Plus grandir

Single infobox |
Name = Plus grandir


Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album = Cendres de Lune
Released = September 25, 1985 (album version)
May 12, 1990 (live mix)
Format = 7" single
7" maxi
CD maxi
Digital download (since 2005)
Recorded = 1985, France
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:03 (Studio version)
4:10 (Live mix)
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer =
Certification =
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "On est tous des imbéciles"
(1984)
This single = "Plus grandir"
(1985)
Next single = "Libertine"
(1986)Extra chronology
Last single = "Allan (Live)"
(1990)
This single = "Plus grandir"
(1990)
Next single = "Désenchantée"
(1991)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate covers
Background = khaki


Lower caption = Live version - 7"Extra album cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = Live version - Picture-discExtra tracklisting
Album = Cendres de Lune
Type = studio
prev_track = "Greta"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Plus grandir"
track_no = 9
next_track = "Libertine (remix special club)"
next_no = 10Extra tracklisting
Album = Les Clips
Type = Video
prev_track = "Maman a tort"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "Plus grandir"
track_no = 2
next_track = "Libertine"
next_no = 3Extra tracklisting
Album = En concert
Type = live
prev_track = "L'Horloge"
prev_no = 2
this_track = "Plus grandir"
track_no = 3
next_track = "Sans logique"
next_no = 4Extra tracklisting
Album = Les Clips Vol. III
Type = Video
prev_track = "Allan (live"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "Plus grandir (live)"
track_no = 4
next_track =
next_no = Extra tracklisting
Album = Dance Remixes
Type = compilation
prev_track = "Ainsi soit je..."
prev_no = 6
this_track = "Plus grandir"
track_no = 7
next_track = "À quoi je sers..."
next_no = 8Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos I
Type = Video
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Plus grandir"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Libertine"
next_no = 2Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos I
Type = Video
prev_track = "Allan (live)"
prev_no = 14
this_track = "Plus grandir (live)"
track_no = 15
next_track =
next_no = Extra tracklisting
Album = Les Mots
Type = compilation
prev_track = Maman a tort
prev_no = 1
this_track = "Plus grandir"
track_no = 2
next_track = "Libertine"
next_no = 3

"Plus grandir" is a 1985 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The song was released twice : in its album version as second single from her first studio album "Cendres de Lune", on September 25, 1985, and in in a live mix version as second single from her first live album "En concert", on May 12, 1990. Both versions achieved a moderate success in France in terms of sales and charting.

Background and writing

After the relative failure of the "On est tous des imbéciles", Farmer separated from the songwriter Jerome Dahan and her contract with the record company RCA ended. She then signed with Polydor for two albums and, for the first time, she wrote the lyrics of her next single, "Plus grandir", which was released in September 1985 (it was also released in Canada, at the same time that "We'll Never Die"). Despite sales fairly low, Polydor allowed the duo Mylène Farmer / Laurent Boutonnat to create the album "Cendres de Lune", in March 1986."Plus grandir", L'histoire de la chanson : le premier texte signé Mylène [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/grandirglobalite.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved January 17, 2008)]

About five years after the single's release, Farmer did not yet accepted the relative success of this song, which was her first composition. She then decided to release this song for the second time, but in live version, after the success of the live album "En concert" in 1990. ["France Soir", April 13, 1990 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1990/france_soir_130490.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 22, 2008)] The song's success was relative, except in nightclubs. Eventually, the song was the last collaboration at level of editing and management between Farmer and Bertrand Le Page because of artistic differences at the end of 1989."Plus grandir (Live)", L'histoire de la chanson : la première reprise live farmerienne [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/grandirliveglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved January 17, 2008)]

Among the various media of the live song, there was a picture disc - the first in Farmer's career.

The song was performed at time of 1989 concert. However, "Plus grandir" was not performed during the three next concerts, because in 1995, Farmer announced that the song would no longer part of her concerns.

Lyrics and music

The song deals with subjects that Farmer was especially fond of at the time : difficulty of leaving childhood, fear of aging, permanent pain of living and death. Boutonnat wrote music, rather pop for a sensitive theme. ["Plus grandir" [http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/discographie/singles/single.php?single=plus-grandir Sans-logique.com] (Retrieved January 18, )]

Music video

; 1985 version

The 1985 video was made by Laurent Boutonnat who also wrote the screenplay. This Movie Box / Laurent Boutonnat / Polydor production with a 7:32 length cost about 330,000 frances (about 50,000 euros [Interview of Laurent Boutonnat, "Starfix", No. 35, April 1986] ; the 1985 most expensive videoclip) and was shot for five days at Studio Sets in Stains and in Saint-Denis's cemetery. It was the first videoclip in cinemascope in the videoclip's history and was released at the cinema in preview."Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 196-199] It was broadcast on TV for the first time on "Platine 45", on Antenne 2. ["L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer", Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 247 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)]

Max Gautier, Farmer's father, participated in the preparation of scenery, which included among other things a pond (also used in "Ainsi soit je...") and the dolls made by Farmer. Rambo Kolawski, who played the role of the rapist, has also appeared in the following video, "Libertine". ["Plus grandir", videoclip [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/grandirclip.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved January 18, 2008)] The instrumental "Cendres de Lune", available on the album of the same name, can be heard at the opening credits.

