"Foule sentimentale" is a 1993 popular song written, composed and performed by the French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 artist Alain Souchon

Alain Souchon

Alain Souchon is a French singer, songwriter and actor. He has released 15 albums and has played roles in seven films.-Profile:...

. The song was released as single in October 1993 and was the first one from his 1993 album C'est déjà ça

C'est déjà ça

C'est déjà ça is a 1993 album recorded by French singer Alain Souchon. It was his eleventh album overall and was released on October 10, 1993. It achieved smash success in France where it remained for 100 weeks in the top 50, including one week at the top, and 108 weeks on the chart. It was also...

. It achieved success in France.

Lyrics and music

In this song, Alain Souchon criticizes "the superfluity of the materialistic society". In the lyrics, he also cites Paul-Loup Sulitzer

Paul-Loup Sulitzer

Paul Loup Karl Sulitzer is a French financier and author. Before he turned seventeen, he was already a self-made millionaire. Sulitzer used his financial experience and knowledge in his books which often related to the business world.His novel, The Green King , was made into a comic series...

 and Claudia Schiffer

Claudia Schiffer

Claudia Schiffer is a German model and occasional actress, who reached the peak of her popularity during the 1990s, initially due to her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot. Schiffer is one of the world's most successful models, having appeared on over 500 magazine covers...

 as examples of people highlighted in the media for their success in their respective fields, saying thus all that causes great harm to the TV viewers.

Critical reception

According to the magazine Platine, this song was "clean and efficient".

The song won the award of the song of the year at the 1994 Victoires de la Musique

Victoires de la Musique

Victoires de la musique , is an annual French award ceremony that recognizes the best musical artists of the year.- Male artist of the year :*1985 : Michel Jonasz*1986 : Jean-Jacques Goldman*1987 : Johnny Hallyday...

 and the Victory of Victories of the original song of the last twenty years in 2005.

Chart performances

The song appeared on the French SNEP Singles Chart from October 30, 1993 to April 9, then from April 23 to 30, 1994. Thus it stayed for 26 weeks on the chart and jumped from #14 to #1 on February 12, 1994. The song has become one of the most emblematic songs of the singer.

Covers and tributes

In 1997, the song was covered by Les Enfoirés

Les Enfoirés

Les Enfoirés , is the name given to the singers and performers in the yearly charity concert for the Restaurants du Cœur .-History:...

 and features on their album Sol en Si (track 15, 5:09), released on October 6. It was performed by Francis Cabrel

Francis Cabrel

Francis Cabrel is a well-known French singer-songwriter and guitarist. Inspired heavily by Bob Dylan, he has released a number of albums falling mostly within the realm of folk, with occasional forays into blues or country. Several of his songs, such as "L'encre de tes yeux" and "Petite Marie"...

, Michel Jonasz

Michel Jonasz

Michel Jonasz is a French composer-songwriter, singer and actor. His compositions include: La boîte de jazz, Joueurs de blues and Les vacances au bord de la mer....

, Catherine Lara

Catherine Lara

Catherine Lara is a French violinist, composer and singer.-Music career:As a child, Lara studied violin and received the first prize of chamber music at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1966....

, Maxime Le Forestier

Maxime Le Forestier

Maxime Le Forestier is a French singer.He was born in Paris to an English father and a French mother who had lived in England. He had two older sisters, Anne and Catherine....

, Maurane

Maurane

Maurane, real name Claudine Luypaerts, is a Belgian singer. She lives currently in Schaerbeek.Maurane was born at Ixelles. Her father was director in the Académie de Musique de Verviers, and when she was a teenager she took part in several musical contests...

, Zazie

Zazie

Zazie is a French singer and songwriter. Zazie co-produces all her albums.-Early life:...

 and Alain Souchon

Alain Souchon

Alain Souchon is a French singer, songwriter and actor. He has released 15 albums and has played roles in seven films.-Profile:...

 himself.

In 2006, the song was also covered in Portuguese-language by the female singer Bia under the name "Tão Sentimental" (3:14), that features on her album Coeur Vagabond.

The song also exist in Russian-language by DJ Smash under the name "Москва ждёт Февраль" (4:17). Rose and Renan Luce

Renan Luce

Renan Luce is a French singer and songwriter. His songs are inspired by the 20th century singer and songwriter Georges Brassens and depict everyday life with a dose of humour and poetry.- Biography and musical career :...

 covered it live in the French television show Pour Haïti, broadcast on 24 January 2010 on France 2

France 2

France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...

.

As tribute to this song, French singer-songwriter Renaud

Renaud

Renaud, born Renaud Séchan, is a French singer, songwriter and actor.Renaud may also refer to:* Renaud , a male French given name* Renaud , a 1783 opera by Antonio Sacchini* Renaud, Quebec, part of Laval, Quebec...

 wrote the song "Sentimentale mon cul" in 2006 on his album Rouge Sang.

Certifications and sales

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified	Physical sales
France	Silver	April 14, 1994	125,000	218,000

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
French SNEP Singles Chart	1