Avant que l'ombre...

Avant que l'ombre...
Studio album by Mylène Farmer
Released	April 4, 2005
Recorded	2004–2005
Genre	Pop music
Length	71:01
Label	Polydor
Producer	Laurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer chronology
RemixeS (2003) Avant que l'ombre... (2005) Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (2006)
Alternate cover
Collector edition
Singles from Avant que l'ombre...
"Fuck Them All" Released: March 14, 2005 "Q.I" Released: July 4, 2005 "Redonne-moi" Released: January 2, 2006 "L'amour n'est rien..." Released: March 27, 2006 "Peut-être toi" Released: August 21, 2006

Avant que l'ombre... is the sixth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 4, 2005.^[1] Mainly composed of acoustic ballads, this album produced five singles which were all top ten hits in France, including "Fuck Them All" and "L'amour n'est rien..."

Background and release

Avant que l'ombre... je sais, ne s'abatte à mes pieds Je sais que, je sais que... j'ai aimé

— Refrain from "Avant que l'ombre..." that appears on the digipack

"Avant que l'ombre" marked Farmer's longest break between studio albums, following "Innamoramento" by exactly six years. As such, the album was, perhaps, the most anticipated of her career. Rumours of the disc began circulating in 2003 when it was revealed that Universal was planning a new release of Farmer for the fourth quarter; however the project turned out to be Farmer's second remix album. By the end of 2004, Universal's President Pascal Nègre confirmed that Farmer would release an album in the following months, stating then that it would be a double album. Persistent rumours continued to circulate including the possibility of duets with artists such as Benjamin Biolay, Diam's and Lara Fabian.^[2][3]

In December 2004,^[4] Farmer held a major press conference with longtime collaborator Laurent Boutonnat in which she confirmed the upcoming release of the album, including the title, and announced a series of concerts to coincide at Paris Bercy. After several postponements, the album's release was pinned for 4 April 2005. Contrary to Nègre's previous comments, the album was a single disc with 14 titles, which remains the largest number of songs on a Farmer album, and an additional hidden track entitled "Nobody Knows". On this album, Farmer abandoned the American musicians who had previously worked with her since Anamorphosée, and reunited with several musicians with whom she had worked in her early career.^[5]

The digipack version, first limited to 2,000 units, is composed of the CD and a DVD containing the making-of of the music video for "Fuck Them All" with commentaries by director Augustin Villaronga.^[6] The album was produced in a triptych version, with a central section that unfolds itself in the shape of a cross to discover the booklet in which the order of the lyrics is not the same as that of the songs. The refrain's lyrics of the eponymous song is put forward within the digipack. The various photographs of the booklet were directed by Dominique Isserman,^[7] and cost about 85,000 euros.^[8] Isserman also made the cover's photo, on which Farmer appears lengthened, "asleep as Sleeping Beauty on an ochre and shades of red background". Around the neck, she is wearing a cross made with two matches.^[9]

On 28 March, a competition organized by the NRJ radio allowed the winners to listen to the album in its entirety alongside Pascal Nègre and Mylène Farmer.^[10] The Virgin megastore and the Fnac ot the Champs Elysées^[11] also organized a special deal with album's sales after midnight.^[12] The album was released twice: first on 4 April in the collector version, and then on 18 April in the traditional version for the general public.^[13]

The album was supported by a series of 13 concerts at Paris-Bercy in January 2006.

Lyrics and music

According to Laurent Boutonnat, Avant que l'ombre... is more acoustic and electronic than the previous ones he had produced.^[14][15] A newspaper said: "The style is the same, but the sounds evolve: more acoustic sounds mixed with electro and keyboards. Farmer sings with a voice more natural than usual".^[16] Ouest France stated that the album is "a continuation of the singer's discography", but with a "certain calm in the prose" and a "majority of ballads".^[17] In this album, Farmer's voice is "filled with softness and fragility". For one of the first time, she sings in low notes.^[5]

On this album, "Boutonnat opens his production to new instruments": the clarinet (on "Redonne-moi") and the vibraphone (on "Avant que l'ombre...").^[18]

