White and Black Blues

Single infobox |
Name = White and Black Blues


Artist = Joëlle Ursull
from Album = Black French
Released = 1990
Format = CD single
7" single
Recorded = 1990, France
Genre = R&B
Length = 3:00
Label = CBS
Writer = Serge Gainsbourg,
Georges Ougier de Moussac
Producer =
Certification = Gold France, 1990
Chronology = Joëlle Ursull singles
Last single =
This single = "White and Black Blues"
(1990)
Next single = "Amazone"
(1990)
Misc =Infobox ESC entry
song = flagicon|France White and Black Blues


caption =
year = 1990
country = France
artist = Joëlle Ursull
as =
with =
genre = World music
language = French
languages =
composer = Georges Ougier de Moussac
lyricist = Serge Gainsbourg
conductor = Régis Dupré
place = 2th
points = 132
lyrics = [http://www.diggiloo.net/?1990fr from Diggiloo Thrush]
clip =
prev = J'Ai Volé La Vie
prev_link = J'ai volé la vie
next = C'Est Le Dernier Qui
A Parlé Qui A Raison
next_link = Le Dernier qui a parlé...

"White and Black Blues" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990, performed in French (with some words in English) by Joëlle Ursull, from her album "Black French". The song was performed fourteenth on the night of the competition. At the close of voting, it had received 132 points, tying for 2nd place in a field of 22.

Background and writing

Composed by Georges Ougier de Moussac with lyrics by Serge Gainsbourg, the song was originally titled "Black Lolita Blues", however Ursull (the first black woman to represent France at the Contest) declined to perform it due to the pejorative connotations of the word [ [http://www.diggiloo.net/?1990fr Diggiloo.net] (Retrieved August 20, 2008)] . The rewritten version met with her approval and has become something of a fan favourite.

The song itself deals with the need to overcome the prejudices of skin colour. Ursull sings that "When someone talks to me about skin colour/I have the blues which sends shivers down my spine/I feel as if I'm in a tale by Edgar Allan Poe". That said, she does not believe in relinquishing her connecton to Africa entirely ("Africa, my love, I have you in my skin"), but admits that she faces difficulties in a white society ("We, the blacks/We're a few millions, a dime a dozen").

Musically, the song features an accordion as well as the synthesiser effects starting to appear at the Contest in the early 1990s.

It was succeeded as French representative at the 1991 Contest by Amina with "Le Dernier qui a parlé...".

Chart performances

The song had a great success in France and was one of the summer hits of 1990. It debuted at #47 on May 26, 1990 and reached number 2 seven weeks later, but was unable to top the chart (Zouk Machine, Ursull's former band, was then #1 with "Maldòn"). The single remained in the top ten for 18 weeks and left the chart (Top 50) after 26 weeks of attendance. It was certified Gold disc by the SNEP and is to date the 618th best-selling singles of all time in France. [Best-selling singles of all time in France [http://www.infodisc.fr/S_ToutTemps.php?debut=600 Infodisc.fr] (Retrieved August 20, 2008)]

In Sweden and Germany, the single achieved a minor success, peaking respectively at #19 and #86. It was also a top ten hit in Austria.

Track listings

; CD single
# "White and Black Blues" — 3:00
# "White and Black Blues" (instrumental) — 3:00

; 7" single
# "White and Black Blues" — 3:00
# "White and Black Blues" (instrumental) — 3:00

Certifications

Charts

References

External links

* [http://www.diggiloo.net/?1990fr "White and Black Blues", lyrics]