C'est dans l'air

"C'est dans l'air"
Single by Mylène Farmer
from the album Point de suture
B-side Remixes
Released 27 April 2009
(see: release history)
Format CD single, CD maxi, 12" maxi,
digital download
Recorded 2008
Genre Electro pop, club music, Hi-NRG
Length 4:35 (album version)
3:35 (radio edit)
Label Polydor, Universal Music
Writer(s) Lyrics: Mylène Farmer
Music: Laurent Boutonnat
Producer Laurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer singles chronology
"Si j'avais au moins..."
(2008)		 "C'est dans l'air"
(2009)		 "Sextonik"
(2009)
Point de suture track listing
"Sextonik"
(8)		 "C'est dans l'air"
(9)		 "Si j'avais au moins..."
(10)

"C'est dans l'air" (English: "It's in the Air") is a 2008 electronic dance song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It is the fourth single from her seventh studio album Point de suture. The CD single was released on 27 April 2009, then the other formats one week later. Unlike Farmer's other three previous singles, the song failed to enter at number one of the French Singles Chart, but topped the chart the week after, becoming Farmer's fourth consecutive number-one hit in France. Surprisingly, the song was also announced as the first single from the live album N°5 on Tour, which was released on 7 December 2009.[1]

Contents

Background and release

On 27 March, the CD promo and the mp3 version were sent to the radio stations, and the song was officially announced as the fourth single from the album.[2] The NRJ All French webradio began to air the song in a radio version.[3]

Many fans were happy by this choice[4] because, according to a poll made on Mylene.net, most of them wanted this song as third single, instead of "Si j'avais au moins..."[5]

On 10 April, the cover artwork was revealed on Mylene.net. On 27 April, the CD single was released and all the versions were available digitally. The two CD maxi and the 12" were released on 4 May.[3]

On 26 November of the same year, it was announced that the song would be re-released in the live version to be the first single from N°5 on Tour. The music video by François Hanss was available on the Internet on 27 November.[3]

Lyrics and music

Farmer turns a noun into a verb in the refrain, "coïter", which do not exist in French-language.[6] According to the psychologist Royer, the song contains touches of humor, especially in the verses in which the singer states in a deep voice "all the sins of the world".[7] In this song which appears as "a form of apology for sin",[8] the singer became "the spokewoman of the misunderstoods and the madmen".[9] According to the author Erwan Chuberre, the song is a "Dionysian hymn" which "exhorts us to transform our destiny", and that sums up very well the philosophy of the album Point de suture.[10]

Music video

The music video was aired on television on 15 April 2009. Directed by 3D-animations designer Alain Escalle,[11] it was shot in black and white, and shows Farmer dancing with skeletons in the background.[12] Archival nuclear test footage is also used in the video, and the face of the singer turns sometimes into a skull, with light effects. At the and of the video, the Earth is destroyed after an atomic explosion.[13]

The graphic elements of this video are manufactured from the visual elements used for the spectacle on scene and refers to universality of the world through the geometrical primitives. We find there the set of themes of a nuclear expensive destruction already present in are film " The tale of the floating world". As well as the marked reference of "rage net" (1988), "mothlight" (1963) and "Dark tower" of Stan Brakhage experimental film director died in 2003 and the group of creation of the video art between years 80/90. Escalle had reference he used before in the Charles Winter the photographic work (Flash from the Rhumkorff machine 1850) he used before the same theme with the "Fantôme d'amour" video installation, with an evocation of a dancing woman playing with thunder. The whole is in black and white. And the technique mixes different sources once again: 3D, Images the sun and of the planet Earth, Images of branches of trees and of forest in black and white then into negative, reprocessed and then deformed through numerical filters whose characteristic is to generate images automatic flashes. This mixture finds its final key in the use of painting on the film which gives to the clip its aspect ages and worn by time.[14]

The video received mixed reviews. It was sometimes accused of "feeding morbid obsessions or of shocking by simple taste for provocation". However, Chuberre considered the video as "direct and forceful", and which perfectly announced the "exciting and electric atmosphere" of Farmer's 2009 concerts. Chuberre also believes that the video provides "an universal truth: the destructive power at the center of this substance can destroy us, but can also help us to build."[10]

The music video for the live single was composed of images from the concert at the Stade de France in Paris, on 12 September 2009. It was for the first time revealed to the public on 27 November 2009.[15]

Promotion and live performances

The song was never performed on television. It was sung during the 2009 tour: Farmer wore a black leather jacket with a golden cross in the back, and her dancers a beige jackets with a black cross in the back. They performed almost the same choreography as used in the music video, including some additional gestures. After the main part of the song, the musicians and dancers are presented on the screen above the stairs.

