L'Aziza

Infobox Single
Name = L'Aziza


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Daniel Balavoine
Album = Sauver l'amour
A-side =
B-side = "Tous les cris les S.O.S"
Released = 1985
Format = 7" single
Recorded =
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:21
Label = Barclay
Writer = Daniel Balavoine
Producer = Léo Missir
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single = "Dieu que c'est beau" (1984)
This single = "L'Aziza" (1985)
Next single = "Sauver l'amour" (1986)
Misc =

"L'Aziza" is the name of a 1985 song recorded by French singer Daniel Balavoine and released as a single from his album "Sauver l'amour" on November 1985. The song was very successful, particularly after the singer's death, topping the chart in France for two months.

ong information

The song was entirely composed by Balavoine, and was produced by the famous composer Léo Missir.

'L'Aziza' means 'My dear' in Arabic-language. Although the title is in this language, all the lyrics are sung in French-language. In this song, Balavoine paies a tribute to his Jewish Moroccan wife Corinne, and denounces racism. In France, "L'Aziza" became a standard song throughout the years. [Elia Habib, "Muz hit. tubes", p. 65 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)]

The song was remixed the same year of the album release and came out as a 7". It features on Balavoine's best of "Balavoine sans frontières", released about twenty years after the singer's death.

Cover versions

"L'Aziza" was also recorded in 2000 by Khaled for the compilation album "Balavoine: Hommages..." on which various artists covered Balavoine's songs. ["Balavoine: Hommages...", track listing [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?titel=Balavoine%3A+Hommages%2E%2E%2E&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved July 10, 2008)] The song was also covered in France by Star Academy 5 for its album "Chante Daniel Balavoine", on which it features as fifth track. ["Chante Daniel Balavoine", track listing and charts [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Star+Academy+5&titel=Chante+Daniel+Balavoine&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved July 10, 2008)]

The B-side, "Tous les cris, les S.O.S.", was covered by many artists, including Jeanne Mas in 1987, Marie-Denise Pelletier, Lena Kann in 1998 (#14 in France) and Les Enfoirés in 2008.

Chart performances

"L'Aziza" entered the French Singles Chart at #40 on November 23, 1985 and gained a few places every week, but when the singer's death was announced in the media, the single jumped straight to #1 and stayed there for eight consecutive weeks, with huge weekly sales. Therefore, it dropped rather quickly and remained for 14 weeks in the top ten and for 26 weeks in the top 50."L'Aziza", French Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Daniel+Balavoine&titel=L%27aziza&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved July 10, 2008)]

Although it was not certified by the SNEP, the single was sold about more than 1 million copies and is to date the 70th best-selling single of all time in France.Best-selling singles of all time in France [http://www.infodisc.fr/S_ToutTemps.php?debut=50 Infodisc.fr] (Retrieved July 10, 2008)]

Track listings

; 7" single
# "L'Aziza" — 4:21
# "Tous les cris, les S.O.S." — 5:04

Certifications and sales

Charts

References