Joe le taxi

Infobox Single
Name = Joe le taxi


Artist = Vanessa Paradis
Album = M&J
B-side = "Varvara Pavlovna"
Released = 27 April 1987
Format = 7" single
Recorded = 1987
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:54
Label = Polydor, Barclay
Writer = Franck Langolff, Étienne Roda-Gil
Producer = Bertrand Châtenet, Philippe Osman, Franck Langolff
Certification =
Last single =
This single = "Joe le taxi"
(1987)
Next single = "Manolo Manolete"
(1988)
Misc = Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = Joe le taxi
Audio file = Vanessa Paradis - Joe Le Taxi excerpt.ogg

"Joe le taxi" (English: "Joe the Taxi Driver") is a song written by Franck Langolff and Étienne Roda-Gil for French singer Vanessa Paradis's debut album, "M&J" (1988).

Paradis recorded the song in 1987, at the age of fourteen. It went on to top the singles chart in France for eleven weeks,cite web |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Vanessa+Paradis&titel=Joe+le+taxi&cat=s |title=lescharts.com – Vanessa Paradis – Joe le taxi |accessdate=2008-01-10 |work=LesCharts.com |language=French] and, uncommon for a French song at that time, was released in the United Kingdom the following year, where it peaked at number three. The song was taken from her debut album, "M&J" (short for "Marilyn & John"), which, although peaking at number thirteen in France, drew limited interest in the UK.

ong information

"Joe le taxi" is a song about a taxi driver, Joe, who works in Paris. The song emphasizes the notion that Joe seems to know all of the French capital including the whereabouts of all the little bars, all of the Parisian streets, the Seine, and bridges. The song's lyrics suggest that Joe enjoys drinking rum, has a passion for Latin music and his saxophone, and dreams of going to the Amazon. Spanish-Cuban bandleader Xavier Cugat and Peruvian exotica singer Yma Súmac are also referenced in the lyrics.

Music video

The video was directed by Jean-Sébastien Deligny in 1988, and begins by glimpsing the side of Joe's taxi (taxi rates can be seen in black ink). The shadows of two men playing the saxophone in unison can be seen as well. The video then shows Joe in his taxi and afterwards, Paradis dancing to the beat of the song, next to a big yellow taxi similar to Joe's (she is wearing an oversized peach sweater with the words "Gross Stage" and the number twenty-six emblazoned across the front; she is also wearing grey pants).

Joe seems to be driving around town, either looking out for customers or simply enjoying a scenic journey across a bright and beautiful Paris.

The camera switches between Joe, Vanessa, and the two shadows playing their saxophones in perfect unison (in colour when focussed on Paradis, in black-and-white when on Joe); it ends with a front view of Joe's taxi.

Remixes and cover versions

"Joe le taxi" has been remixed and covered several times by somewhat notable artists including Japanese singer Hanayo, Hong Kong Cantopop singer Priscilla Chan, and Brazilian television show host, singer, and actress Angélica (whose version, "Vou de Táxi"—Portuguese for "I'm Going by Taxi"—, became a chart-topper in Brazil). Several different versions of the song are available on YouTube.

Chart performance

"Joe le taxi" debuted at number twenty-one on the French Singles Chart, reaching number one in its fourth week, and remaining there for eleven weeks. It reached the top five in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway and the top ten in Germany and Sweden.

In France, "Joe le taxi" is the 84th best-selling single of all time. [cite web |url=http://www.infodisc.fr/S_ToutTemps.php?debut=50 |title=infodisc.fr – Best-selling singles of all time in France |accessdate=2008-08-08 |work=Infodisc.fr |language=French]

Track listings

; 7" single
# "Joe le taxi" — 3:54
# "Varvara Pavlovna" — 3:28

Certifications

Charts

succession box
before = "La Isla Bonita" by Madonna
title = French SNEP Singles Chart number-one single
years = August 1, 1987 – October 10, 1987 (11 weeks)
after = "La Bamba" by Los Lobos
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

References