Critical reception

Reviews

The song has a techno, minimalistic rhythm at first, evolving to more techno which resembles "Optimistique-moi". The style of the lyrics, however, may relate to "L'Instant X" and the universe of French artist Zazie, as there is a lot of satire and sarcasm.[16] Lyrics laugh at the "lame" things in life, and then goes on to talk about breathing and necessity.

The song was criticized by some media, including City Gay.[17] According to Libération, the song "uses a fairly impressive art of set language".[18] Télé Moustique deemed the verses are composed of "thoughts that will not revolutionize the songwriting".[19] By contrast, Le Nouvel Observateur qualified it as a "very dancing" song[20] and Voici even stated it is "calibrated to make the deads dance".[21] Musique Radio deemed the song is an "original" and "beautiful up-tempo song" which seems to be musically similar to "Dégénération".[22]

Chart performances

The music video reached number seven on the television airplay chart in its third week, on 2 May 2009. It also debuted at its peak at number 48 on the club chart.[23] The single went straight to number two on the singles chart, being unable to dislodge Magic System and Khaled's hit "Même pas fatigué !!!",[24] then climbed to number one the next week thanks to the CD maxi and the vinyl sales, selling 16,631 units that week.[25][26] It allowed Farmer to establish a new record: to rank eight singles at number-one in France. It was also the first time since "Les Mots" (2001), the duet with Seal, that a Farmer's single did not reach its peak position in its first week on the French singles chart. However, the following week, it dropped to number five, but managed to stay for eight weeks in the top ten. The song debuted at a peak of number 26 on the digital chart and remained for three weeks in the top 50.[23]

For the same reason, the single climbed to number 44 on 17 May 2009 on the Swiss Singles Chart, after a debut at number 88, then fell off the chart, but re-entered for a sole week after Farmer's concerts in Geneva in September 2009. The song also reached number seven in its second week on the Eurochart Hot 100[27] and entered the Ultratop 40 in Belgium at number thirteen on 16 May 2009.[28]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "C'est dans l'air":[29][30]

First release

  • CD single
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (single version) 4:33
2. "C'est dans l'air" (instrumental version) 4:33
  • CD maxi 1
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (single version) 4:33
2. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B. dance mix) 5:10
3. "C'est dans l'air" (house club mix) 6:30
4. "C'est dans l'air" (Fat Phaze remix) 6:10
  • CD maxi 2
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (extended club mix) 5:30
2. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B. remix) 6:00
3. "C'est dans l'air" (Wize remix) 6:30
4. "C'est dans l'air" (extended instrumental) 5:30
  • 12" maxi
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (extended club mix) 5:30
2. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B. remix) 6:00
3. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B. dance mix) 5:10
4. "C'est dans l'air" (house club remix) 6:30
  • CD single - Promo
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (radio edit) 3:35
  • CD maxi - Promo - Club remixes 1
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (extended club mix) 5:30
2. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B. dance mix) 5:10
3. "C'est dans l'air" (house club remix) 6:30
  • CD maxi - Promo - Club remixes 2
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B. remix) 6:00
2. "C'est dans l'air" (Wize remix) 6:30
3. "C'est dans l'air" (Fat Phaze remix) 6:10

Second release

  • MP3 - Promo
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (live radio edit) 3:49
2. "C'est dans l'air" (Tiësto remix radio edit) 4:18
  • CD single 1 - Promo
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (live radio edit) 3:49
  • CD single 2 - Promo
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (Tiësto remix radio edit) 4:18
  • CD single - Club remix - Promo
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (Tiësto remix) 9:51
  • CD maxi - Club remix - Promo
No. Title Length
1. "C'est dans l'air" (Tiësto remix) 9:51
2. "C'est dans l'air" (live version) 9:08
3. "C'est dans l'air" (extended club mix) 5:30
4. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B dance mix) 5:10
5. "C'est dans l'air" (Greg B remix) 6:00
6. "C'est dans l'air" (house club remix) 6:30
  • Digital download

All the versions

Credits

These are the credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single:[29][31]