The album deals with the "apprehension of a woman facing the death with after all the satisfaction to have loved".^[17] It mainly talks of sex, death and religion.^[19] The lyrics are "slightly disturbing", "sometimes important", and there is some "humor".^[20] About the album content, Farmer said: "I very selfishly continue to talk about me, my shadows, my lights".^[21][22]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[23]
Télé Star	[24]

The journalist Benoît Cachin considered that Avant que l'ombre...' was less sophisticated than Farmer's previous albums. He said that among the subjects tackled are the religion, the literature, sexuality, a hope for a better life, a happy love, revolt, dream and self-mockery. Although he deemed the album as being "consistent and uniform", he added that it is confusing due to the "particularly abstruse" lyrics, including many puns and literary references unknown by the general public.^[9]

Some media considered that the album did not contain any big surprises: "Farmer's voice is still light, fragile, sometimes scrapie" to cause more emotion. The piano gives the tempo but the strings dominate for creating "a labyrinthine atmosphere".^[25] Caroline Bee believes that this album is too similar to the previous ones and lacks innovation.^[26] This album is a "distressing repeatition of her old hits" (Actu02).^[27] "Disappointing", with "ethereal chords", "songs stretched and similar" (Télé Star).^[28] "Her album is not revolutionary. (...) Certain chords are even fuddy-duddy. (...) A mixed success" (Télé 2 Semaines).^[29] "Nothing is very surprising nor really new. Always this voice on the wire, at the edge of the crack. Always this dark romanticism bathed in mystical, erotic, and morbid image more or less woolly" (Le Journal du dimanche).^[30]

According to Rolling Stone, this album has a "great sweetness" but "ultimately suffers from a major flaw: it is the sixth album from an artist whom everyone expects too".^[31] On the whole, the album was well-received in the media, particularly by the French newspaper Le Monde^[18] which stated: "The singularity of the musical universe and the thematic of Mylène Farmer, are not upset, but refined. (...) The whole aims to a light power. (...) [In the lyrics], "Mylène Farmer is calmer, almost beaming, melancholy with a smile".^[32] Voici qualified Avant que l'ombre... as an "intimate album" and underlined the "quality of the lyrics".^[33]

The album was rewarded with the title "Best Album of the Year" in 2005 at NRJ Music Awards.

Chart performances

In France, Avant que l'ombre... became the singer's fifth number-one album, debuting atop the French Albums Chart with nearly 150,000 (Gold) units sold in the first week.^[34] Although Farmer did not promote the album, it remained at number one for three non-consecutive weeks, alternating with Grégory Lemarchal's album, Je deviens moi. Avant que l'ombre... logged in more than two months in the top ten, and 23 consecutive weeks in the top 50 before sliding down the chart later in autumn, which partially resulted from the six month difference between the release of the second and the third singles. It re-entered in the top 20 in January after an intense advertising campaign, an interview on TF1 and the concerts at Bercy. The album ultimately logged a total of 77 weeks on the album chart.^[35] In spite of a good chart trajectory, the album did not reach the sales of Farmer's previous studio albums, which were all million plus sellers in France. The album was certified Platinum,^[36] then Double platinum on 6 July 2006.^[37] It was the eighth best-selling album of 2005 in France.^[38]

In Belgium (Wallonia), the album also debuted at number one on 16 April and remained there for six consecutive before being dislodged by Raphaël's Caravane. The album remained in the top ten for fourteen consecutive weeks. As in France, the album experienced a resurgence, thought less pronounced, in early 2006.^[39] The album logged a total of 31 non-consecutive weeks on the Belgium album chart and was certified Gold album.^[40] The album ranked number five on the 2005 year-end chart.^[41]

In Switzerland, the album debuted at number two on 17 April, then dropped quickly and fell off the top 100 after 11 weeks.^[42]

In non-Francophone Belgium (Flanders), the album had a peak at number 48 on 23 April 2005.^[43]

