Innamoramento (song)

Single infobox |
Name = Innamoramento

|200px
Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album = Innamoramento
Released = July 18, 2000
Format = CD single
CD maxi
12" maxi
Digital download (since 2005)
Recorded = 1999, France
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:50 (single version)
5:27 (album version)
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Certification =
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "Optimistique-moi"
(2000)
This single = "Innamoramento"
(2000)
Next single = "Dessine-moi un mouton"
(2000)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = CD maxiExtra tracklisting
Album = Innamoramento
Type = studio
prev_track = "Méfie-toi"
prev_no = 6
this_track = "Innamoramento"
track_no = 7
next_track = "Optimistique-moi"
next_no = 8Extra tracklisting
Album = Mylenium Tour
Type = live
prev_track = ""
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Innamoramento"
track_no = 9
next_track =
next_no = Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos III
Type = Video
prev_track = "Optimistique-moi"
prev_no = 4
this_track = "Innamoramento"
track_no = 5
next_track =
next_no = Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos II & III
Type = Video
prev_track = "Optimistique-moi"
prev_no = 9
this_track = "Innamoramento"
track_no = 10
next_track = "Ainsi soit je... (live)"
next_no = 11Extra tracklisting
Album = Les Mots
Type = compilation
prev_track = "Optimistique-moi"
prev_no = 12
this_track = "Innamoramento"
track_no = 13
next_track = "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
next_no = 14

"Innamoramento" is a 1999 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Fifth single from her fifth studio album, "Innamoramento", the song was released on July 18, 2000. Even if it reached the top three in France, its sales were relatively disappointing and it was the less-selling single from the album.

Background and writing

The song's name, which is the same as that of the album which it is a part, is based on a Francesco Alberoni's book, "Le Choc amoureux" (meaning "Innamoramento" in Italian). ["Innamoramento", L'histoire de la chanson : L'un des textes les plus poétiques [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/innamoramentoglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)]

The singer made no promotion for the single which, moreover, was not much broadcast on radio at the time. A luxurious cardboard cube was sent to radio stations. ["Jukebox", No. 179, June 2002 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2002/Jukebox_magazine_179_062002_2.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 22, 2008)] Then there were two editions for "Innamoramento" : one containing a white disc (normal edition), and the other with a picture CD (collector). As the two editions had the same cover, some fans bought several copies in order to obtain both versions, which helped boost sales.

"Innamoramento" is available on several of Mylène Farmer's albums : "Innamoramento" (album version), "Mylenium Tour" (live version), and "Les Mots" (radio edit).

Lyrics and music

The song deals with the themes of rebirth, love, and the questions that they raise."Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 126-129] ["Mylène Farmer Influences", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Mascara Ed., p. 42,43 (ISBN 978-2351440261)]

Music video

The film, whose screenplay was written by Mylène Farmer, was directed by François Hanss and produced by Requiem Publishing and Stuffed Monkey. It cost about 30,000 euros. Shot for two days in the Bois de Vincennes, it shows alternately Farmer wearing a long white dress, lying on the grass, and then images recorded at the time of the concert "Mylenium Tour". The final refrain is sung four times (instead of two), in chorus with the audience. The video ends with a close-up of Farmer. ["Innamoramento", videoclip [http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/clips/clip.php?clip=innamoramento Sans-logique.com] (Retrieved December 28, 2007)]

Initially, the video was to be filmed in a studio, but the idea was abandoned due to lack of time and money. Some elements of the video refer to that of "Allan (live)" directed by Laurent Boutonnat, in 1989. It should be noted that at the time a persistent rumor went round that Farmer would have been three months pregnant during the video shooting (what was wrong). ["Innamoramento", videoclip [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/innamoramentoclip.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)]

The video shows roughly "the same visual as the first one from "Live à Bercy" ( "Rêver") and seems to be a little repetitive. Indeed, there are "a blue and hushed atmosphere, a light and air dress, a very present audience. The succession of images and the choice of plans (big plans, overviews, zooms) belong to the same desire for the staged and follow the same way, reinforcing the sense of déjà-vu (...). The whole is still saved by the insertion of country images, adding a personal touch." ["Instant-Mag", No. 4, 2000, p. 12]

