XXL (Mylène Farmer song)

Single infobox |
Name = XXL


Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album = Anamorphosée
Released = September 19, 1995
Format = CD single
CD maxi
7" maxi
Digital download (since 2005)
Recorded = 1995, Los Angeles
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:25 (single version)
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Certification =
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "Que mon cœur lâche"
(1993)
This single = "XXL"
(1995)
Next single = "L'Instant X"
(1995)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = 7" maxiExtra tracklisting
Album = Anamorphosée
Type = studio
prev_track = "Et Tournoie..."
prev_no = 6
this_track = "XXL"
track_no = 7
next_track = "Rêver"
next_no = 8Extra tracklisting
Album = Live à Bercy
Type = live
prev_track = "La Poupée qui fait non"
prev_no = 9
this_track = "XXL"
track_no = 10
next_track =
next_no = Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos II
Type = Video
prev_track = "Que mon cœur lâche"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "XXL"
track_no = 2
next_track = "L'Instant X"
next_no = 3Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos II & III
Type = Video
prev_track = "Que mon cœur lâche"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "XXL"
track_no = 2
next_track = "L'Instant X"
next_no = 3Extra tracklisting
Album = Les Mots
Type = compilation
prev_track = "California"
prev_no = 2
this_track = "XXL"
track_no = 3
next_track = "L'Instant X"
next_no = 4Extra tracklisting
Album = RemixeS
Type = compilation
prev_track = "C'est une belle journée"
prev_no = 4
this_track = "XXL"
track_no = 5
next_track = "Je t'aime mélancolie"
next_no = 6Extra tracklisting
Album = Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Type = live
prev_track = "Peut-être toi"
prev_no = 2
this_track = "XXL"
track_no = 3
next_track = "Dans les rues de Londres"
next_no = 4

"XXL" is a 1995 song recorded by the French singer Mylène Farmer. It was the first single from her fourth studio album "Anamorphosée" and was released on September 19, 1995. It marked an important change in the singer's career, having more rock sonorities, unlike than the previous singles. Even if it went straight to number-one in France, it dropped quickly on the singles chart.

Background and writing

In 1995, Farmer, living in Los Angeles [Elia Habib, "Muz hit. tubes", p. 330 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)] , found the inspiration to write new songs by reading various books, including "La Mort intime" by the French author Marie de Hennezel and "Le livre tibétain de la vie et de la mort"."XXL" [http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/discographie/singles/single.php?single=xxl Sans-logique.com] (Retrieved January 8, 2008)] She then asked to Laurent Boutonnat to join her in California to produce together a new album, "Anamorphosée". However, following the failure of the 1993 film "Giorgino", they decided to propose a Farmer's new public image and a new sound with rock and grunge sonorities. So, when the French channel M6 announced the name and the content of the first single, "XXL", that was a big surprise, since the album was not released yet then. Many fans did not expect a such musical change ;"Mylène Farmer, le culte - L'envers du décor", Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 27] some of them decided to abandon the new universe proposed by the duo Farmer / Boutonnat, while a new public was won over."XXL", L'histoire de la chanson: le single du retour [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/xxlglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved January 8, 2008)]

The various remixed on the media are all produced by Laurent Boutonnat and Bertrand Châtenet. Another remix, named 'U.K. remix', has been done about a year later, on "Rêver"'s CD maxi, but by Richard Dekkard. As for the 'JXL remix', it was produced by the Dutch musician Junkie XL and features on the compilation "RemixeS".

"XXL" was the last song performed at each show of the 1996 tour, and one of the first sung at each concert of the 2006 tour. "XXL" was scheduled for the 2000 Mylenium Tour, but was finally rejected.

It is also the first Farmer's single where she didn't appear on the cover (the second was "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...").

Lyrics and music

"XXL" is a )] Unlike most of the texts of Farmer's songs, the lyrics are generally easy to understand."Mylène Farmer de A à Z", Florence Rajon, 2005, MusicBook Ed., p. 101]

The song has very rock sonorities made by the guitarist Jeff Dahlgren. ["L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer", Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 305-306 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)] From its beginning, its rhythmic is very drive.

Music video

The video was directed by Marcus Nispel ["France Soir", September 19, 1995, "Mylène Farmer - Anamorphosée", Richard Gianorio [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1995/france_soir_190995.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 23, 2008)] who also wrote the screenplay. This Requiem Publishing production cost about 80,000 euros (230,000 euros, according to the journalist Benoît Cachin) and was shot for two days (one for Farmer, the other for the extras) in Fillmore (California) [Interview of Mylène Farmer, on Paris Première, by Paul Amar, 1996 [http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/farmer+amar+paris+premi%C3%A8re/video/x1f7ss_20h-paris-premiere-33_music Dailymotion.com] (Retrieved January 15, 2008)] , on the Fillmore and Western Railway. The video shows a 1910 locomotive being driven at high speed (this train was also used in a Richard Attenborough's film "Chaplin"). ["Télé 7 Jours", No. 1849, "Mylène Farmer -Son étrange confession", Fabrice Guillermet [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1995/Tele_7_jours_1849_5.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 23, 2008)] For the shooting, Farmer remained hung on this locomotive for nearly five hours and was scared because it ran sometimes very quickly. She wore a dress made by the French fashion designer Thierry Mugler. ["XXL", videoclip [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/xxlclip.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved January 8, 2008)]

