Ainsi Soit Je... (a play on ainsi soit-il, which can mean either "so be it" or "amen") is the second album by Mylène Farmer, released in April 1988.[1][2] It contains the hit singles "Sans contrefaçon", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" and "Sans logique". Generally well-received by critics, it was very successful and remains to date the second best-selling album of the singer.
Background
After the success of the album Cendres de Lune and the hits "Sans contrefaçon" and "Ainsi soit je...", Farmer had no problem releasing a second album that would be well received by the public, enabling her to consolidate her growing popularity, thus preventing her from slipping back into anonymity. The album took from five to six months to be finished.[3] It was recorded at studio Mega, Avenue Maréchal-Maunoury, in Paris (XVIe arrondissement) under the leadership of Thierry Rogen, a renowned sound engineer who had already worked in particular with Michel Sardou.[4]
The cover of the album shows Farmer turned sideways, accompanied by the puppet used in the music video for "Sans contrefaçon". The photographs of the booklet were made by Elsa Trillat.
The album was released in April 1988 and met with great success, both critically and commercially.
Lyrics and music
The texts, which contain many literary references to famous authors (such as Baudelaire, Poe, etc), were written by Mylène Farmer, except "L'Horloge" (a poem by Charles Baudelaire), "Déshabillez-moi" (originally sung in 1966 by Juliette Gréco) and "The Farmer's Conclusion" (which is an instrumental song). The album has a melancholy and sad tone, and deals with death, suicide, madness with gloomy and desperate texts. Sexual ambiguity, sodomy and provocation are also tackled.[5][6]
Critical reception
The album was generally well-received in the media and remains sometimes considered as "one of the most successful",[7] even the singer's "best album".[6]. When the album was released, the press said : "Mylène shows an imagination and a new maturity in these charming libertine poems and her synthetic hits containing literary references" (20 Ans).[8] This "great" (Gaipied)[9] and "successful" (Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace)[10] album has "an intellectual and musical universe always so creative" (Gaipied).[11] Its songs were described as "powerful, sometimes catchy and often spellbinding compositions" (Paris Nuit)[12], whose texts are "chiseled but perfectly licentious" (France Soir)[13]. The "poetic quality of the texts" and "the sense of the melody" (Le Télégramme)[14] were also mentioned. Rock and Folk said this Laurent Boutonnat's production is "impeccable", demonstrating his "undoubted talent".[15] According to Télé Poche, "the time of success has come for Mylène Farmer" with this album.[16] The journalist Caroline Bee said this album is "an ambiguous, bright, romantic and beautifully produced gem".[7]
Some criticisms were also made against Ainsi soit je... For example, according to L'Humanité, this album uses an "old-fashioned stylistic mannerism to reinvent poetry" (L'Humanité).[17] Rock Land qualified this album as a "second collection of bad thoughts with a spectacular flippantly", whose "B-side is flat".[18]
Chart performances
In France, the album debuted at number 8 on April 1988, but it dropped to number 26 five months later. However, thanks to the successful single "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" (number-one hit on December 1988), the album reached number one for two weeks on December 1988. The album managed to stay for eleven months in the top ten and about one year on the chart.[19] On June 29, 1988, the album was certified Gold disc by the SNEP for 100,000 copies sold, then Platinum disc for 300,000 sales, then Double platinum disc on February 17, 1989 for 600,000 sales, and eventually Diamond disc on November 14, 1989 for a minimum of 1 million copies sold.[20][21] According to the French show Les Hits de Diamant, broadcast on M6 on October 20, 2007, Ainsi soit je... is the 46th best-selling album of all time in France.[22]
The album was also released in Germany, where it reached number 47.
