Je te dis vous
Encyclopedia
Je te dis vous is the name of an album recorded by the French singer Patricia Kaas
. It was released in 1993 and achieved a huge success in many countries.
because it uses both the familiar (te) and formal (vous) second-person pronouns. By using both the familiar and formal in the same short declaration, it shows a tension in the speaker's voice between the admiration of one that she respects formally, and someone that she dearly loves on a familiar level.
The album was produced in Pete Townshend
's Eel Pie Studio in London
, England
by Robin Millar
, who had already worked for Sade
and the Fine Young Cannibals
. In the U.S.
and United Kingdom
it appeared under the name of Tour de charme (not to be confused with the live album of the same name).
The songs "Je te dis vous", "Je retiens mon souffle" and "Fatiguée d'attendre" were not written by Kaas, but were based on an idea of her, as indicated in the album's booklet.
On the album Kaas sang her first song in German
: the song "Ganz und gar" (Eng: "Absolutely") came from the pen of the German singer and songwriter Marius Müller-Westernhagen
. The album also featured three tracks in English, including a cover of the James Brown
number "It's a Man's World". The British rock musician Chris Rea
accompanied Kaas on the tracks "Out of the Rain" and "Ceux qui n'ont rien" (Eng: "Those who have nothing") on guitar.
The album was supported by a tour in 1994 and recorded in a live version on the 1995 album Tour de charme.
In France
, there were two successful singles from this album : "Entrer dans la lumière" (Eng: "Come into the light"), written by Didier Barbelivien
, and "Il me dit que je suis belle
" (Eng: "He tells me I'm beautiful"), composed by Jean-Jacques Goldman
under the pseudonym of Sam Brewski. With the latter, Kaas achieved her second top five single in France. A remix of "Reste sur moi" (Eng: "Stay on me"), a song composed by Marc Lavoine
, reached the top 20 of the U.S. dance charts.
, displaying the key qualities of the genre.
Je te dis vous is currently Kaas' most successful album in the German-speaking world, only just missing out on the German top 10 (it spent two weeks at 11th place), but spending 36 weeks in the top 100.
In Switzerland, Kaas's album featured on the chart (Top 40) for 25 weeks, from April 18 to October 3, 1993. It debuted at #10 and climber to #2 two weeks later. It remained for two consecutive weeks at this position, but was unable to disloge Aerosmith
's album Get A Grip
. It appeared for 14 weeks in the top ten, then dropped slowly on the chart and finally achieved double platinum
status. It was the ninth best-selling album of 1993.
In France
, the album was charted for many months, from April 15, 1993, to January 8, 1995. It went straight to #1 and stayed there for five weeks. It totaled about 40 weeks in the top ten. It was her third album to go Diamond
, 11 months after its appearance.
The album had moderate success in the Netherlands. It featured for five weeks on the albums chart and went to #98 on July 24, 1993, reaching its peak position, #83, two weeks later.
Patricia Kaas
Patricia Kaas is a French singer and actress.Kaas is a very successful French-speaking singer, with an International following...
. It was released in 1993 and achieved a huge success in many countries.
Background and writing
The name of the album is ironic in the French languageFrench 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...
because it uses both the familiar (te) and formal (vous) second-person pronouns. By using both the familiar and formal in the same short declaration, it shows a tension in the speaker's voice between the admiration of one that she respects formally, and someone that she dearly loves on a familiar level.
The album was produced in Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
's Eel Pie Studio in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by Robin Millar
Robin Millar
Robin John Christian Millar CBE is an English musician, songwriter and record producer.-Early life:...
, who had already worked for Sade
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
and the Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals were a British band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, by bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox , and singer Roland Gift...
. In the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it appeared under the name of Tour de charme (not to be confused with the live album of the same name).
The songs "Je te dis vous", "Je retiens mon souffle" and "Fatiguée d'attendre" were not written by Kaas, but were based on an idea of her, as indicated in the album's booklet.
On the album Kaas sang her first song in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: the song "Ganz und gar" (Eng: "Absolutely") came from the pen of the German singer and songwriter Marius Müller-Westernhagen
Marius Müller-Westernhagen
Marius Müller-Westernhagen is a German actor and musician.Possibly best known for the maudlin hit "Johnny Walker", Marius Müller Westernhagen has been a feature in German rock music since the mid seventies...