In the video, we see a woman, played by Farmer, in a cemetery pushing a pram who comes to meditate at her own grave. Then, in a house full of spiders' webs, a girl on her bed, also played by Farmer, mistreats her doll throwing it in all directions and drowning it in the water. While crying, she begs the Virgin Mary to not grow and die. During her sleep, a man enters her room and rapes her, what the girl eventually agrees (Farmer reveals one of her breasts). The next day, dwarfish nuns beat the girl giving kicks because of this sexual intercourse. Then, with a knife, the girl cuts the doll's limbs, turns on herself and becomes a very old woman. The video ends with the woman in the cemetery who puts a bunch on the grave and goes away. ["Plus grandir", music video [http://www.jukebo.fr/mylene-farmer_videos_plus-grandir_3srlk.html?idtp=0 Jukebo.fr] (Retrieved May 15, 2008)]

In France, the video was censored and broadcast only in a shortened version. Indeed, the scene of the rape as well as that of the evil dwarfish nuns were removed. Despite that, the video was much aired on television in 1985 and 1986. According to an analysis, the amputation of the doll is a "symbolism of the defilement" and is synonymous with a "childhood stolen". ["Instant-Mag", No. 7, 2001, p. 4-5] The magazine "Charlie" considered this music video as very "amazing""Charlie", January 1986 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1986/CHARLIE_0186.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] while "Salut" said it had a "tortured atmosphere". ["Salut", 1986, "De Libertine" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1986/salut_86.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)]

; 1990 version

For the live version, a video of the 1989 tour was made with new images from "Plus grandir"'s performance and choreography. The introduction was filmed at the same time as the not live images from "Allan", and shows the monk who opened the concert, in a hazy nature.

Critical reception

The song was generally very well-received at the time by the media. Some of them said for example : " [It is] an impeccable record from a musical point of view ; the simple lyrics are a refreshing breath" ("Microsil"). ["Microsil", November 1985 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1985/MICROSIL_1185.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] This song "confirms the depth of the singer" ("Paroles"). ["Paroles", 11/1985 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1985/PAROLES_1185.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] "The result is pure, moving (...). That may be naive, but far from being stupid" ("Podium"). ["Podium", 11/1985 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1985/PODIUM_1185.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] " [Farmer] launched with her sweet voice this moving prayer" ("Télé Poche"). ["Télé Poche", November 25, 1985, "La Petite qui ne veut plus grandir" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1985/TELE_POCHE_251185.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] " [This song] is perverse and morbid, but it is so exciting" ("L'Evénement du jeudi"). ["L'Evénement du jeudi", December 31, 1986, Claire Baldewyns [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/1986/l'evenement_311286.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] "The disc is not bad at all" ("Charlie").

TV and chart performances

To promote the song in its original version, Farmer performed it in several TV shows : "Ile de transe" (October 31, 1985, FR3 ; she also sang "Maman a tort"), "Super Platine" (Antenne 2 ; she performed "On est tous des imbéciles" too), "Tapage nocturne" (December 27, 1985, TF1), "Hit des Clubs" (January 1986, RTL), "L'Académie des 9" (January 14, 1986, Antenne 2), "Citron Grenadine" (RTBF) and "Azimuts" (FR3 Lorraine ; she also sang "Chloé"). ["Plus grandir", TV performances [http://www.mylene.net/mylene/d_s_plusgrandir.php Mylene.net] (Retrieved January 17, 2008)]

Whereas the 1985 studio version didn't reach the French Top 50 Singles Charts, the 1990 live single had a short running : it stayed on the chart for only 7 weeks, from May 19 to June 30, 1990, peaking at number 35 on June 16."Plus grandir (Live Mix)", French Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Plus+grandir+%28Live%29&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved January 12, 2008)]

Formats and track listings

; Original version (1985);; 7" singleA-side :
# "Plus grandir" — 4:03B-side :
# "Chloé" — 2:30

;; 12" maxiA-side :
# "Plus grandir" (remix) — 6:00B-side :
# "Chloé" — 2:30

;; 7" single - Promo
# "Plus grandir" — 4:03

;; 7" single - Without cover - CanadaA-side :
# "Plus grandir" — 4:03B-side :
# "Chloé" — 2:30

; Live mix version (1990) ;; 7" singleA-side :
# "Plus grandir" (live mix) — 4:10B-side :
# "Plus grandir" (mum's rap) — 4:10;; 12" maxiA-side :
# "Plus grandir" (mother's live remix) — 6:25B-side :
# "Plus grandir" (mum's rap) — 4:10
# "Plus grandir" (live mix) — 4:50

;; 12" maxi - Picture discA-side :
# "Plus grandir" (mother's live remix) — 6:25B-side :
# "Plus grandir" (mum's rap) — 4:10
# "Plus grandir" (live mix) — 4:50

;; CD maxi
# "Plus grandir" (live mix) — 4:50
# "Plus grandir" (mum's rap) — 4:10
# "Plus grandir" (mother's live remix) — 6:25

;; 12" maxi - PromoA-side :
# "Plus grandir" (live mix) — 4:05B-side :
# "Plus grandir" (live mix) — 4:50

; Digital download
# "Plus grandir" (album version - "Cendres de Lune") — 4:05
# "Plus grandir" (album version - "Les Mots") — 3:35
# "Plus grandir" (1989 live version) — 4:50
# "Plus grandir" (mother's live remix) — 6:25

Versions

; Official versions

References

External links

* [http://www.paroles.net/chanson/20244.1 "Plus grandir", lyrics and music video]