On March 20, 2005, the album, then reissued in a digipack version, entered the French Top Mid' Price for four weeks, peaking at number 2.[19]
Singles
Release history
| Date |
Label |
Region |
Format |
Catalog |
| 1988 |
Polydor |
France |
CD |
835654-2 |
| Picture CD |
| 12" |
835564-1 |
| Cassette |
835465-4 |
| Collector edition |
? |
| Allemagne |
CD |
835564-1 |
| 12" |
835564-2 |
| Canada |
12" |
835564-1 |
| Promo 12" |
| Cassette |
835564-4 |
| Italy |
Cassette |
835564-4 |
| Japan |
CD |
POCP1001 |
| Promo CD |
| Korea |
12" |
RG2039 |
| Netherlands |
Cassette |
835564-4 |
| Spain |
12" |
835564-1 |
| 1994 |
Polygram |
France |
CD |
8355642 |
| 1998 |
Polygram France |
835564 |
| 2005 |
Polydor |
Digital |
— |
| 2006 |
Universal |
CD - Digipack |
9828262 |
Formats
- France
- 12"
- CD
- CD - Picture disc
- Cassette
- CD - Digipack (since 2005)
- Other countries
- Collector edition - Promo - Europe (Germany, Italy, UK, Spain)1
- 12" - Spain
- 12" - Korea
- 12" - Canada
- 12" - Germany
|
- 12" - Promo - Canada
- CD - Germany
- CD - Japan
- CD - Taïwan
- CD - Promo - Japan
- Cassette - Netherlands
- Cassette - Italy
- Cassette - Canada
1 Contains the CD maxi for "Sans contrefaçon", the CD single for "Ainsi soit je...", the biography of Farmer translated into the language of the country, a documentary on video cassette and a lighter.
|
Track listing
| # |
Title |
Length |
Writer(s) |
Composer(s) |
Comment, performances on tours and TV[23] |
| 1 |
"L'Horloge" |
5:03 |
Charles Baudelaire |
Boutonnat |
- The song is the adaptation of the poem of the same name by Charles Baudelaire in Les Fleurs du mal. Very throbbing and gloomy, the music begins and ends with the sound of a clock pendulum, as well as cries of a baby. The words evoke the passage of time which leads to death. A male voice said repeatedly : "Souviens-toi".
- It was performed during the 1989 tour and never on television.
|
| 2 |
"Sans contrefaçon" |
4:07 |
Farmer |
Boutonnat |
- It was performed during the 1989, 1996, 1999, 2006 and 2009 tours and 16 times on television.
|
| 3 |
"Allan" |
4:46 |
Farmer |
Boutonnat |
Main article: Allan (song)
- It was performed during the 1989 tour and one time on television.
|
| 4 |
"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" |
4:52 |
Farmer |
Boutonnat |
- It was performed during the 1989, 1999 and 2009 tours and 12 times on television.
|
| 5 |
"La Ronde triste" |
4:13 |
Farmer |
Boutonnat |
- Although the title is in French, the text is in English. The music is throbbing and lyrics evoke suicide and death. A male voice said repeatedly : "Don't quite". The song is the vinyl's B-side of "Sans contrefaçon".
- It was never performed on stage, but one time on television (Domicile A2, December 15, 1987, Antenne 2).
|
| 6 |
"Ainsi soit je..." |
6:18 |
Farmer |
Boutonnat |
- It was performed during the 1989, 1996 and 2009 tours and 11 times on television.
|
| 7 |
"Sans logique" |
4:30 |
Farmer |
Boutonnat |
Main article: Sans logique
- It was performed during the 1989 tour and five times on television.
|
| 8 |
"Jardin de Vienne" |
5:17 |
Farmer |
Boutonnat |
- This melancholy song begins with a few notes of Richard Wagner's opera Tannhäuser. The text is both poetic and naive. In it, Farmer discovers a little boy who hanged himself in a garden of Vienna. In the refrain, the death is seen as a release.
- It was performed during the 1989 tour, but never on television.
|
| 9 |
"Déshabillez-moi" |
3:45 |
Robert Nyel |
Gaby Verlor |
- It was performed during the 1989 and 2006 tours and two times on television.
|
| 10 |
"The Farmer's Conclusion" |
2:15 |
— |
Boutonnat |
- This instrumental song contains many cries of animals mixed with sighs of Farmer. The title refers to the pseudonym chosen by the singer ("Farmer" means "fermière" in French-language) and is a humorous reply to journalists who sometimes give her that name in a literal way.
