N'importe quoi

"N'importe quoi"
Single by Florent Pagny
B-side	"Je resterai là"
Released	March 1988
Format	7" single, 7" maxi, digital download (since 2005)
Recorded	France, 1987
Genre	Pop
Length	3:50
Label	Philips
Writer(s)	Florent Pagny Marion Vernoux
Producer	Jean-Yves d'Angelo Hugues Dumas Kamil Rustam
Certification	Gold France, 1988
Florent Pagny singles chronology
"N'importe quoi" (1988) "Laissez-nous respirer" (1988)

"N'importe quoi" is the name of a 1987 song recorded by the French artist Florent Pagny. It was his debut single, released in March 1988. It became a big hit in France, topping the chart for two months and remaining to date Pagny's second best-selling single in terms of charts and sales.

Background, writing and covers

After several appearances in films, Pagny decided to record his first single, "N'importe quoi". He wrote lyrics, while Marion Vernoux composed the music. The song deals with the themes of drugs and alcohol^[1] ; in this protest song, the narrator addresses a friend, trying to make him think about the dangers of these substances. The music video was filmed under a circus tent.

Pagny performed the song during his 2003 tour, and thus features on his 2004 live album Été 2003 à l'Olympia, as eighth track.^[2] The song was also included on Pagny's best of Les 50 Plus Belles Chansons, released in 2008, and on the French compilation Les 100 Plus Belles Chansons.

The song was covered by Les Enfoirés on their album 2011: Dans l'œil des Enfoirés. The song was performed by Christophe Maé, Patricia Kaas, Amel Bent and Jean-Jacques Goldman.^[3]

Chart performances

The song was charted for 26 weeks on the French Singles Chart, from 12 March 12 to 3 September 1988. It started at number 48, then climbed quickly and reached the top ten in its fifth week. It finally topped the chart for eight consecutive weeks, from its ninth to sixteenth weeks. Then it almost did not stop to drop on the chart, totaling 16 weeks in the top ten and 22 weeks in the top 25.^[4]

"N'importe quoi" hit Silver status awarded by the SNEP, making the song Pagny's second most successful single, only beaten by his 1998 huge hit "Savoir aimer".^[5]

According to Infodisc website, "N'importe quoi" is the 365th best-selling single of all time in France.^[6]

Track listings

7" single

1. "N'importe quoi" — 3:50
2. "Je resterai là" — 3:30

7" maxi

1. "N'importe quoi" (maxi version) — 5:25
2. "N'importe quoi" — 3:50
3. "Je resterai là" — 3:30

Digital download

1. "N'importe quoi" — 3:50
2. "N'importe quoi" (2004 live version) — 5:16

Charts and sales

Peak positions Chart (1988–1989) Peak position Eurochart Hot 100 26 French SNEP Singles Chart[4] 1

Certifications Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales France Gold 1988 500,000 616,000[5]

Chart successions

Preceded by "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" by Glenn Medeiros

France SNEP number-one single May 7, 1988 - June 25, 1988 (8 weeks)

Succeeded by "J'ai faim de toi" by Sandy Stevens

References

1. ^ Habib, Elia (2002) (in French). Muz hit.tubes. Alinéa Bis. p. 129. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X. 
2. ^ Été 2003 à l'Olympia, track listing and charts lescharts.com (Retrieved June 16, 2008)
3. ^ "2011: Dans l'œil des Enfoirés, track listing and charts" (in French). lescharts. http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Les+Enfoir%E9s&titel=2011%3A+Dans+l%27oeil+des+Enfoir%E9s&cat=a. Retrieved 15 March 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "N'importe quoi", French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved June 16, 2008)
5. ^ ^{a b} Les certifications depuis 1973, database Infodisc.fr (Retrieved June 16, 2008)
6. ^ Best-selling singles of all time in France Infodisc.fr (Retrieved June 16, 2008)

External links

• "N'importe quoi", lyrics + music video