Je te dis vous

Infobox Album | Name = Je te dis vous
Type = Album
Artist = Patricia Kaas


Released = April 6, 1993
Genre = Pop
Recorded = London, UK
Length =
Label = Sony BMG, Columbia
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album = "Carnets de scène"
(1991)
This album = "Je te dis vous"
(1993)
Next album = "Tour de charme"
(1995)Singles
Name = Je te dis vous
Type = Studio album
single 1 = Entrer dans la lumière
single 1 date = March, 1993
single 2 = Il me dit que je suis belle
single 2 date = July, 1993

"Je te dis vous" (Eng (approx.): "I told you") 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.

Background and writing

The name of the album is incorrect in French-language because it used both the pronouns "Tu" and "Vous" (In French-language, "Tu" is used when we are familiar with somebody, although "Vous" is used as a formal pronoun to address someone politely that the speaker does not know well.)

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.

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 chanson [ [http://www.musicline.de/ Musicline.de] (Retrieved June 2, 2008)] , 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 appeard for 14 weeks in the top ten, then dropped slowly on the chart"Je te dis vous", in Swiss Albums Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?key=1592&cat=a Hitparade.ch] (Retrieved June 2, 2008)] and finally achieved double platinum status.1994 certifications in Switzerland [http://www.swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=1994 Swisscharts.com] (Retrieved June 2, 2008)] It was the ninth best-selling album of 1993.1993 Swiss Albums Chart [http://www.swisscharts.com/year.asp?key=1993 Swisscharts.com] (Retrieved June 2, 2008)]

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.Kaas' albums charts trjectories in French Albums Chart [http://www.infodisc.fr/Albums_Runs.php Infodisc.fr] (Retrieved June 2, 2008)] It was her third album to go Diamond,Kaas's certifications in France [http://www.chartsinfrance.net/certifications/artiste-849.htm Chartsinfrance.net] (Retrieved June 2, 2008)] 11 months after its appearance, a feat achieved by no French singer before her.

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."Je te dis vous", in Dutch Albums Chart [http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?key=1592&cat=a Ultratop.be] (Retrieved June 2, 2008)]

Track listing

References