Critical reception

The song itself has been well received by critics. A Belgian magazine described the song as being "pleasant, but not surprisingly, [with] a silky melody, twin of "Ainsi soit je..."". ["DH Magazine", April 7, 1999, "Un album pour son frère disparu", Jean-Philippe Darquenne, p. 21 [http://www.mfarmer.org/images/jpg/ksk007.jpgMfarmer.org] (Retrieved March 18, 2008)]

However, the covers of different media as well as remixes have been severely criticized. Indeed, the picture of the CD single is a bit blurred and doesn't allow to see Farmer well. Regarding the CD maxi, "the neo-cube assembly of the cover, which wants to be creative, falls completely flat. Colours selection suffers from the most completed tasteless and the play of geometric shapes absorbs all the visual"."Instant-Mag", No. 3, 2000, p. 8]

About remixes, some fans "expected more symphonic versions, as that was done beautifully for example for "Ainsi soit je..." and "Sans logique"". According to "Instant-Mag", The 'darkness remix' amounts to a vague rhythmic (...) ; this pale copy [of Björk] has not the best effect, although both the last two minutes are distinguished from the rest, they did not manage to redeem the whole. The 'anamor remix' is "too soft, slow, filled with strange noises sometimes verging on the ridiculous. Lastly, the 'momento dance mix', "although better than the two others, doesn't avoid the pitfall of the facility, the whole is slightly sprinkled with a little rhythm suggesting those of a boy band. It is nonetheless worthy of dancing"."Instant-Mag", No. 3, 2000, p. 8]

By contrast, "the concept of the video was well conceived and beautifully filmed".

Chart performances

In France, the single went straight to number 3 on July 22, which was its peak position."Innamoramento", French SNEP Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Innamoramento&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)] So, Farmer has managed for the first time in her career to list five singles from the same album in the Top 10. However, once past the excitement which coincided with the week of the single's release, "Innamoramento" made a dizzy plunge and found itself at the foot of the Top 20. [Elia Habib, "Muz hit. tubes", p. 503 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)] Finally, the single almost keep on dropping remained for only 11 weeks in the Top 50 and 20 weeks on the Chart. It was the least-selling single from "Innamoramento".

"Innamoramento" was briefly charted in Belgium (Wallonia). It entered the ultratop 40 at #32 on July 29, 2000, peaked at #24 the week after, then dropped and fell off the chart after six weeks."Innamoramento", Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=4398&cat=s Ultratop.be] (Retrieved January 3, 2007)]

In Switzerland, the single peaked at #56 on August 20, 2008, then almost kept on dropping and stayed in the top 100 for seven weeks."Innamoramento", Swiss Top 100 Singles Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Innamoramento&cat=s Hitparade.ch] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)]

Formats ans track listings

; CD single
# "Innamoramento" (single version) — 4:50
# "Innamoramento" (darkness remix) — 4:26

; CD single - Picture disc
# "Innamoramento" (single version) — 4:50
# "Innamoramento" (darkness remix) — 4:26

; CD maxi - Digipack
# "Innamoramento" (single version) — 4:50
# "Innamoramento" (darkness remix) — 5:26
# "Innamoramento" (anamor remix) — 4:40
# "Innamoramento" (momento dance mix) — 6:12

; 12" maxi
A-side :
# "Innamoramento" (momento dance mix) — 6:12
# "Innamoramento" (anamor remix) — 4:40
B-side:
# "Innamoramento" (darkness remix) — 5:26
# "Innamoramento" (single version) — 4:50; Digital download
# "Innamoramento" (album version) — 5:27
# "Innamoramento" (live version) — 6:52

; CD single - Promo
# "Innamoramento" (single version) — 4:50

; 12" maxi - promoA-side :
# "Innamoramento" (momento dance mix) — 6:12
# "Innamoramento" (anamor remix) — 4:40
B-side:
# "Innamoramento" (darkness remix) — 5:26
# "Innamoramento" (single version) — 4:50

; CD single - Promo - Luxurious cube
# "Innamoramento" (single version) — 4:50

; VHS - Promo
# "Innamoramento" (video)

Versions

; Official versions

References