Redonne-moi

Single infobox |
Name = Redonne-moi


Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album = Avant que l'ombre...
Released = January 2, 2006
Format = CD single
Digital download
Recorded = 2005, France
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:24
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Certification =
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "Q.I"
(2005)
This single = "Redonne-moi"
(2006)
Next single = "L'Amour n'est rien..."
(2006)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = Promo CDExtra tracklisting
Album = Avant que l'ombre...
Type = studio
prev_track = "Q.I"
prev_no = 4
this_track = "Redonne-moi"
track_no = 5
next_track = "Porno graphique"
next_no = 6Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos IV
Type = Video
prev_track = "Q.I"
prev_no = 5
this_track = "Redonne-moi"
track_no = 6
next_track = "L'Amour n'est rien..."
next_no = 7Extra tracklisting
Album = Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Type = live
prev_track = "Ange, parle-moi"
prev_no = 10
this_track = "Redonne-moi"
track_no = 11
next_track = "Rêver"
next_no = 1

"Redonne-moi" is a 2005 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. This pop ballad was the third single from her sixth studio album, "Avant que l'ombre...", and was released on January 2, 2006. Even if Farmer accepted to promote the song in a TV show, sales were rather disappointing and thus "Redonne-moi" became the less-selling single from the album.

Background and writing

From August 2005, some rumours went round about the song which could be the third single from the album "Avant que l'ombre..." : first, "L'Amour n'est rien..." was announced by some people ; then, in September, "Peut-être toi", "Porno graphique" and "J'attends" were also successively presented as being the following single. Finally, "Redonne-moi" was chosen by Farmer who wanted absolutely that this song was released as single. Many Farmer's fans were not satisfied with this choice, because "Redonne-moi" is the slowest song of the album."Redonne-moi" [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/redonnemoiglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)] However, the release of the single, originally scheduled for December 5, has been cancelled and put off until January 2. Moreover, it was very little broadcast by radio stations. [Mylène Farmer, the news [http://www.mylene.net/modules/index.php?r=4&page=101 Mylene.net] (Retrieved December 21, 2007)]

The photography used on the single's cover was produced by Ellen Von Unwerth during a 2005 photo session. It was an unpublished photo.

The song is the fifth track on the studio album. It was sung at the time of the 2006 Farmer's concerts, and so is also present on the live album "Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy" (track 11, CD 1, 5:44).

Lyrics and music

This ballad, with very poetic text and melancholy music, deals with several recurring themes in Farmer's songs : "death, memory, but also hope". "Farmer seems to be split : on the one hand, the past symbolized by a ghost that evokes sadness and death, and on the other hand, the future, in which Farmer put her trust, hoping to live in a better way and rediscover the joy of the existence through love". In the refrain, Farmer seems to speak to someone : this may be the ghost, or a person that she loves and whom she requests to help her to forget her past."Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 225-226]

Music video

On October, first photographies of the video circulated on the Internet, but disappeared quickly following the Farmer's wishes. On December 6, the musical channels received the video but were not allowed to broadcast it immediately ["Redonne-moi" [http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/discographie/singles/single.php?single=redonne-moi Sans-logique.com] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)] . Indeed, a trainee, participating in the video editing, made personal use of images of this one and was sued and forced to pay 2€ of damages."Mylène Farmer, l'icône", "Jukebox", n°253, p. 8 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2008/02-2008-JUKEBOX-N253-5.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved May 13, 2008)] Finally, it was seen for the first time on January 11, 2006, two month after its recording.

Very aesthetic, the music video was produced by François Hanss and features Farmer in a sculpture workshop. A statue representing the singer is in the middle of this workshop and leaves a tear escape. Farmer sings in front of it, while a black cat appears and lies down next to the statue.

During a musical program called "Les 100 Meilleurs clips du XXIè siècle" aired on MCM on February 25, 2007, this video reached number 3 thanks to the voters of TV viewers. [Mylène Farmer, rétrospective 2007 [http://www.mylene.net/modules/index.php?r=213 Mylene.net] (Retrieved January 11, 2008]

Critical reception

According to a French newspaper, "we can sometimes think that, [in this song] , the voice of [Farmer] will become inaudible as she plays with the limits of its fragility". ["Une Mylène Farmer moins torturée", Déborah Laurent, April 2005 [http://www.mfarmer.org/images/jpg/0031wx.jpgMfarmer.org] (Retrieved February 1, 2008)]

Chart performances

In France, as the other Mylène Farmer's singles, "Redonne-moi" debuted at its peak position, as always in the top ten (#7), with 10,731 sales, on January 7, 2006. The following weeks, the single kept on dropped very quickly and remained only five weeks in the top 50 and 11 weeks on the chart."Redonne-moi", French SNEP Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Redonne%2Dmoi&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)] The single has the Farmer's shortest trajectory in the French singles chart. In April, the SNEP has revealed the best-selling singles during the first quarter of 2006 (from January 1 to March 31, 2006) and "Redonne-moi" was ranked 45th. [Best selling singles from 01.01.06 to 31.03.06 [http://www.disqueenfrance.com/snep/dossiers/2006_14.asp Disqueenfrance.com] (Retrieved December 20, 2007)]

In Switzerland, the single stayed in the chart for eight weeks from January 15 to March 5, 2006. After carrying out the highest weekly debut, it reached his peak position (#27) in its second week."Redonne-moi", Swiss Top 100 Singles Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Redonne%2Dmoi&cat=s Hitparade.ch] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)]

In Belgium (Wallonia), the single debuted at number 25 on January 14, jumped to #9 the following week, then peacked at #6, which was its best performance in all charts. The single remained for a total of 8 weeks in Utratop 40."Redonne-moi", Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=103537&cat=s Ultratop.be] (Retrieved January 3, 2007)]

TV performances

Farmer accepted to perform the single in a TV variety show - which was very exceptional. She decided to sing "Redonne-moi" in "Symphonic Show", on France 2, ["Le Parisien", November 12, 2005, "Mylène Farmer se montre enfin", Catherine Balle [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/le_parisien_12novembre2005.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] ["Public", October 31, 2005, "Mylène Farmer, enfin à la télé" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/Public_311005.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] which was broadcast on November 12, 2005, one month after its reconding. ["Mylène Farmer, le culte - L'envers du décor", Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 29] Already in October, Daniela Lumbroso, the presenter of the program, announced in the media that Mylène Farmer would be present at the show. ["Télé Star", October 2005 [http://avantkalizee.mabulle.com/index.php/2005/10/29/3204-dans-le-telestars-daniela-parle-de-mylene Avantkalizee.mabulle.com] (Retrieved December 20, 2007)] She also explained that for this occasion, the set was smoky and decorated with 200 candles. The recording of the performance lasted about 30 minutes. ["Télé Loisirs", No. 1028, November 12-18, 2005] The single was sung in playback and accompanied with a philharmonic orchestra, 'The Night of the Proms', composed of 140 musicians and choristers.

Formats and track listings

; CD single - Digipack - Limited edition (30,000)
# "Redonne-moi" — 4:24
# "Redonne-moi" (instrumental) — 4:24

; Digital download
# "Redonne-moi" — 4:24; CD single - Promo
# "Redonne-moi" (radio edit) — 4:02

; CD single - Promo - Luxury envelope - Limited edition (300)
# "Redonne-moi" (radio edit) — 4:02

; DVD - Promo
# "Redonne-moi" (video)

Versions

; Official versions

References