Release history

Date[29][30] Label Country Format Catalog
27 March 2009 Polydor Belgium, France, Switzerland CD single - Promo
1 April 2009 CD remixes 1 - Promo 12319
CD remixes 2 - Promo 12323
27 April 2009 CD single 531 847-8
4 May 2009 CD maxi 1 531 847-7
CD maxi 2 531 847-9
5 May 2009 12" maxi 531 847-6
30 November 2009 MP3 - Promo —
14 December 2009 CD single - Promo 13237
CD maxi - Promo 13243
January 2010 CD maxi - Remixes - Promo 13237

Official versions

Version[32] Length Album Remixed by Year Comment
Album version 4:29 Point de suture — 2008 See the previous sections
Extended club mix 5:30 — Laurent Boutonnat 2009 This version is similar to the album one but is longer and contains extra beats
Instrumental 4:33 — — 2009 All the lyrics are deleted.
Extended instrumental 5:30 — — 2009 This version is similar to the Extended club mix, but all the lyrics are deleted
Single version 4:33 — — 2009
Radio edit 3:35 — — 2009 The musical introduction is shortened and a refrain is deleted
Fat Phaze remix 6:10 — Olivier Huguenard and Emmanuel Plégat 2009
Greg B remix 6:00 — Greg B 2009
Greg B dance mix 5:10 — Greg B 2009 This version is similar to the Greg B remix, but there are more dance sounds
House club remix 6:30 — Greg B 2009 It contains a sample from "Show Me Love"
Wize remix 6:30 — Basile Fanon 2009 This is an electro version in which the voice is distorted in the refrains
Music video 3:49 — — 2009
Live version
(recorded in 2009)		 6:08 N°5 on Tour — 2009 This live version uses some elements from the 'Extended club remix', especially during the introduction.
Live radio edit 3:49 — — 2009 Some sounds of the 'Extended club mix' are used during the musical bridge.
Live music video 4:40 N°5 on Tour — 2009
Live version radio edit 3:50 — — 2009 The musical introduction is shortened with crowd sounds fading in and two middle refrains are deleted.
Tiesto radio edit 4:18 — Tiesto 2009 This remix was made to promote the live single. It is an electro version which uses many synthesizer sounds. It is devoted to radio stations.
Tiesto remix 9:51 — Tiesto 2009 This remix is similar to the 'Tiesto radio edit', but much longer. It is devoted to night clubs.

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[28] 13
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[27] 7
French Digital Chart[33] 26
French SNEP Singles Chart[34] 1
Swiss Singles Chart[35] 44

Year-end charts

Chart (2009) Position
Eurochart Hot 100[36] 68
French Airplay Chart[37] 65
French Singles Chart[38] 13

Sales

Country Certification Physical sales Digital downloads
France — 60,000[39] 2,000

Chart successions

Preceded by
"Même pas fatigué !!!" by Magic System and Khaled		 French SNEP number-one single
9 May 2009 (1 week)		 Succeeded by
"Même pas fatigué !!!" by Magic System and Khaled

References

  • Chuberre, Erwan (18 June 2009) (in French). Mylène Farmer : Des mots sur nos désirs. Alphée. ISBN 275380477X. 
  • Royer, Hugues (2008) (in French). Mylène, biographie. Spain: Flammarion. ISBN 978-2-35287-139-2. 

