Je marche seul
Encyclopedia
"Je marche seul" is the name of a 1985
song recorded by the French singer and songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman
. It was released in June 1985 as the first single
from his album Non homologué
, as tenth track. Though the song failed to reach number one on the French Singles Chart, it remains one of Goldman's biggest hit singles as well as one of the more popular songs live.
When the song was released as a single, Goldman explained in various interviews that the song was very hard to compose. The lyrics describe someone walking alone along a road, annomyous and lost in thought, able to forget everything for the moment and the pleasure of being anonymous while observing the world. Goldman has said that "Je marche seul" is a bright song because "the loneliness is not a punishment".
The music video, produced by Bernard Schmitt
in Brussel, began to be aired on television in May 1985. It was well-received in the media at the time. It shows Goldman portraying a renegade from Eastern Europe who has an affair in a train which is crossing the border.
Jean-Jacques Goldman said in an interview that even before the release of the song in the media, he was sure to have a hit: "So, for "Je marche seul", I had no doubt!"
during the charity concert of the 'Chanteurs sans frontières' in La Courneuve
to raise founds for Ethiopia. The song was later included in Goldman's best of Intégrale and Singulier. It was performed during the singer's tours, and thus is available in the original version on Un tour ensemble
, and in a medley version on En public, Traces and Intégrale.
On the television show Zénith, presented by Michel Denisot in December 1986, Goldman performed several of his songs in China. The shooting of "Je marche seul" took place in the Nankin avenue, in Shanghai
, and shows the singer walking among thousands of Chinese.
, performed by Muriel Robin, Pierre Palmade
, Gérard Jugnot
, Axel Bauer
, Zazie
, Hélène Ségara
and Natasha St-Pier
, from the 2004 concert, available on the album 2004: Les Enfoirés dans l'espace.
The song was also recorded in Dutch-language by Bart Herman, under the title "Ik loop alleen".
disc by the SNEP.
Infodisc website reveals that the song is the 247th best-selling single of all time in France, with about 731,000 copies sold.
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
song recorded by the French singer and songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman
Jean-Jacques Goldman
Jean-Jacques Goldman is a Grammy Awards-winning French singer-songwriter. He is hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and since 2003 was the second-highest-grossing French living pop singer, after Johnny Hallyday.- Biography :...
. It was released in June 1985 as the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from his album Non homologué
Non homologué
Non homologué was a 1985 album recorded by French artist Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was his fourth studio album and was released in September 1985. Goldman composed all the songs except "Je te donne", written in collaboration with Michael Jones. The album was recorded at Studio Gang by Jean-Pierre...
, as tenth track. Though the song failed to reach number one on the French Singles Chart, it remains one of Goldman's biggest hit singles as well as one of the more popular songs live.
Lyrics and music
The upbeat song begins with a long musical introduction highlighted by a sax solo.When the song was released as a single, Goldman explained in various interviews that the song was very hard to compose. The lyrics describe someone walking alone along a road, annomyous and lost in thought, able to forget everything for the moment and the pleasure of being anonymous while observing the world. Goldman has said that "Je marche seul" is a bright song because "the loneliness is not a punishment".
The music video, produced by Bernard Schmitt
Bernard Schmitt
Bernard Schmitt is a French economist, founder of the school of economic thought known as quantum economics.After its doctoral dissertation he continues his studies at the University of Cambridge , under the supervision of Piero Sraffa and Dennis Robertson...
in Brussel, began to be aired on television in May 1985. It was well-received in the media at the time. It shows Goldman portraying a renegade from Eastern Europe who has an affair in a train which is crossing the border.
Jean-Jacques Goldman said in an interview that even before the release of the song in the media, he was sure to have a hit: "So, for "Je marche seul", I had no doubt!"
