Souviens-toi du jour

"Souviens-toi du jour"
Single by Mylène Farmer
from the album Innamoramento
B-side Remix
Released 2 September 1999
(see: release history)
Format CD single, CD maxi, 12" maxi,
digital download (since 2005)
Recorded 1999, France
Genre Dance-pop, pop rock, house
Length 4:55 (single version)
5:03 (album version)
Label Polydor
Writer(s) Lyrics: Mylène Farmer
Music: Laurent Boutonnat
Producer(s) Laurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer singles chronology
"Je te rends ton amour"
(1999)		 "Souviens-toi du jour"
(1999)		 "Optimistique-moi"
(2000)
Innamoramento track listing
"Et si vieillir m'était conté"
(11)		 "Souviens-toi du jour"
(12)		 "Mylenium"
(13)

"Souviens-toi du jour" (English: "Remember the Day") is a 1999 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the third single from her fifth studio album Innamoramento and was released on 2 September 1999. Inspired by Primo Levi's book If This Is a Man, the song deals with the theme of the Holocaust. The song is perhaps best remembered for its controversial music video, which was generally viewed as disrespectful towards its own subject matter.

Background, writing and release

Initially, Farmer wanted to release the ballad "Et si vieillir m'était conté" as third single from the album Innamoramento. However, although promotional plans were already made, she changed her mind and preferred to release "Souviens-toi du jour", as her record label Universal wanted to market a rhythmic single to obtain higher sales than that of the previous single, "Je te rends ton amour".[1]

The song was much broadcast on radio, reaching a peak of number eight on French aiplay chart four months after the promotional CD had been sent. Some radios stations, including NRJ, aired the 'sweet guitar mix' version of the song.[2]

Among the various promotional formats, there was an orange envelope released on 2 September 1999. This envelope contains a silvery pocket within which there are seven stones transparent.[3] This is undoubtedly a "reference to the symbol of memory in the Jewish religion".[4]

Lyrics and music

The song openly refers to Primo Levi's book If This Is a Man, in which the author recounts his experience in the concentration camps.[5] On the back of the cover of the various formats, words in Hebrew "Zokher eth Ayom" are written and are also part of the lyrics. Farmer explained in an interview : "It is in Hebrew and it means exactly "Remember the Day", it is in the Torah. When I wrote this song, because (...) I have a bedside book called If This Is a Man precisely by Primo Levi, and which evokes the deportation and I wanted to talk about that (...), there are several possible readings but that's what I thought and to this idea, the need to remember these things."[2] However, as stated by Instant-Mag, the song is "full of hope and resolutely turned towards the potentiality of human beings to overcome its hatred", while the book seeks to "prove that the concentration camps were able to make the man inhuman, removing the brotherhood and mutual aid".[6] In its lyrics, "Souviens-toi du jour" is "the continuation and the antithesis of "Désenchantée", and is a plea for an alternation, a sublimated power, held by an ideal".[7] Some words of the song also refer to a poem by French author Pierre Reverdy, Esprit pesant.[8]

Music video

Mylène Farmer in the much debated videoclip "Souviens-toi du jour". Her transparent dress and her suggestive positions was considered as a lack of respect toward the Holocaust.

The video's screenplay was written by Farmer, and is a Requiem Publishing and Stuffed Monkey production, like all her previous singles, and was directed by Marcus Nispel,[9] who had previously worked with the singer on "XXL", "L'Instant X" and "Comme j'ai mal". It was shot over the course of two days in Los Angeles, and cost about 100,000 euros. The video was first broadcast on 21 September 1999, when the Mylenium Tour started.[10]

The video, which shows an apartment and its old furniture as they catch fire, was filmed in a building destined for destruction. Among the things that burn, there are a clock, a painting and some books, including Hitler's Mein Kampf and other German ideological books, and letters of the singer, as shows it the address on the envelopes.[11] Farmer wore a dress in plastic made by Thierry Mugler which had been worn by the singer when she performed "Ainsi soit-je..." in August 1997, and which began to melt during the shooting of the video, as it had difficulty to withstand heat.[10] Because of risks linked to the fire, there were firefighters present on the shooting.[12] Images of the video do not follow the chronological order of events, as some furniture are shown intact after being burned.[13]