Singles

Year	Title	Date of release	Physical sales (France)	Certification		Peak position
				FR	BE (WA)	FR	FR (DD)	BE (WA)	SWI
2005	"Fuck Them All"	14 March 2005	100,000	Silver	—	2	—	2	14
	"Q.I"	4 July 2005	80,000	—	—	7	9	4	33
2006	"Redonne-moi"	2 January 2006	35,000	—	—	7	—	6	27
	"L'amour n'est rien..."	27 March 2006	60,000	—	—	7	—	9	47
	"Peut-être toi"	21 August 2006	50,000	—	—	3	—	12	34

Formats

• CD
• CD — Digipack ¹
• Collector casket — Format 12" - Limited edition (5,000) ¹
• Double 12" ²
• CD — Taïwan
• CD — Japan ³
• CD — Promo — Japan ⁴
• Cassette ⁵

¹ + 1 DVD containing the video and the making of of "Fuck Them All"
² Near the centering of one of the two vinyls is engraved the phrase "Quel talent Lolo, vingt ans après", in reference to Laurent Boutonnat
³ "Nobody Knows" features as 15th track and its lyrics are available in the booklet
⁴ "Nobody Knows" features as 15th track
⁵ Not contains "Nobody Knows"

Track listing

#	Title	Length	Performance(s) on tour(s)	TV performance(s)	Comment[44]
1	"Avant que l'ombre..."	5:55	2006 tour	No	See main article "Avant que l'ombre..."
2	"Fuck Them All"	4:32	*2006 tour, *En tournée	No	See main article "Fuck Them All"
3	"Dans les rues de Londres"	3:50	2006 tour	No	This song is a tribute to Virginia Woolf, a British writer whose novels Mrs. Dalloway and The Wave and the letter she wrote to her husband just before her suicide are evoked in the lyrics. The themes of life, death, love are tackled. The song was considered by fans as one of the best tracks on the album, and rumors had announced its release as the fifth single from the album.
4	"Q.I"	5:20	2006 tour	No	See main article "Q.I"
5	"Redonne-moi"	4:22	2006 tour	Symphonic Show, France 2, November 12, 2005	See main article "Redonne-moi"
6	"Porno graphique"	4:16	2006 tour	No	The song, full of puns and with esoteric words, deals with themes related to sexual practices, and is a praise of sexual freedom. In the words, Farmer cites the words of a journalist who had qualified as "porno chic" the photos in the booklet of the best of Les Mots. At the end of the song, Farmer sighs, and then says without singing: "T'as pas un p'tit Mojito ?", before bursting out laughing.
7	"Derrière les fenêtres"	4:02	No	No	Hard to understand, the text seems to be a tribute to unknown people who remain in the shadow.
8	"Aime"	4:32	No	No	This song is a tribute to Serge Gainsbourg whom it uses his vocabulary, puns and techniques. It also cites a 1969 song's title written by Gainsbourg: "L'Anamour". In this esoteric text, Farmer evokes her passionate love that makes her suffer, and for the first time, she specifies the location of this memory of love, namely Palermo. The music resembles that of "C'est une belle journée".
9	"Tous ces combats"	4:00	No	No	This ballad touches on the interior fightings which Farmer is forced to face. She also declares she expects the love that will enable her to be more serene. This text refers to a work by Paul Verlaine, Les Poèmes saturniens, whose one of the sections is entitled "Mélancholia" (term used in the refrain of the song).
10	"Ange, parle-moi"	3:40	2006 tour	No	In the song, Farmer addresses an angel asking him of not dying. She seems to make reference to Satan, his pride and greed in the couplet.
11	"L'amour n'est rien..."	5:03	*2006 tour, *En tournée	No	See main article "L'amour n'est rien..."
12	"J'attends"	5:20	No	No	In this optimistic song, Farmer confesses she's happy to be in love, but nonetheless she expects that love will take her away and overcome her in a very close relationship.
13	"Peut-être toi"	4:45	2006 tour	No	See main article "Peut-être toi"
14	"Et Pourtant..."	4:35	No	No	In this moving and sensitive song, Farmer referred to the fact that she will die sooner or later, but she seems to be relieved to have known love, although she suffers. The singer performs many notes in very high tones and the music is very sweet, putting forward the singer's voice. It is the most acoustic song of the album. The song, originally scheduled to be performed during the 2006 concerts, was eventually rejected.
141	"Nobody Knows"	4:43	2006 tour	No	Lyrics are not easy to understand. The music is both melancholy and worrying.

