Dominique

For other uses, see Dominique (disambiguation).

"Dominique" is a popular song in French by Sœur Sourire (Sister Smile, born Jeanine Deckers), of Belgium, also known as The Singing Nun. It is about Saint Dominic, a Spanish-born priest and founder of the Dominican Order, of which she was a member (as Sister Luc-Gabrielle).^[1] The English version of the song was written by Noël Regney.^[2] In addition to French and English, Deckers recorded versions in Dutch, German, Hebrew and Japanese.

"Dominique" reached the top ten in eleven countries in late 1963 and early 1964, topping the hit lists in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. It reached the Top 5 in Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Australia and South Africa, with the song making it into the lower reaches of the Top 10 in the Netherlands, West Germany and the United Kingdom. The song reached and stayed at #1 on both the U.S. pop chart and "easy listening chart" (since renamed the Adult Contemporary chart) for four weeks in December of 1963. It was the second foreign language song to hit #1 on the Hot 100 in 1963, the other being "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto.^[3] No other foreign language song reached the US Top 40 Billboard charts until the Spanish language hit Eres tú hit the US charts in 1973.

Jeanine Deckers never again reached the same success and continued to lead a colourful, but tragic life. She and her long-time friend, Annie Pescher, both committed suicide in 1985, as a result of financial and tax problems stemming from the recording of the song.^[4]

"Dominique" outsold Elvis during its stay on the Billboard Pop Charts in 1963. It was the second #1 hit in the post-Kennedy assassination era and the second to last #1 hit before the advent of Beatlemania.

The song

"Dominique" became a worldwide hit in 1963 and as of 2009 is still the only Belgian number one hit single in the American Billboard charts.^[3] (Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam" reached number two in 1989).

It is remembered chiefly for its refrain, which went:

Dominique -nique -nique s'en allait tout simplement,

Routier, pauvre et chantant.

En tous chemins, en tous lieux,'

Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu,

Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu

In English:

Dominique went about simply,

a poor singing traveller.

On every road, in every place,

he talks only of the Good Lord,

he talks only of the Good Lord.

Charts

Chart (1963/1964)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart[5]	5
Canadian Singles Chart[6]	1
Danish Singles Chart[7]	4
Dutch Singles Chart[8]	6
German Singles Chart[9]	7
Irish Singles Chart[10]	4
New Zealand Hit Parade[11]	1
Norwegian Singles Chart[12]	2
South African Singles Chart[13]	5
Swedish Singles Chart[14]	12
UK Singles Chart[15]	7
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3]	1

Cover versions and other appearances

• It was used in the 1990 film Mermaids with Cher.
• It was used in Lionel Soukaz's short film Ixe
• The Cuban artist La Lupe and Mexican artist Angélica María recorded Spanish language versions of this song.
• The Brazilian singer Giane recorded a Brazilian Portuguese version of this song.
• Spike Jones recorded a version in which he first gave it a jazz-like interpretation, with trumpet and banjo; then he melded it with "When the Saints Go Marching In", giving the song an entirely different sound.
• Sandler and Young revived the song in late 1966,^[16] a version that appeared on the Billboard easy listening chart. The performance was a medley including other religious-themed songs including "Deep River" and "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen".
• The song was referenced in The Simpsons episode "Bart's Friend Falls in Love" (1992), where Milhouse van Houten visits his girlfriend in an all-girls convent school. A nun playing guitar and singing "Dominique" passes along, followed by several equally happy little girls. The nun was voiced by cast member Maggie Roswell, who didn't know any of the song's French lyrics and instead made up her own.^[17]
• The song is sampled in TISM's "I Might Be a Cunt, but I'm Not a Fucking Cunt".
• The musician Poe used a sample of the song in her album Haunted, on the track "House of Leaves".
• In the 1987 Married With Children episode, "Thinnergy", "Dominique" is one of several songs Peg sings in an attempt to annoy Al.
• Also, Debbie Reynolds starred in The Singing Nun movie,^[18] which has an English version of this song.
• In 2009, the song was used in the third series premiere of British teen drama Skins.

References

1. ^ Dominique, by the "Singing Nun" Lyrics and Music. National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved on January 25, 2009
2. ^ Noel Regney, 80; Wrote Favorite Christmas Tune, Hit Song for Singing Nun By Dennis Mclellan. November 30, 2002 for The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on January 25, 2009
3. ^ ^{a b c} Famous Belgians, Jeanne Deckers. Retrieved on January 25, 2009
4. ^ The Singing Nun's Story Entertainment Weekly, EW.com. Retrieved on January 25, 2009
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ [2]
7. ^ [3]
8. ^ http://dutchcharts.nl
9. ^ [4]
10. ^ [5]
11. ^ [6]
12. ^ [7]
13. ^ [8]
14. ^ [9]
15. ^ [10]
16. ^ Sandler & Young CD Collection. Retrieved on January 25, 2009
17. ^ Jean, Al. (2003). The Simpsons season 3 DVD commentary for the episode "Bart's Friend Falls in Love". [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
18. ^ The Singing Nun at the Internet Movie Database

External links

• "Dominique" lyrics in English and French Allthelyrics.com
• The lyrics in full (French)

Preceded by "I'm Leaving It Up to You" by Dale & Grace	Billboard Hot 100 number one single December 7, 1963 (four weeks)	Succeeded by "There! I've Said It Again" by Bobby Vinton
Preceded by "I'm Leaving It Up to You" by Dale & Grace	"Billboard" Easy Listening number-one single by The Singing Nun December 7, 1963 (four weeks)	Succeeded by "There! I've Said It Again" by Bobby Vinton