. The album also featured three tracks in English, including a cover of the James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
number "It's a Man's World". The British rock musician Chris Rea
Chris Rea
Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally...
accompanied Kaas on the tracks "Out of the Rain" and "Ceux qui n'ont rien" (Eng: "Those who have nothing") on guitar.
The album was supported by a tour in 1994 and recorded in a live version on the 1995 album Tour de charme.
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...
, there were two successful singles from this album : "Entrer dans la lumière" (Eng: "Come into the light"), written by Didier Barbelivien
Didier Barbelivien
Didier Barbelivien is a French author, lyricist, songwriter and singer. Beginning in the 1970s, he wrote a number of successful songs for artists such as: Dalida, Johnny Hallyday, Michel Sardou, Daniel Guichard, Claude François, Gilbert Montagné, Sylvie Vartan, Patti Layne, Gilbert Bécaud, Enrico...
, and "Il me dit que je suis belle
Il me dit que je suis belle
"Il me dit que je suis belle" is the name of a 1993 song recorded by the French singer Patricia Kaas. It was her second single from her third studio album, Je te dis vous, on which it features as fifth track, and her 12th single overall...
" (Eng: "He tells me I'm beautiful"), composed by 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 :...
under the pseudonym of Sam Brewski. With the latter, Kaas achieved her second top five single in France. A remix of "Reste sur moi" (Eng: "Stay on me"), a song composed by Marc Lavoine
Marc Lavoine
Marc Lucien Lavoine is a French singer and actor. In 1985, his hit single "Elle a les yeux revolver" allowed him to reach the top of the French chart and marked the beginning of his successful singing career....
, reached the top 20 of the U.S. dance charts.
Critical reception and chart performances
This album marked the definitive breakthrough of the singer in the international music scene, selling three million copies in 47 countries. Currently Je te dis vous is considered one of the best albums of modern chansonChanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
, displaying the key qualities of the genre.
Je te dis vous is currently Kaas' most successful album in the German-speaking world, only just missing out on the German top 10 (it spent two weeks at 11th place), but spending 36 weeks in the top 100.
In Switzerland, Kaas's album featured on the chart (Top 40) for 25 weeks, from April 18 to October 3, 1993. It debuted at #10 and climber to #2 two weeks later. It remained for two consecutive weeks at this position, but was unable to disloge Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
's album Get A Grip
Get a Grip
Get a Grip is the 11th studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in April 1993 by Geffen Records. Get a Grip was the band's last studio album to be released by Geffen before they returned to Columbia Records....
. It appeared for 14 weeks in the top ten, then dropped slowly on the chart and finally achieved double platinum
Music 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,...
status. It was the ninth best-selling album of 1993.
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...
, the album was charted for many months, from April 15, 1993, to January 8, 1995. It went straight to #1 and stayed there for five weeks. It totaled about 40 weeks in the top ten. It was her third album to go Diamond
Music 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,...
, 11 months after its appearance.
The album had moderate success in the Netherlands. It featured for five weeks on the albums chart and went to #98 on July 24, 1993, reaching its peak position, #83, two weeks later.