Live performances
On 13 October 1985, Goldman performed the song as duet with Daniel BalavoineDaniel Balavoine
Daniel Balavoine was a French singer and songwriter. He was hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and inspired many singers in the 1980s, such as Jean-Jacques Goldman, and Michel Berger, his closest friend...
during the charity concert of the 'Chanteurs sans frontières' in La Courneuve
La Courneuve
La Courneuve is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:The history of La Courneuve begins as the rest of the region with the invasion of European tribes and the eventual conquering of the area by the Romans. During the Middle Ages,...
to raise founds for Ethiopia. The song was later included in Goldman's best of Intégrale and Singulier. It was performed during the singer's tours, and thus is available in the original version on Un tour ensemble
Un tour ensemble
Un tour ensemble is a live album of music written and sung by Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was released by Columbia Records in 2003. It was also released on DVD.-Track listing:CD1#Je marche seul#Répétitions#Nos mains#Petite fille...
, and in a medley version on En public, Traces and Intégrale.
On the television show Zénith, presented by Michel Denisot in December 1986, Goldman performed several of his songs in China. The shooting of "Je marche seul" took place in the Nankin avenue, in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, and shows the singer walking among thousands of Chinese.
Cover versions
The song was covered by Jean-Félix Lalanne in 1990, by Eric Landman in 2000 for his album Eric Landman chante Jean-Jacques Goldman, and by Le Collège de l'Esterel in 2002. The most popular cover is that of Les EnfoirésLes Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés , is the name given to the singers and performers in the yearly charity concert for the Restaurants du Cœur .-History:...
, performed by Muriel Robin, Pierre Palmade
Pierre Palmade
Pierre Palmade is a French actor and comedian.-Biography:He has done dubbing for the films, Pédale douce and Pédale dure...
, Gérard Jugnot
Gérard Jugnot
Gérard Jugnot is a French actor, film director, screenwriter and producer.Jugnot was one of the founders of the comedy troupe Le Splendid in the 1970s, along with, among others, his high-school friends Christian Clavier, Thierry Lhermitte, and Michel Blanc...
, Axel Bauer
Axel Bauer
Axel Bauer is a French singer.In 2001, his duet with French singer Zazie, "À ma place", reached number four on the French charts.-Biography:...
, Zazie
Zazie
Zazie is a French singer and songwriter. Zazie co-produces all her albums.-Early life:...
, Hélène Ségara
Hélène Ségara
Hélène Ségara is a French female singer revealed in her interpretation of Esmeralda in the french musical Notre Dame de Paris.-Her childhood in the French Riviera:...
and Natasha St-Pier
Natasha St-Pier
Natasha St Pier is a Canadian pop singer.-Career:Natasha St Pier released her first album, Émergence, in 1996, produced by composer/producer Steve Barakatt...
, from the 2004 concert, available on the album 2004: Les Enfoirés dans l'espace.
The song was also recorded in Dutch-language by Bart Herman, under the title "Ik loop alleen".
Chart performances
The single had a long chart history on the French Singles Chart: it stayed in the top 50 for 30 weeks, from 22 June 1985 to 11 January 1986. It debuted at number 25, reached the top ten four weeks later and remained in it for 14 consecutive weeks, including a peak at number two in its 11th and 15th weeks. Then it dropped slowly on the chart. The same year, it was certified GoldMusic recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
disc by the SNEP.
Infodisc website reveals that the song is the 247th best-selling single of all time in France, with about 731,000 copies sold.
Track listings
- 7" single
- "Je marche seul" — 4:03
- "Elle attend" — 3:17
- 12" maxi
- "Je marche seul" (entended) — 5:58
- "Elle attend" — 3:15
Personnel
- Jean-Jacques Goldman — singing, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and piano
- Guy Delacroix — bass, programming
- Patrick Bourgoin — saxophone
- P.A. Dahan — drums
- Roland Romanelli — synthesizers
- Patrice Mondon — violin
Charts and certifications
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 2 |
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Gold | 1985 | 500,000 |
External links
- "Je marche seul", story, lyrics and anecdotes ("Chansons" => "En un clic" => "Je marche seul")