¹ Hidden song

Credits

CD Words: Mylène Farmer Music: Laurent Boutonnat Except "L'amour n'est rien..." : Music: Laurent Boutonnat & Mylène Farmer Produced by Laurent Boutonnat Mixed by Jérôme Devoise Sound:Jérôme Devoise Programmation, keyboards, arrangement: Laurent Boutonnat Guitars: Philippe Paradis Except "Ange, parle-moi" and "Et Pourtant..." : Jean-Marie Ecay Bass: Philippe Chayed Drums: Loïc Pontieux Piano ("Ange, parle-moi" and "Et Pourtant...") : Yvan Cassar Cello ("Derrière les fenêtres") : Jean-Philippe Audin Clarinet ("Redonne-moi") : Jérôme Devoise Percussion and xylophone: Pol Ramirez del Piu

Strings arrangement: Jean-Jacques Charles and Graham Preskett Vocals: Mylène Farmer Studio: Guillaume Tell Assistant: Tristan Monrocq Mastering: André Perriat and Bruno Gruel for Top Master Management: Thierry Suc for TS3 Executive production: Paul van Parys for Stuffey Monkey Assistant of Mylène Farmer: Brigitte Gautier Assistant of Laurent Boutonnat: Emiline Chetaud Administration: Corinne Potier Photos: Dominique Issermann Design: Henry Neu for Com'N.B DVD "Fuck Them All" Video directed by Agustin Villaronga Making of by: François Hanss Produced by: Stuffed Monkey

Charts and sales

Peak positions Chart (2005) Peak position Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart[39] 1 Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart[43] 48 Estonian Albums Chart 10 French Digital Chart 1[45] 11 French SNEP Albums Chart[35] 1 Greek Albums Chart 5 Israeli Albums Chart 5 Swiss Albums Chart[42] 2 Russian Albums Chart 1 World Albums Chart[46] 34 1 The French Digital Charts started on June 18, 2005.

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart[41] 5 French Albums Chart[38] 8 Chart (2006) Position French Albums Chart[47] 105

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified	Physical sales
Belgium	Gold[40]	16 April 2005	25,000
France	2 x Platinum[37]	6 July 2006	400,000	500,000 - 550,000[48]
Russia	2 x Platinum[49]	2010	40,000

Chart successions and awards

Preceded by 2005: Le train des Enfoirés by Les Enfoirés	French SNEP number-one album (first run) 9 April 2005 – 16 April 2005 (2 weeks)	Succeeded by Je deviens moi by Grégory Lemarchal
Preceded by 2005: Le train des Enfoirés by Les Enfoirés	Belgian (Wallonia) number-one album 16 April 2005 – 21 May 2005 (6 weeks)	Succeeded by Caravane by Raphaël
Preceded by Je deviens moi by Grégory Lemarchal	French SNEP number-one album (second run) 30 April 2005 (1 week)	Succeeded by Caravane by Raphaël
Awards
Preceded by Le Passage by Jenifer Bartoli	NRJ Music Awards Francophone album of the year 2006	Succeeded by Dans ma bulle by Diam's

