Nuit (song)

"Nuit"
Single by Fredericks, Goldman, Jones
from the album Fredericks Goldman Jones
B-side	"Je l'aime aussi"
Released	December 1990
Format	CD single, 7" single
Recorded	France
Genre	Pop
Length	5:39
Label	CBS
Writer(s)	Jean-Jacques Goldman, Michael Jones
Producer	Jean-Jacques Goldman, Erick Benzi
Certification	Silver France, 1991
Fredericks, Goldman, Jones singles chronology
"Nuit" (1990) "À nos actes manqués" (1991)

"Nuit" is the name of a 1990 song recorded by the French trio Jean-Jacques Goldman, Carole Fredericks and Michael Jones. It was the first single from their debut album, Fredericks Goldman Jones, on which the song features as the fifth track. It achieved success in terms of sales in France.

Background, lyrics and music

Goldman explained that "Nuit" was written in a very short time, i.e. just a few hours.^[1] He confessed that he was proud of this song, especially for its text.^[2] The music is inspired by Peter Green. The choice of "Nuit" as the first single from the album was difficult : the three singers did not agree initially, but ultimately chose this song, considering that it was very representative of the album which is "really based on vocals and guitars".^[3]

The song includes lyrics in French-language (written by Goldman) and in English-language (written by Jones and sung by Fredericks).

According Elia Habib, a specialist of French charts, this song is characterized by its "sweetness and lucidity". It is "mainly based on percussion, shooting background framework, and the electric guitar, expressive soloist which plays the refrain".^[4] In the last verse, Goldman and Fredericks mix their voices singing in both languages (Goldman sings again the lyrics from the first verse). The song ends with a solo guitar.

The song is included on the best of Pluriel 90-96^[5] and Intégrale 1990-2000, and on the live albums Sur scène and Un tour ensemble (on this last album, the song was performed by Jones and Goldman).

Chart performances and cover versions

In France, the single charted for 19 weeks on the singles chart, from 18 December 1990 to 13 April 1991. It debuted at number 29 and climbed quickly on the chart, reaching the top ten three weeks later. It remained there for nine weeks, peaking at number six on 16 February.^[6] The single was eventually certified Silver disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. This song sold about 202,000 copies and therefore is the most successful single of the trio.^[7]

Although the song was released in the Netherlands, United Kingdom (as CD single only) and Spain (promotional vinyl only), it failed to chart in these countries.

In December 1998, the song was performed on the French TV show Hit Machine by the female duet Native and Patrick Fiori.

Formats and track listings

• CD single

1. "Nuit" — 5:39
2. "Je l'aime aussi" — 5:07

• CD single - UK

1. "Nuit" — 4:54
2. "Chanson d'amour" — 4:07
3. "Je l'aime aussi" — 6:10

• 7" single

1. "Nuit" — 5:39
2. "Je l'aime aussi" — 5:07

Charts and certifications

Chart (1991)[6] Peak position French SNEP Singles Chart 6

Country Certification Date Sales certified France[7] Silver 1991 125,000

References

1. ^ Interview of JJ Godman, Europe 2, 10 March 1991
2. ^ "JJ Goldman encore et toujours", Guitar Magazine, 1994
3. ^ Interview of JJ Goldman, Salut, 1991
4. ^ Habib, Elia (2002) (in French). Muz hit.tubes. Alinéa Bis. p. 202. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X. 
5. ^ "Pluriel 90-96, track listing and charts" (in French). Lescharts. http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=3413&cat=a. Retrieved 8 May 2008. 
6. ^ ^{a b} ""Nuit", French Singles Chart" (in French). Lescharts. http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=27039&cat=s. Retrieved 7 May 2008. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Toutes les Certifications depuis 1973, database" (in French). Infodisc. http://www.infodisc.fr/Single_Certif.php. Retrieved 8 May 2008.