Notes

  1. ^ "Single live enfin révélé" (in French). Mylene.net. 26 November 2009. http://www.mylene.net/modules/index.php?r=4&z=2294. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 
  2. ^ Palhier, Nicolas (27 March 2009). "Mylène Farmer annonce le 4ème extrait de Point de suture" (in French). Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/mylene-farmer-nouveau-single-dans-air/267086. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
  3. ^ a b c "Mylène Farmer - "C'est dans l'air" - Histoire du single" (in French). Mylene.net. http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer_c-est-dans-l-air_histoire.php. Retrieved 18 July 2010. 
  4. ^ Cadet, Thierry (27 March 2009). ""C'est dans l'air": nouveau single de Mylène Farmer" (in French). Chartsinfrance. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Mylene-Farmer/news-67722.html. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
  5. ^ Cadet, Thierry (15 December 2008). "Farmer propose le single "Si j'avais au moins..."" (in French). Chartsinfrance. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Mylene-Farmer/news-67250.html. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  6. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 197.
  7. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 279.
  8. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 314.
  9. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 294.
  10. ^ a b Chuberre, 2009, pp. 232-34.
  11. ^ "Alain Escalle — Réalisations, 2006-2008" (in French). Escalle. http://www.escalle.com/pagesweb/rea_2006_2008.html. Retrieved 3 July 2009. 
  12. ^ "Mylène Farmer danse avec des squelettes" (in French). 20 Minutes (Devant-soi). 16 April 2009. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2009/04/16-04-2009-20minutes.jpg. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  13. ^ "La danse macabre de Mylène Farmer..." (in French). Music Actu. 16 April 2009. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2009/04/16-04-2009-musicactu.jpg. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  14. ^ "Le clip est un rapport à l'universel" (in French). IAO magazine. June 2009. 
  15. ^ Cadet, Thierry (27 November 2009). ""C'est dans l'air", le nouveau clip live de Farmer" (in French). Chartsinfrance. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Mylene-Farmer/news-69011.html. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
  16. ^ Babion-Colomb, Arnaud (18 August 2008). "Mylène Farmer: Frappe chirurgicale" (in French). Hit Muse Mag. http://www.hitmusemag.com/Mylene_Farmer__Frappe_chirurgicale-1575-hitmusemag.html. Retrieved 13 September 2008. 
  17. ^ "Point de suture, Mylène Farmer, sans surprise..." (in French). Cité Gay. http://musique.citegay.com/THEMES/CULTURE/MUSIQUE/252448/content_visu.htm. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  18. ^ Perrin, Ludovic (26 August 2008). "Mylène Farmer sort un septième album peu inspirée, sans (contre)façon" (in French). Libération (Mylene.net). http://www.mylene.net/img_data/liberation_26082008.jpg. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  19. ^ L., L. (27 August 2008). "Point à la ligne" (in French). Télé Moustique (Mylene.net). http://www.mylene.net/img_data/telemoustique_27082008_02.jpg. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  20. ^ "Les sorties de disques de la semaine" (in French). Le Nouvel Observateur. 28 March 2009. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2008/08/28-08-2008-nouvelobs.jpg. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  21. ^ R., H. (8 September 2008). "Mylène Farmer, l'électro choc" (in French). Voici (Mylene.net). http://www.mylene.net/img_data/voici_08092008_01.jpg. Retrieved 28 March 2009. 
  22. ^ "Mylène Farmer: "C'est dans l'air" en écoute" (in French). Musique Radio. 27 March 2009. http://www.musiqueradio.com/article_news7648_mylene-farmer--c-est-dans-l-air-en-ecoute.php. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
  23. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer - "C'est dans l'air" - Classements" (in French). Mylene.net. http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer_c-est-dans-l-air_classements.php. Retrieved 27 April 2009. 
  24. ^ La Rédaction (5 May 2009). "Top Albums: Kery James prend le pouvoir" (in French). Chartsinfrance. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Kery-James/news-67881.html. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  25. ^ Cadet, Thierry (12 May 2009). "Tops: Mylène Farmer et Calogero prennent la tête" (in French). Chartsinfrance. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Mylene-Farmer/news-67859.html. Retrieved 12 May 2009. 
  26. ^ Décant, Charles (13 May 2009). "Disques: 4ème numéro un consécutif pour Mylène Farmer" (in French). Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/ventes-disques-mylene-farmer-air-calogero-embellie/275990. Retrieved 13 May 2009. 
  27. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, week of May 23, 2009". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-hot-100?chartDate=2009-05-23. Retrieved 21 July 2010. 
  28. ^ a b ""C'est dans l'air", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=504102&cat=s. Retrieved 27 April 2009. 
  29. ^ a b c "Mylène Farmer - "C'est dans l'air" - Supports" (in French). Mylene.net. http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer_c-est-dans-l-air_supports.php. Retrieved 2 March 2010. 
  30. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer - "C'est dans l'air" Live - Supports" (in French). Mylene.net. http://mylene.net/mylene/d_s_c-est-dans-l-air-live_supports.php. Retrieved 28 July 2010. 
  31. ^ "Mylène Farmer - "C'est dans l'air" - Crédits" (in French). Mylene.net. http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer_c-est-dans-l-air_credits.php. Retrieved 18 July 2010. 
  32. ^ "Mylène Farmer - "C'est dans l'air" - Versions" (in French). Mylene.net. http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer_c-est-dans-l-air_versions.php. Retrieved 18 July 2010. 
  33. ^ "French Digital Chart, from 27 April 2009 to 3 May 2009" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/page-260585.xml. Retrieved 7 May 2009. 
  34. ^ ""C'est dans l'air", French Singles Chart" (in French). Lescharts. http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=504102&cat=s. Retrieved 27 April 2009. 
  35. ^ ""C'est dans l'air", Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Hitparade. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?key=504102&cat=s. Retrieved 27 April 2009. 
  36. ^ "2009 Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts-year-end/european-hot-100-singles?year=2009&begin=61&order=position. Retrieved 15 January 2010. 
  37. ^ "Radio - Premiers classements 2009". Mylene.net. http://mylene.net/modules/index.php?r=4&z=2362. Retrieved 2 February 2009. 
  38. ^ "Classement des 100 premiers Singles par GfK Music" (in French) (pdf). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. p. 20. http://proxy.siteo.com.s3.amazonaws.com/disqueenfrance.siteo.com/file/dossierdepresseecomidem2010.pdf. Retrieved 8 April 2010. 
  39. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 372.