References

1. ^ "L'entreprise Farmer", JM-A, April 2005 Mfarmer.org (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
2. ^ Avant que l'ombre... Mylenefarmeriscalled.net (Retrieved February 21, 2008)
3. ^ Star Academy, May 2002, "Quand Fabian rencontre Farmer..." Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
4. ^ "Platine", 2005, "Mylène Farmer — L'intimité dans l'immensité" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
5. ^ ^{a b} L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer, Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 47-49 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)
6. ^ Télékila, "L'entreprise Farmer", J.-M. A., April 2, 2005 Mylenorama.com (Retrieved September 2, 2008)
7. ^ "Platine", No. 121 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
8. ^ Mylène Farmer, le culte — L'envers du décor, Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 58
9. ^ ^{a b} Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 48
10. ^ Mylène Farmer, le culte — L'envers du décor, Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 99
11. ^ L'Humanité, April 4, 2005, "La femme du jour: Mylène Farmer", Anne-Sophie Stamane Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
12. ^ Avant que l'ombre... Mylene.net (Retrieved February 21, 2008)
13. ^ "Avant que l'ombre... Nouvelle énigme Farmer" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
14. ^ Ouest-France (Alençon Orne-Est), December 18,19, 2004, "Mylène Farmer annonce son retour", Michel Troadec Milenia.ifrance.com (Retrieved February 22, 2008)
15. ^ La Dépêche, April 4, 2005, "Mylène Farmer sort enfin de l'ombre" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
16. ^ Zoprack, 2005, "Avant que l'ombre" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
17. ^ ^{a b} "Ouest France", April 5, 2005, "Dans le monde sensuel de Mylène Farmer", Michel Troadec Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
18. ^ ^{a b} "Mylène Farmer, l'icône", Jukebox, n°253, p. 8 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved May 13, 2008)
19. ^ "Mylène Farmer fidèle à elle-même", April 5, 2005, Sébastien Catroux Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
20. ^ "Chanson — La Fée Mylène", May 5, 2005 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
21. ^ Télé Cable Satellite No. 769, January 24, 2005, "Un nouvel album après 5 ans de silence — Mylène Farmer sort de l'ombre" Milenia.ifrance.com (Retrieved February 22, 2008)
22. ^ TV Hebdo, January 2, 2005, "Et Mylène a souri..." Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
23. ^ Allmusic review
24. ^ Télé Star review
25. ^ "Mylène dans un fauteuil", JM-A, April 2005 Mfarmer.org (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
26. ^ Mylène Farmer — La part d'ombre, Caroline Bee, Antoine Bioy & Benjamin Thiry, 2005, Archipel Ed., p. 369
27. ^ Actu02, April 5, 2005 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
28. ^ Télé Star, May 5, 2005 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
29. ^ Télé 2 Semaines, April 25, 2005, "Mylène Farmer sort de l'album" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
30. ^ Le Journal du dimanche, January 2006, "Avant que l'ombre...", Éric Mandel Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 23, 2008)
31. ^ Rolling Stone, March 2005
32. ^ Le Monde, 2005, Mylène Farmer, apaisée et radieuse", Sylvain Siclier Mylenorama.com (Retrieved September 4, 2008)
33. ^ Voici, "Mylène Farmer, obsédée textuelle", April 2005 Mylene.net (Retrieved September 7, 2008)
34. ^ "Platine", No. 121, p.11 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
35. ^ ^{a b} "Avant que l'ombre...", French Albums Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
36. ^ Mylène Farmer certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
37. ^ ^{a b} "Certifications Albums Double Platine - année 2006" (in French). Disqueenfrance. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=2006&type=13. Retrieved 9 August 2010. 
38. ^ ^{a b} 2005 French Albums Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
39. ^ ^{a b} "Avant que l'ombre...", Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
40. ^ ^{a b} Mylène Farmer's album certification Ultratop.be (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
41. ^ ^{a b} 2005 Belgian Albums Chart Skynet.be (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
42. ^ ^{a b} "Avant que l'ombre...", Swiss Albums Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
43. ^ ^{a b} "Avant que l'ombre...", Belgian (Flanders) Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved February 1, 2008)
44. ^ Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 25,26,48,49,81,82,84,101,102,136,179,199,200,254,255
45. ^ French Digital Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved May 22, 2008)
46. ^ Avant que l'ombre..., World Albums Chart Acharts.us (Retrieved May 14, 2008)
47. ^ 2006 French Albums Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved May 22, 2008)
48. ^ Royer Hugues, Mylène, 2003, p.366, Ed. Flammarion. ISBN 978-2-35287-139-2
49. ^ "Certifications in Russia". 2m on line. http://2m-online.ru/gold_n_platinum/detail.php?COUNTRY=5075. Retrieved 2009-08-05.