"Fais-moi une place" is a 1989 pop song recorded by French singer Julien Clerc. Written by Françoise Hardy with a music composed by Clerc, it was the first single from his 15th studio album Fais-moi une place, on which it appears as the seventh track, and was released in January 1990. It achieved success in France where it was a top ten hit and won the category "Song of the year" at the 1991 Victoires de la Musique.
| "Fais-moi une place" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Julien Clerc | ||||
| from the album Fais-moi une place | ||||
| B-side | "Gare à la casse" | |||
| Released | January 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Pop, chanson | |||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Composer(s) | Julien Clerc | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Françoise Hardy | |||
| Producer(s) | Phil Ramone | |||
| Julien Clerc singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and writing
editClerc and Hardy had a first collaboration in 1988, on Clerc's album Les Aventures à l'eau. In 1989, he proposed to Hardy several of his compositions, but she was not interested by them; however, the last one he played, the one which was later that of "Fais-moi une place", pleased her, though the melody was not finished. Hardy had an audio cassette of the composition, and about three days later, she sent Clerc a version of "Fais-moi une place" with her own lyrics and sung by her, asking him not to change a single thing, as she deemed that the first attempt was always good and that she would not rewrite the lyrics. Clerc eventually recorded the song in New York.[1][2]
Music video
editThe black and white music video for "Fais-moi une place" was directed by Didier Le Pecheur.[3]
Critical reception
edit"Fais-moi une place" was elected "Song of the year" at the 1991 Victoires de la Musique. Elia Habib, an expert of the French charts, qualified it as a "1990s standard",[4] and Anthony Martin of RTL deemed it a "great" and "melancholy" song.[1]
Cover versions
editIn 1989, the same year of the recording by Clerc, Hardy made her own version of "Fais-moi une place" on the compilation Vingt ans vingt titres, as she stated she liked the song. In 1990, American group Comateens covered the song in a very bubble gum version titled "A place for Me", which was released as a single in 1991.[1][4] "Fais-moi une place" was also covered by Michel Delpech (Les Plus Belles Chansons françaises, 1996), Jérémy Amelin of Star Academy 5 (Les Meilleurs Moments, 2005), Maurane and Christophe Willem (Kiss and Love for Sidaction, 2014) and Liane Foly (Crooneuse, 2016). In 2019, Clerc covered the song as a duet with his daughter Vanille and considered that this version expressed more the love between parents and children.[1]
Chart performance
editIn France, "Fais-moi une place" debuted at number 30 on the chart edition of 10 February 1990, which was the highest debut that week; then it climbed every week and reached a peak of number eight in its fourth week, and remained for a total of 13 weeks in the top 50.[5] On the European Hot 100, it started at number 89 on 3 March 1990, reached a peak of number 34 in its third week,[6] and appeared on the chart for ten weeks. Much played on radio, it also charted for eight weeks on the European Airplay Hot 100, with a peak for two weeks at number 21,[7] and was number one on the French AM national aiplay.[8]
Track listings
edit- CD single[9]
- "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35
- "Gare à la casse" — 3:52
- "Le Verrou" — 2:22
- 7" single[10]
- "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35
- "Gare à la casse" — 3:52
- 7" single - Promo[11]
- "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35
- 12" single - Promo[12]
- "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35
Charts
edit| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] | 43 |
| Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[7] | 21 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] | 34 |
| France (Airplay Chart [AM Stations])[8] | 1 |
| France (SNEP)[5] | 8 |
Release history
edit| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 1990 | CD single[9] | Virgin |
| 7" single[10] | |||
| Promotional 7" single[11] | |||
| Promotional 12" single[12] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Martin, Anthony (29 October 2020). "Découvrez "Fais-moi une place" de Julien Clerc chanté en anglais par Comateens" (in French). RTL. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ Dufreigne, Philippe (26 July 2020). "Les secrets des tubes : "Fais-moi une place" de Julien Clerc". bfmtv.fr (in French). Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "France – Spotlight" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 4. 27 January 1990. p. 14. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinéa Bis. p. 181. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
- ^ a b "Julien Clerc – Fais-moi une place" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 11. 17 March 1990. p. IV-V. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 30 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 12. 24 March 1990. p. III. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 30 September 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Playlist report – The most played records in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 4. 27 January 1990. p. II. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Fais-moi une place" at Discogs, CD single 1 France (Julien Clerc – "Fais-moi une place") (accessdate: 30 September 2021).
- ^ a b "Fais-moi une place" at Discogs, 7" single Promo France (Julien Clerc – "Fais-moi une place") (accessdate: 30 September 2021).
- ^ a b "Fais-moi une place" at Discogs, 12" single Promo France (Julien Clerc – "Fais-moi une place") (accessdate: 30 September 2021).
- ^ a b "Fais-moi une place" at Discogs, 12" single Promo France (Julien Clerc – "Fais-moi une place") (accessdate: 30 September 2021).
- ^ "Julien Clerc – Fais-moi une place" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 September 2021.