External links

Mylène Farmer
Studio albums
Cendres de Lune (1986) · Ainsi soit je... (1988) · L'Autre... (1991) · Anamorphosée (1995) · Innamoramento (1999) · Avant que l'ombre... (2005) · Point de suture (2008) · Bleu Noir (2010)
Live albums
En Concert (1989) · Live à Bercy (1997) · Mylenium Tour (2000) · Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (2006) · N°5 on Tour (2009)
Remix albums
Dance Remixes (1992) · RemixeS (2003)
Compilations
Les Mots (2001) · 2001.2011 (2011)
VHS & DVD
Les Clips (1987) · Les Clips Vol. II (1988) · En Concert (1989) · Les Clips Vol. III (1990) · L'Autre (1992) · Music Videos I (1997) · Music Videos II (1997) · Live à Bercy (1997) · Music Videos III (2000) · Mylenium Tour (2000) · Music Videos II & III (2001) · Music Videos IV (2006) · Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (2006) · Stade de France (2010)
Tours
Mylène Farmer en concert (1989) · 1996 Bercy (1996) · Mylenium Tour (2000) · Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (2006) · Mylène Farmer en tournée (2009)
Films
Giorgino (1994) · Arthur and the Minimoys (2006) · Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) · Arthur and the War of the Two Worlds (2010)
Book
Lisa-Loup et le Conteur (2003)
Labels
Associated artists
Related articles
Mylène Farmer singles
Cendres de Lune
"Maman a tort" (1984) · "My Mum Is Wrong" (1984) · "On est tous des imbéciles" (1985) · "Plus grandir" (1985) · "Libertine" (1986) · "Tristana" (1987)
Ainsi soit je...
"Sans contrefaçon" (1987) · "Ainsi soit je..." (1988) · "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" (1988) · "Sans logique" (1989)
En Concert
L'Autre...
"Désenchantée" (1991) · "Regrets" (1991) · "Je t'aime mélancolie" (1991) · "Beyond My Control" (1992)
Dance Remixes
Anamorphosée
"XXL" (1995) · "L'Instant X" (1995) · "California" (1996) · "Comme j'ai mal" (1996) · "Rêver" (1996)
Live à Bercy
Innamoramento
"L'Âme-stram-gram" (1999) · "Je te rends ton amour" (1999) · "Souviens-toi du jour" (1999) · "Optimistique-moi" (2000) · "Innamoramento" (2000)
Mylenium Tour
Les Mots
"L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." (2001) · "Les Mots" (2001) · "C'est une belle journée" (2002) · "Pardonne-moi" (2002)
RemixeS
Avant que l'ombre...
"Fuck Them All" (2005) · "Q.I" (2005) · "Redonne-moi" (2006) · "L'amour n'est rien..." (2006) · "Peut-être toi" (2006)
Go - The Very Best of Moby (Moby's album)
Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Point de suture
"Dégénération" (2008) · "Appelle mon numéro" (2008) · "Si j'avais au moins..." (2009) · "C'est dans l'air" (2009) · "Sextonik" (2009)
N°5 on Tour
"C'est dans l'air (live)" (2009) · "Paradis inanimé (live)" (2010)
Bleu Noir
"Oui mais... non" (2010) · "Bleu Noir" (2011) · "Lonely Lisa" (2011)
2001.2011
"Du temps" (2011)
B-sides
"L'Annonciation" (1985) · "Puisque..." (1988) · "Dernier Sourire" (1989) · "La Veuve noire" (1989) · "Psychiatric" (1989) · "Mylène Is Calling" (1991) · "Alice" (1995) · "L'Autre" (1997) · "Effets secondaires" (1999)
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