The video, in black and white, ["Aujourd'hui", September18, 1995, "Découvrez ce soir le nouveau clip de Mylène Farmer" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1995/Aujourd'hui_180995.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retireved March 23, 2008)] features Farmer hung on at the front of a moving locomotive. It was filmed in an orange grove. ["XXL", videoclip [http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/clips/clip.php?clip=xxl Sans-logique.com] (Retrieved January 8, 2008)] It was first broadcast on September 18, 1995, on M6. ["Libération", September 18, 1995, "Le nouveau clip de Mylène Farmer" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1995/Liberation_180995.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 23, 2008)]

According to "Instant-Mag", the train could be a symbol of the sexual intercourse. ["Instant-Mag", No. 7, 2001, p. 6]

Cover versions

The song was parodied in 1996 by Le Festival Roblès under the title "L'Amour en 4L", and was covered by Rejane in 1998.

Chart performances

On September 23, 1995, the single went straight to #1 in the French Top 50 Singles Chart, but fell quickly the following weeks. It remained for only 5 weeks in the Top 10 and 12 weeks in the chart."XXL", French Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=XXL&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 5, 2007)] Thus, at this time, Farmer recorded her third number one in France. In 1995, it was the 42th best selling single in France.1995 French Singles Chart [http://www.disqueenfrance.com/classements/singles/classement_annuel.asp?date=10 Disqueenfrance.com] (Retrieved December 5, 2007)] The song was also number one on French Airplay Chart. ["Vamp Canada", 1995, "Mylène Farmer en XXL" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1995/Vamp_canada_6.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 23, 2008)]

The song had an very decent running in the Belgium (Wallonia) Singles Chart. It featured in the Ultratop 40 for 14 weeks, from October 7, 1995 to January 6, 1996. From the first week it went into the Top 10 and reached its highest position the following week (#3) and reached it again three weeks later. The song has managed to return to the Top 10 during its 13th week, before collapsing the following week and then leaving the chart. Altogether, the song has remained ranked for 14 weeks, half of it in the Top 10."XXL", Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=3102&cat=s Ultratop.be] (Retrieved January 3, 2007)] It was the 36th best-selling single of 1995.1995 Belgian Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1995 Ultratop.be] (Retrieved January 21, 2008)]

"XXL" stayed in the Swiss Singles Chart for 10 weeks, from October 15 to December 17. It peaked at number 11 on November 5, before dropping. However, #11 is the hightest position for a Farmer's single in Switzerland."XXL", Swiss Singles Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=XXL&cat=s Swiss 100 Singles Chart] (Retrieved December 5, 2007)]

Formats and track listings

; CD single - Black CD with white writing
#"XXL" (single version) — 4:23
#"XXL" (no voice remix edit) — 4:20

; CD single - Gilt CD
#"XXL" (single version) — 4:23
#"XXL" (no voice remix edit) — 4:20

; CD maxi - Crystal case
#"XXL" (single version) — 4:23
#"XXL" (distorded dance mix) — 5:20
#"XXL" (extra large remix) — 5:02
#"XXL" (new remix edit) — 4:25

; CD maxi - Digipack
#"XXL" (single version) — 4:23
#"XXL" (distorded dance mix) — 5:20
#"XXL" (extra large remix) — 5:02
#"XXL" (new remix edit) — 4:25

; CD maxi - Germany
#"XXL" (single version) — 4:27
#"XXL" (extra large remix) — 5:06
#"XXL" (new remix edit) — 4:43
#"XXL" (distorted dance mix) — 5:19
#"XXL" (single dance mix) — 4:23; 7" maxi
#"XXL" (extra large remix) — 5:02
#"XXL" (distorded dance mix) — 5:20

; CD single - Promo - Wrought iron
# "XXL" (single version) — 4:25

; CD single - Promo - Without sleeve
# "XXL" (single version) — 4:25

; CD single - Promo - With sleeve
# "XXL" (single version) — 4:25

; CD single - Promo - Germany
# "XXL" (German radio edit) — 3:54
# "XXL" (single version) — 4:25

; CD single - Japan - Long box
# "XXL" (single version) — 4:23
# "XXL" (no voice remix edit) — 4:20

; CD single - Promo - Japan - Long box
# "XXL" (single version) — 4:23
# "XXL" (no voice remix edit) — 4:20

; VHS - Promo
# "XXL" (video)

Versions

; Official versions

References