Track listing
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Y'avait tant d'étoiles" (J.Kopf / M.Amsellem) |
|
| 2. | "Hôtel Normandy" (D.Barbelivien / F.Bernheim) |
|
| 3. | "Je retiens mon souffle" (M.Lavoine - P.Grillet / F.Aboulker) |
|
| 4. | "Ceux qui n'ont rien" (D.Barbelivien - F.Bernheim / D.Barbelivien) |
|
| 5. | "Il me dit que je suis belle Il me dit que je suis belle "Il me dit que je suis belle" is the name of a 1993 song recorded by the French singer Patricia Kaas. It was her second single from her third studio album, Je te dis vous, on which it features as fifth track, and her 12th single overall... " (album version) (S.Brewski) |
|
| 6. | "Space in My Heart" (D.Austin / M.Elliot) |
|
| 7. | "La Liberté" (M.Lavoine / F.Aboulker) |
|
| 8. | "Fatiguée d'attendre" (J.Kopf / M.Amsellem) |
|
| 9. | "Jojo" (D.Barbelivien / F.Bernheim) |
|
| 10. | "Je te dis vous" (J.Kopf / M.Amsellem) |
|
| 11. | "Reste sur moi" (M.Lavoine / F.Aboulker) |
|
| 12. | "Ganz und gar" (M.M.Westernhagen) |
|
| 13. | "Out of the Rain" (T.J.White) |
|
| 14. | "It's a Man World" (J.Brown / B.Newsome) |
|
| 15. | "Entrer dans la lumière" (D.Barbelivien / F.Bernheim) |
|
| 16. | "Juste une chanson" (Bonus track Bonus track In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already... for Japanese edition) (J.Kopf / M. Nakajima Miyuki Nakajima is a Japanese vocalist, guitarist, lyricist, composer and radio personality. As a principal Japanese female veteran singer-songwriter she is often compared to Yumi Matsutoya, she has released 37 studio albums, 40 singles, 2 live albums and multiple compilations to date, and whose sales have been... ) |
|
Editions
- Note de Blues (tracks 1, 8, 10)
- Pole Music / Good Good Music (tracks 2, 4, 9, 15)
- Note de Blues / Les Amours du Dimanche (tracks 3, 7, 11)
- JRG / Note de Blues (track 5)
- EMI Music Publishing (tracks 6, 13)
- Intersong Music (track 14)
- More Music / Kick Music GMBH / Note de Blues (track 12)
Musicians
- Piano, organ, synth, programmations : Jess Bailey
- Bass : Mark Smith
- Drum kit : Jeremy Stacey
- Electric and acoustic guitar : Paul Stacey
- Percussion : Martin Ditchman
- Saxophone : Martin Green
- Trumpet : Steve SidwellSteve Sidwell (musician)Steve Sidwell is a conductor, composer, and instrumentalist specialising in swing music. Renowned as an arranger and composer, Steve, has featured on numerous albums, television shows, advertising campaigns and films with his distinctive and innovative orchestrations and compositions.He is also a...
- Trombone : Mall Coleman
- Violin : Bobby ValentinoBobby Valentino (UK)Bobby Valentino is an English violinist, singer, songwriter and actor.-Career:Born in Chatham, Kent, he adopted the stage name Bobby Valentino in 1975...
- Alto violin : Gavyn WrightGavyn WrightGavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London Session Orchestra and Penguin Cafe Orchestra, best known for his orchestral arrangements on pop productions as well as numerous TV and movie soundtracks Gavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London...
- Cello : Roger Smith, Paul Kegg
- Background vocals : Carole Rowley, Mick Feat, Guida de Palma, Patricia Kaas (on "It's a Man World" only)
Recording
- Arrangements : Robin Millar for Denis Muirhead Management, London
- Sound and mixing : Jock Loveband
- Sound : Bruno Lambert
- Assistants : Paul Rowan Stevens, Bruce Robins
- Conductor : Jess Bailey
- Recording : EEL PIE Studios, Twickenham, UK
- Mixing : EEL PIE Studios & Metropolis, London
- Strings arrangements : Robin Millar transcribed and directed by James Shearman
- Brass instruments arrangements : Robin Millar transcribed and directed by Martin Green
- Engraving : Tim Young at Sony Hit Factory, London ; Bruno Lambert and André Perillat at Top Master, Paris
- Photo : Greg Gorman
- Cover design : Antonietti, Pascault et Ass.
- Make up : Emmanuel Sammartino
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Gold | June 14, 1994 | 50,000 |
| France | Diamond | 1994 | 1,000,000 |
| Switzerland | 2 x Platinum | 1994 | 100,000 |
| Finland | Platinum | 1997 | 45,000 |
Charts
| Chart (1993–1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums Chart | 83 |
| French Albums Chart | 1 |
| German Albums Chart | 11 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 2 |
| Year-end chart (1993) | Position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Albums Chart | 9 |
| Year-end chart (1994) | Position |
| French Albums Chart | 29 |