- It was never performed on stage, nor on television.
|
Personnel
- Mylène Farmer – chorus
- Laurent Boutonnat – keyboards, synthesizer, producer
- Thierry Rogen – sound, mixing, programmations
- Slim Pezin – guitar
- Bernard Paganotti – bass
- Pan flute and shakuhachi : Pol Ramirez del Più – pan flute, shakuhachi
- Les Moines Fous du Tibet – chorus
- Frédéric Rousseau – programmations
- Bertrand Le Page / Polygram Music – editions (tracks 1-8, 10), Intersong Paris editions (track 9)
- André Perriat (Top Master) – mastering, engraving
- Elsa Trillat – photo
- Jean-Paul Théodule – model
- Benoît Lestang – puppet
- Bertrand Le Page – management
- Recorded and mixed at Studio Mega
Charts, certifications and sales
| Chart (1988) |
Peak
position |
| French SNEP Albums Chart[19] |
1 |
| German Albums Chart |
47 |
| Chart (2005) |
Peak
position |
| French Top Mid'Price[19] |
2 |
|
| Country |
Certification |
Date |
Sales certified |
Physical sales |
| Belgium[24] |
Gold |
|
25,000 |
| France[20] |
Diamond |
November 14, 1989 |
1,000,000 |
1,800,000[25] |
|
References
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit je...". Le Progrès, April 18, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/Le_progres_180488.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit je...". Madame Figaro, June 3, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/Madame_figaro_030688.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ Pulsion, May 1988
- ^ Mylène Farmer, biographie, Bernard Violet, J'ai lu ed., 2004, p. 93 (ISBN 2-290-34916-X)
- ^ L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer, Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 26 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)
- ^ a b Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 28-29
- ^ a b Mylène Farmer, la part d'ombre, Caroline Bee, Antoine Bioy and Benjamin Thiry, January 2006, Archipel Ed., p. 362
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit je...". 20 Ans, June 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/20ANS_0688.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Skeuds de Noël". Gaipied, December 12, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/GAIPIED_221288.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit je...". Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace, May 14, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/Dernieres_nouvelles_d'alsace_140588.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit-elle". Gaipied, May 17, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/GAIPIED_170588.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/PARIS_NUIT_0488.jpg". Paris Nuit, April 1988.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer : "Vivre avec trois amants"". France Soir, November 19, 1988, R.G.. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/France_soir_191188.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit je...". Le Télégramme, April 20, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/le_telegramme_200488.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French)
* "Ainsi soit je... (1)". Rock and Folk, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/ROCK_AND_FOLK_88a.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
* "Ainsi soit je... (2)". Rock and Folk, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/ROCK_AND_FOLK_88b.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Cherchez 'la' Farmer". Télé Poche, April 30, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/tele_poche_300488.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit je...". L'Humanité, June 2, 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/L'humanite_020688.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ (French) "Ainsi soit je...". Rock Land, May 1988. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1988/rock_land_mai88.jpg. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ a b c d "Albums chart trajectories in France See : "Les Chart Runs" => "Sélection des autres artistes" => "Mylène FARMER"". Infodisc. http://www.infodisc.fr/Albums_Runs.php. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- ^ a b "Mylène Farmer certifications". Chartsinfrance. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/certifications/artiste-850.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ^ (French) "Du diamant pour Mylène Farmer". Var Matin, March 3, 1989. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1989/Var_matin_150389.JPG. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ (French) "Les Hits de Diamant, M6, October 20, 2007". Dailymotion. http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/farmer%2Bdiamant/video/x39i0g_hitsdediamant201102007mylenefarmerb_music. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 105,120,135,234
- ^ "Belgium certifications". Fanofmusic. http://fanofmusic.free.fr/Charts_Belgium.php?Cert=Gold. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer : Biographie". Ramdam. http://www.ramdam.com/art/f/mylenefarmer_bio.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
.JPG)
