Optimistique-moi
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| “Optimistique-moi” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Mylène Farmer from the album Innamoramento |
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| Released | February 22, 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format | CD single CD maxi 12" maxi 7" maxi (U.S.) Digital download (since 2005) |
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| Recorded | 1999, France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Pop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 4:50 (single version) 5:27 (album version) |
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| Label | Polydor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Text & Music : Mylène Farmer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | Laurent Boutonnat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Certification | Silver France, 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mylène Farmer singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.JPG/200px-Optimistique-moi_(maxi).JPG)
"Optimistique-moi" is a 1999 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Fourth single from her fifth studio album, Innamoramento, it was released on February 22, 2000.
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[edit] Background and writing
The song was one of the most expected by Farmer's fans, especially because it was the first single that has been fully composed - lyrics and music - by the singer. Released in February 2000, the song was first presented to the French show NRJ Music Awards.[1]
A promotional envelope, limited to 150 copies, was sent to radio stations on January 11, but several of them were stolen within the recording company, generating a judicial inquiry.[2] Unlike her previous singles, Farmer decided to release two different digipacks for the remixes, which certainly helped to increase the single's sales. It should also be noted that for the first time in the singer's career, the song was remixed in the U.S. where it was released in underground boxes, with only the words "MF", which allowed to not disclose the name of the artist.[1]
There are several remixes on the various media and the song.
[edit] Lyrics and music
With regard to the lyrics, two interpretations can be made. It is both a love and reproachful song towards the two parents : a version for the mother and one for the father. The words are ambiguous : it is unknown whether the song is a blame or a thanks. However, some verses clearly refer to incest.[3] [4]
The song seems to be constructed as a dialogue between Farmer and her mother who addresses many criticisms to her daughter. The singer says feel more secure with her father.[5]
According to Instant-Mag, the song "is probably one of the most powerful, mysterious and violent that Farmer has ever written. The singer addressed to a man she compares to his father "who was not like that" and "who was more clever"". However, "the father would do unthinkable acts (incest), but at the same time, his cuddles would cease her bruises. The ancient relationship at this powerful and magnified father, very ambiguous, is violently opposed to a mutual love that is dying".[6]
Several words of the chorus may refer to a lesbian poem by Paul Verlaine, Printemps.[7]
[edit] Music video
The video was directed by Michael Haussman who also directed several videoclips for Madonna, Richard Marx and Paula Abdul. The screenplay was written by Farmer, and as for the majority of the singer's videos, it is a Requiem Publishing and Stuffed Monkey production. It was shot in Prague for three days[8] with a budget of about 150,000 euros, making it the second most expensive singles's video from the album Innamoramento (after "L'Âme-stram-gram"). The Road Safety Department wanted to censor the end of the video because the position of the singer - standing in the back of a truck - was considered as a bad example that young people could reproduce[9].
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The video features Farmer, a magician and some athletes who perform circus acts under a big tent. Many animals are included, such as lions, elephants, a snake, a monkey and several doves. At the beginning, Farmer crosses the big tent of a circus walking on a wire suspended in the air. She almost falls several times. While jugglers and clowns look at her with suspicion, a magician is benevolent towards her. After being lowered her wire, she starts to move in balance on a leather ball, with a little monkey on her shoulders. Then, the magician dresses Farmer with a white coat and puts her into a big red box, which is then pierced by some dwarfs with swords. When the box opens, several birds fly away and Farmer ends up in a truck in the countryside, the arms outspread. She seems to be very happy. At the end of video, the magician has aged.[10]
According to some analyses, the fact that Farmer moves in balance on a ball would symbolize "the cycle, the eternal repetition", and would evoke "the idea of a route to accomplish". However, "thanks to the magic of her lover / father (the magician), the opportunity is given to Farmer to escape from her martyred life." In addition, the video would be "fraught with frequent allusions to the phallus" (knives, daggers, skittles, whips, elephant's trunk, all of which are used in a manner suggestive).[11] The woman attached to the wheel could represent the singer's mother, the box pierced by swords would represent the uterus, and the doves would symbolize "the outcome of a liberating sexual relationship".[12] Several elements of the video refer to Hector Malot's novel, Sans Famille.[13]
The video was broadcast for the first time on M6, on February 21, 2000. In November 2000, "Optimistique-moi" won the price Best Video on the M6 Awards.[1]
[edit] Chart performances
Although announced as one of the biggest hits of the album, "Optimistique-moi" had a similar running in the Charts to that of the three other singles from Innamoramento.
In France, it debuted at #7 on 26 February, 2000, and reached again this position two weeks later, thanks to the release of the CD maxi. As a result, this single "confirmed the disciplined loyalty of the singer's fans, ready to pounce on any new disc from its first week of released". This was the 19th Farmer's Top ten in France.[14] However, the single kept on dropping fairly quickly and stayed just 9 weeks in the top 50. It left the chart after 15 weeks of attendance.[15]. Nonetheless, the single was certified Sliver disc by the SNEP, on June 29, 2000, that is to say four months and one week after its release.[16]
In Switzerland and Belgium, "Optimistique-moi"'s rankings were also disappointing. In the Swiss Singles Chart, it peaked at #58 in its 2nd and 3rd week, on March 19 and 26, then fell quickly and left the chart at the end of eight weeks.[17] In Belgian Ultratop 40 Singles Chart, it reached number 15, making it the second successful single from Innamoramento, behing "L'Âme-stram-gram".[18]
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[edit] TV performances
In 2000, Farmer participated in four television shows in which she sang in playback "Optimistique-moi" : NRJ Music Awards (January 22, TF1), Les Années tube (March 3, TF1), Hit Machine (March 11, M6) and Tapis rouge (March 25, France 2).[19] At these occasions, the song was accompanied by a choreography performed by Farmer and six dancers. The singer wore a dress made by John Galliano.[8]
[edit] Formats and track listings
A-side :
B-side:
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B-side:
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[edit] Versions
- Official versions
| Version | Length | Album | Remixed by | Year | Comment[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Album version | 4:22 | Innamoramento, Les Mots | 1999 | See the previous sections | |
| Single version | 4:17 | 2000 | This version is very similar to that of the album. | ||
| Opti-mystic radio mix | 4:29 | Hot Sly and Visa | 2000 | This version includes the whole of lyrics from the original version, but with more strings and percussion, and with a man's voice in the background. | |
| Optimistic mix | 6:29 | Hoop | 2000 | This is a dance and techno remix devoted to nightclubs. | |
| Opti-mix-tic | 5:26 | D-Phunk T. | 2000 | This is a dance and techno version. | |
| S-man's rugged terrain mix | 6:26 | Roger Sanchez | 2000 | It is a dance remix. | |
| Tha ATV dub mix | 6:24 | Roger Sanchez | 2000 | All the words of the original song are removed, and Farmer sings only "Optimistique". | |
| Opti-mystic remix | 6:29 | Hot Sly and Visa | 2000 | This dance remix contains all lyrics from the album version. The musical introduction lasts more than one minute. | |
| Live version (recorded in 2000) | 4:22 | Mylenium Tour | 2000 | This live version is similar to that of the album. See Mylenium Tour | |
| Junior Jack psycho vocal mix | 8:04 | RemixeS | Junior Jack | 2003 | The introduction has disco sonorities, using much drum machines and percussion. This dance version includes the whole of words from the original version, but with many echoes of Farmer's voice. |
- Unofficial mentionable fan remixes[20]
- Guyom's time is running out remix (4:06)
[edit] Credits and personnel
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[edit] Charts, certifications, sales
[edit] References
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