This video is among the least appreciated by critics, partly due to its alleged "lack of respect" towards the Holocaust, as Farmer stands in suggestive positions, and her clothes are almost transparent. According to author Erwan Chuberre, the video "was made somewhat in haste and with modest means".[1] French magazine Instant-Mag said about the video: "The quality, good taste and value of this short film are frankly debatable. Not only it doesn't contribute towards the work, but moreover, it has a certain vibe that it was shot in a hurry, with a cock-and-bull accumulation of colorful images, which also have very little to do with the theme of the song. The gap is rather embarrassing, even oppressive, and some people find it downright insulting and inappropriate".[14] Farmer's position on a sofa, elbows resting on knees and head bowed as to protect herself from fire at the very end of the video, would be inspired by the text Le Brasier, written by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire,[15] in which it can be read: "Et pour toujours je suis assis dans un fauteuil (...) / Les flammes ont poussé sur moi comme des feuilles."[16]

Chart performances

In France, "Souviens-toi du jour" debuted at a peak position in the French SNEP Singles Chart, on 2 October 1999 when it directly entered the chart at number four. Despite its initial success, the single fell rather quickly the next weeks, although it managed to have a longer stretch in the top 50 (15 weeks) than the two previous singles from the album. It spent a total of 22 weeks in the top 100[17] and ranked at number 79 in the 1999 Annual Chart.[18] Certified silver single by the SNEP,[19] "Souviens-toi du jour" was the best-selling single released from the album Innamoramento.

In Belgium, the single appeared for nine weeks in the Ultratop 50, from 9 October to 4 December 1999, with a peak at number 18 in the third week[20] and was ranked at number 99 on 1999 End of the year chart.[21]

Live performances

Farmer promoted the song in two French television shows : Tapis rouge, broadcast on 11 September 1999 on France 2, and 100% Johnny, on 12 November 1999 on TF1, as Farmer was personally invited by Johnny Hallyday.[22][23]

"Souviens-toi du jour" was performed during the 2000 concerts tour with a simple choreography referring to the universal sign language, with her eight dancers. She wore a red dress with a very long train. After performing the song, Farmer congratulated the audience and said goodbye, then twice repeated the chorus with the audience. This performance was included on the live album and the DVD Mylenium Tour.[11]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "Souviens-toi du jour":[24]

No.TitleLength
1."Souviens-toi du jour" (single version)4:55
2."Souviens-toi du jour" (Royal G's radio mix)3:58
No.TitleLength
1."Souviens-toi du jour" (single version)4:55
2."Souviens-toi du jour" (Royal G's club mix)6:55
3."Souviens-toi du jour" (sweet guitar mix)4:11
4."Souviens-toi du jour" (remember mix)5:18
No.TitleLength
1."Souviens-toi du jour" (Royal G's club mix)6:55
2."Souviens-toi du jour" (sweet guitar mix)4:11
3."Souviens-toi du jour" (single version)4:55
4."Souviens-toi du jour" (remember mix)5:18
No.TitleLength
1."Souviens-toi du jour" (album version)5:03
2."Souviens-toi du jour" (2000 live version)5:18
No.TitleLength
1."Souviens-toi du jour" (single version)4:55
No.TitleLength
1."Souviens-toi du jour" (video)5:07

Release history

Date[24] Label Region Format Catalog
31 August 1999 Polydor France, Belgium CD single - Promo 9214
7" maxi - Promo 0218
Early September 1999 VHS - Promo —
28 September 1999 CD single 561 444-2
7" maxi 561 445-1
CD maxi 561 445-2

Official versions

Version[25] Length Album Remixed by Year Comment[11]
Album / Single version 4:55 Innamoramento,
Les Mots		 — 1999 See the previous sections
Radio edit 4:20 — Laurent Boutonnat 1999 This version is shorter on the end.
Royal G's radio mix 3:58 — Royal Garden Sound 1999 Farmer's voice is put forward. This version is slower than the album one.
Royal G's club mix 6:55 — Royal Garden Sound 1999 This dance and techno version includes the whole lyrics from the original version.
Sweet guitar mix 4:11 — Royal Garden Sound 1999 This jazzy version, accompanied by guitars, includes the whole of lyrics from the original version.
Sweet guitar mix (short version) 3:45 — Royal Garden Sound 1999 It is the same version than the 'sweet guitar mix', with one refrain is deleted.
Remember mix 5:18 — Stray Dog Music 1999 This version is the most rhythm one of all the remixes of "Souviens-toi du jour". Farmer sings in Hebrew during the musical bridge.
Music video 5:07 Music Videos III, Music Videos II & III — 1999
Live version
(recorded in 2000)		 5:17 (audio)
7:48 (video)		 Mylenium Tour — 2000 This live version is very similar to that of the album. On the DVD and VHS, there is one refrain added. (see Mylenium Tour)

