I Will Follow Him
Encyclopedia
"I Will Follow Him" is a song recorded by Little Peggy March
. The music
was written by Franck Pourcel
(using the pseudonym
J.W. Stole) and Paul Mauriat
(using the pseudonym Del Roma). It was adapted by Arthur Altman
. The English
lyrics were translated by Norman Gimbel
.
The song is a translation of the French language
tune "Chariot" (lyrics by Jacques Plante) recorded a year earlier by Petula Clark
, which hit #1 in France
and #8 in Belgium
and earned Clark a gold record (Clark's Italian ("Sul Mio Carro"; #4) and German ("Cheerio"; #6) recordings of the song were also major hits). Her English version, released by Pye
in the UK and by Laurie
in the USA was no success.
In Italy three versions of the song were in the charts (translated/adapted by Vito Pallavicini
and Bruno Pallesi): One recorded by Betty Curtis
(highest position: #3), another version by Petula Clark (#4) and the Franck Pourcel version (#5)
and began as an instrumental piece appearing on the 1961
European LP release: "Amour, Danse, Et Violons. No.17." At the same time, it appeared on the EP release: "La Voix de son Maître." Pourcel co-wrote the song with his friend and fellow French bandleader Paul Mauriat
. The other French bandleader Raymond Lefèvre
has been credited for arrangements. Franck Pourcel's original recording was popular on MOR, or "easy listening," stations. Mauriat later
recorded an instrumental version in 1976 with a disco beat, using Moog synthesizer
.
The English version by March, backed with "Wind Up Doll," was released by RCA Victor and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
on April 27, 1963, making 15-year-old March the youngest female artist to have a U.S. chart-topping single. Her version also made it to #1 on the soul singles chart.
The song is featured at the end of the 1992 film Sister Act
, where it was performed by the nuns' chorus for the Pope
.
The song's chorus was parodied in the Eminem
/Dr. Dre
song "Guilty Conscience
", as "these voices, these voices, I hear them, and where they go I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow".
Peggy March
Peggy March is an American pop singer. She is primarily remembered for her 1963 million-selling song "I Will Follow Him".-Career:...
. The music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
was written by Franck Pourcel
Franck Pourcel
Franck Pourcel was a French easy listening musician.-Biography:Born in Marseille, Pourcel's father started to teach him music at the age of six...
(using the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
J.W. Stole) and Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat was a French orchestra leader, specializing in light music. He is best known in the United States for his million selling remake of André Popp's "Love is Blue", which was #1 for 5 weeks in 1968...
(using the pseudonym Del Roma). It was adapted by Arthur Altman
Arthur Altman
Arthur Altman was an American songwriter whose credits "All or Nothing at All," and the lyrics for "All Alone Am I" and "I Will Follow Him."...
. The English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics were translated by Norman Gimbel
Norman Gimbel
Norman Gimbel is an American lyricist of popular songs, television and movie themes whose writing career includes such titles as "Sway", "Canadian Sunset", "Summer Samba", "The Girl from Ipanema", "Killing Me Softly With His Song", "Meditation" and "I Will Wait for You", along with an Oscar for...
.
The song is a translation of the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
tune "Chariot" (lyrics by Jacques Plante) recorded a year earlier by Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
, which hit #1 in France
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...
and #8 in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and earned Clark a gold record (Clark's Italian ("Sul Mio Carro"; #4) and German ("Cheerio"; #6) recordings of the song were also major hits). Her English version, released by Pye
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
in the UK and by Laurie
Laurie Records
Laurie Records was a record label started in 1958 by Gene Schwartz and Allan I. Sussel. Sussel was a multi-millionaire whose earlier record company, Jamie Records , had been unsuccessful. As a result, Sussel joined forces with Schwartz to found Laurie Records, this time named after his other...
in the USA was no success.
In Italy three versions of the song were in the charts (translated/adapted by Vito Pallavicini
Vito Pallavicini
Vito Pallavicini was an Italian lyricist.Born in Vigevano, he wrote numerous songs, during his career for Adriano Celentano , Caterina Caselli and many others. He died at the age of 83....
and Bruno Pallesi): One recorded by Betty Curtis
Betty Curtis
Betty Curtis was an Italian singer active from 1957 to 2004.The song "Al di là" performed by her with Luciano Tajoli won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1961...
(highest position: #3), another version by Petula Clark (#4) and the Franck Pourcel version (#5)
Song history
The song was recorded in 1961 by Franck PourcelFranck Pourcel
Franck Pourcel was a French easy listening musician.-Biography:Born in Marseille, Pourcel's father started to teach him music at the age of six...
and began as an instrumental piece appearing on the 1961
European LP release: "Amour, Danse, Et Violons. No.17." At the same time, it appeared on the EP release: "La Voix de son Maître." Pourcel co-wrote the song with his friend and fellow French bandleader Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat was a French orchestra leader, specializing in light music. He is best known in the United States for his million selling remake of André Popp's "Love is Blue", which was #1 for 5 weeks in 1968...
. The other French bandleader Raymond Lefèvre
Raymond Lefèvre
Raymond Lefèvre was a French easy listening orchestra leader, arranger and composer.Born in Calais, France, Lefèvre is best known for his 1968 theme "Soul Coaxing ", which became an international hit...
has been credited for arrangements. Franck Pourcel's original recording was popular on MOR, or "easy listening," stations. Mauriat later
recorded an instrumental version in 1976 with a disco beat, using Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
.
The English version by March, backed with "Wind Up Doll," was released by RCA Victor and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
on April 27, 1963, making 15-year-old March the youngest female artist to have a U.S. chart-topping single. Her version also made it to #1 on the soul singles chart.
The song is featured at the end of the 1992 film Sister Act
Sister Act
Sister Act is a 1992 American comedy film released by Touchstone Pictures. Directed by Emile Ardolino, it features musical arrangements by Marc Shaiman and stars Whoopi Goldberg as a Reno lounge singer who has been put under protective custody in a San Francisco convent and has to pretend to be a...
, where it was performed by the nuns' chorus for the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
The song's chorus was parodied in the Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
/Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
song "Guilty Conscience
Guilty Conscience
"Guilty Conscience" is a song released in 1999 by rap artist Eminem featuring his mentor, Dr. Dre. It was the third single from his major label debut album, The Slim Shady LP, also released in 1999...
", as "these voices, these voices, I hear them, and where they go I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow".