in the fields of French popular music and musical theatre. For more information about him, please refer to the introduction of Aranjuez, mon amour in the “Lyrics Collection” section of this website.
The English lyrics newly added to “Mon Amour (A Rose Under the Desert Sky)” were written by Lord Vanger, the producer of the album in which this song was first released, Operatica – Shine.
Lord Vanger (real name Anthony Vanger) is a UK-born and New York-based music producer, composer, arranger, and vocalist, as well as the creative force behind the electronic classical crossover project Operatica. In the early 2000s, Lord Vanger released a series of works under the name Operatica, combining operatic vocals with electronic music. His aim was to merge the melodies of classical music, the dramatic expression of opera singing, and the rhythms and textures of contemporary electronic music. These works are often categorized as Classical Crossover, Electronic Fusion, or Dance/Opera crossover.
Operatica’s second album, Shine (2002), included a number of crossover adaptations spanning classical and world music, including works by Grieg, Bizet, and Debussy, as well as melodies derived from Persian traditional music. At the same time, Lord Vanger contributed his own compositions to the album, demonstrating his abilities as both a composer and vocalist.
Music critics have noted similarities between Operatica’s style and that of influential crossover electronic music projects such as Enigma and Deep Forest, incorporating mid-tempo trip-hop rhythms, electronic effects, and world music elements. However, Operatica’s distinctive feature lies in placing operatic vocals within an electronic soundscape, giving classical melodies a new contemporary expression.
On Shine, Lord Vanger created the crossover version of the second movement (Adagio) of Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez:
“Mon Amour (A Rose Under The Desert Sky)”
Based on Guy Bontempelli’s French lyrics “Aranjuez, mon amour,” this version preserves the romantic and melancholic imagery of the original song while adding English lyrics and electronic production. After its journeys from classical music to jazz interpretations and French chanson, Aranjuez entered once again into the musical language of the 21st-century electronic world.
The song was performed by the internationally renowned soprano Inva Mula. Her background as an opera singer allows this version to retain the dignity and emotional depth of classical vocal expression alongside its electronic rhythms.
“Mon Amour” was later included in the famous lounge music compilation series Buddha-Bar, gaining wider exposure in the global electronic crossover music market. The Operatica series sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide, and its songs reached the US Billboard Dance Chart, Crossover Chart, and iTunes charts. “Mon Amour (A Rose Under the Desert Sky)” were also featured in films and television programs, including the film Hideous Kinky and the American television series Queer as Folk.
In addition to creating electronic classical crossover works, Lord Vanger also contributed as a vocalist. His high tenor voice showcased on Shine demonstrates that he was not only a producer working behind the scenes, but also a creative artist with strong performing abilities.
In 2006, the renowned Lebanese DJ Said Mrad released two tracks—"En Aranjuez con tu Amor" and "En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor (reggaeton mix)"—on his album *Esmerim*. Although the titles referenced *Concierto de Aranjuez* (with Spanish lyrics), the actual vocals were those of the song "Mon Amour." While the two tracks featured distinct remixes—one in a House style and the other Reggaeton—both were performed by the legendary Lebanese soprano Mirna Shaker.
The catalog for the album *Operatica – Shine* lists G. Bontempelli as the arranger, Richard Anthony as the lyricist, and Lord Vanger as the author of the additional English lyrics. There appears to be a slight error here. Richard Anthony—cited as the lyricist—was actually the original vocalist who made "Aranjuez, mon amour" a hit; he performed the song countless times throughout his life, leading many sources to conflate the lyricist with the singer. In fact, Guy Bontempelli was responsible for both the musical arrangement and the lyrics of "Aranjuez, mon amour."