Credits and personnel

These are the credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single:[24][26]

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[20] 18
French Airplay Chart[27] 8
French SNEP Singles Chart[17] 4

Certifications and sales

Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales
France[19] Silver 15 December 1999 125,000 130,000[28][29]

End of year charts

End of year chart (1999) Position
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[21] 99
French Singles Chart[18] 79

References

  • Bee, Caroline; Bioy, Antoine; Thiry, Benjamin (January 2006). Mylène Farmer, la part d'ombre (in French). L'Archipel. ISBN 2-84187-790-6. 
  • Cachin, Benoît (2006). Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer (in French). Tournon. ISBN 2-35144-000-5. 
  • Chuberre, Erwan (2007). L'Intégrale Mylène Farmer (in French). City. ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7. 
  • Chuberre, Erwan (2008). Mylène Farmer, phénoménale (in French). City. ISBN 978-2-35288-176-6. 
  • Chuberre, Erwan (18 June 2009). Mylène Farmer : Des mots sur nos désirs (in French). Alphée. ISBN 2-7538-0477-X. 
  • Royer, Hugues (2008). Mylène, biographie (in French). Spain: Flammarion. ISBN 978-2-35287-139-2. 

Notes

  1. 1 2 Chuberre, 2008, pp. 212-13.
  2. 1 2 "Mylène Farmer - "Souviens-toi du jour" - Histoire du single" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  3. ↑ "Souviens-toi du jour". Jukebox (in French). Devant-soi. 179. June 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2008.
  4. ↑ Bee, Caroline; Brunet, Océane; Thiry, Benjamin; Parpette, Jennifer (2001). "Fans à tiques - Kollectors". Instant-Mag (in French). Pantin: Tear Prod. 7: 31.
  5. ↑ Chuberre, 2007, pp. 187-88.
  6. ↑ Bee, Caroline; Anton, Sonia; Thiry, Benjamin (2002). "Et Mylène pompait, pompait...". Instant-Mag (in French). Pantin: Tear Prod. 8: 14.
  7. ↑ Bee, Caroline; Fournier, Fabien; Bioy, Antoine (2004). "Politiquement (in)correcte". Instant-Mag (in French). Pantin: Tear Prod. 17: 6.
  8. ↑ Bee, Caroline; Brunet, Océane; Bioy, Antoine; Delayre, Frédéric (2004). "Quand Pierre Reverdy Mylène". Instant-Mag (in French). Pantin: Tear Prod. 16: 11.
  9. ↑ Chuberre, 2009, pp. 165-66.
  10. 1 2 "Mylène Farmer - Souviens-toi du jour - Clip" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 Cachin, 2006, pp. 247-51.
  12. ↑ Royer, 2008, p. 159.
  13. ↑ Bee, 2006, p. 75.
  14. ↑ Bee, Caroline; Brunet, Océane; Thiry, Benjamin (2000). "Il y a une pince à linge dans les gâteaux apéritifs". Instant-Mag (in French). Pantin: Tear Prod. 3: 8.
  15. ↑ Bee, Caroline; Brunet, Océane; Thiry, Benjamin; Bénard, Katia (2001). "Ne crachez plus sur Marcus!". Instant-Mag (in French). Pantin: Tear Prod. 6: 20.
  16. ↑ Royer, 2008, p. 164.
  17. 1 2 "Souviens-toi du jour", French SNEP Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved December 24, 2007)
  18. 1 2 "1999 French Singles Chart" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  19. 1 2 "French certifications in 1999" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  20. 1 2 ""Souviens-toi du jour", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  21. 1 2 "1999 Belgian Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  22. ↑ ""Souviens-toi du jour", television performances" (in French). Sans-logique. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  23. ↑ "Mylène Farmer - "Souviens-toi du jour" - TV" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  24. 1 2 3 "Mylène Farmer - "Souviens-toi du jour" - Supports" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  25. ↑ "Mylène Farmer - "Souviens-toi du jour" - Versions" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  26. ↑ "Mylène Farmer - "Souviens-toi du jour" - Crédits" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  27. ↑ "Mylène Farmer - "Souviens-toi du jour" - Classements" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  28. ↑ Royer, 2008, p. 361.
  29. ↑ Cachin, 2006, p. 248.
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