Le Jerk

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“Le Jerk”
“Le Jerk” cover
Single by Thierry Hazard
from the album Pop Music
B-side Goodbye Mary
Released June 1990
Format CD single
CD maxi
7" single
Recorded 1990
Genre Pop music
Length 3:58
Writer(s) Thierry Hazard
Producer Thierry Hazard
Daniel Glikmans
Certification Gold France, 1990
Thierry Hazard singles chronology
"Le Jerk"
(1990)		 "Poupée Psychédélique"
(1990)

"Le Jerk" is a 1990 song recorded by the French musician, songwriter and singer known under the pseudonym of Thierry Hazard. It is the first single from his debut album Pop Music and was one of the 1990 summer hits in France. It is also Hazard's signature song, although he has released other successful songs.

Contents

[edit] Background

The song was actually released as single in 1989. But then it passed unnoticed (as the previous single "Poupée psychédélique", in 1988). "Le Jerk" was re-released the year after, just at the beginning of the summer.

The song's name refers to a 70s popular dance and was also given to Hazard's best of Le Jerk, released in July 2001[1].

The single's cover was made by the French designer Serge Clerc. The role of Roger is played by Christophe Salengro, a French actor and dancer.[2]

[edit] Lyrics and music

"Le Jerk" was a huge success in the French discothèques. Elia Habib, a specialist of the French charts, considers that this is due to the "modern and lively writing" of the song[3].

The song tells the story of two characters, Joséphine and Roger, who have a routine life (she works as a secretary while he works in a factory). Both are eagerly awaiting the end of each day to take the bus to go dancing the jerk at 'La Boîte à Gogos'. There, they meet, fall in love, get married and give birth to quadruplets, named Gustave, Alphonse, Arthur and Philibert. Thus, the jerk had saved from their monotonous universe and made them able to discover love[3].

The song has been accused of plagiarism by the publisher of Jean-Jacques Goldman, as the song's refrain is similar to that of "Quand la musique est bonne". However, the court action was cancelled[3].

The song is performed with two black female vocalists who appear in the music video.

[edit] Chart performance

In France, the single debuted at number 38 on June 16, 1990, on the French SNEP Singles Chart (Top 50). It gained some places almost every week and eventually reached #2, on October 27 (in its 20th week of attendance). It remained for 17 weeks in the top 10 and for 27 weeks on the chart[4], making the song one of the most successful one of the year. The single was certified Gold disc by the SNEP, the French certificator, for more than 500,000 copies sold[5].

According to the Infodisc website, 523,000 copies of the single were sold[6], and "Le Jerk" is the 509th best-selling single of all time in France[7].

[edit] Track listings

CD-Single
  1. "Le Jerk" (3:58)
  2. "Goodbye Mary" (4:19)
7"-Single
  1. "Le Jerk" (3:58)
  2. "Goodbye Mary" (4:19)
CD-Maxi
  1. "Le Jerk" (3:58)
  2. "Goodbye Mary" (4:19)
  3. "Le Jerk" (Extended Version)

[edit] Charts, certifications and sales

Chart (1990) Peak
position[4]
French Singles Chart 2
Annual Chart (1990) Position
French Singles Chart 4
Country Certification Sales/shipments
France Gold[5] 523,000[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Le Jerk Lescharts.com (Retrieved January 10, 2008)
  2. ^ Nos années Top, clips et 45 tours : 1984-1991, Marc Lemonier, 2008, p. 96 (ISBN 225807648X)
  3. ^ a b c Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, 2002, p. 193-194 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  4. ^ a b "Le Jerk", in French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 10, 2008)
  5. ^ a b Thierry Hazard's certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved January 10, 2008)
  6. ^ a b Certifications of Thierry Hazard's singles Infodisc.fr (Retrieved February 10, 2008)
  7. ^ Best-selling singles of all time in France Infodisc.fr (Retrieved February 10, 2008)