Ève lève-toi

"Ève lève-toi"
Single by Julie Pietri
from the album Le Premier Jour
B-side "L'homme qui aimait les femmes"
Released August 1986
Format 7" single, 12" maxi
Recorded Tunisia (video)
Genre Pop
Length 3:50
Label CBS
Writer(s) Jean-Michel Bériat
Julie Pietri
Vincent-Marie Bouvot
Certification Gold SNEP, 1986
Julie Pietri singles chronology
"La chanson de la vie"
(1985)
"Ève lève-toi"
(1986)
"Nuit sans issue"
(1987)

"Ève lève-toi" is a pop single recorded by French Julie Pietri from her third album Le Premier Jour, and was released in August 1986. It is the best-known song of this artist and can be considered as her signature song. It achieved success in France where it topped the SNEP Singles Chart and became a popular song throughout the years.

Background and writing

This female anthem was written by Julie Pietri and Jean-Michel Bériat. The music is composed by Vincent-Marie Bouvot. The originality of this song resides particularly in the melody which is at times Arabist (Julie Pietri was born in Algeria). The videoclip was filmed in Tunisia.


In 1986, an English version was also released under the name "Listen to Your Heart". Three other versions were recorded thereafter : one more acoustic version on album Féminin singulière in 1995, another version with dance sonorities for European compilation Euro Pride 2000 and, more recently, a jazzy version as a bonus track on the album Autour de minuit in 2007.

About the song, Elia Habib, a specialist of French chart, explains : "The atmosphere built by the song is that of an Eastern Eden, scene of the Origins. The melody and the orchestration refer to the undulating play of a bewitching flute. The scenery is set, and the text completes it, with short verses without verb : desire, temptation, original sin, vague recollections... (...) The chorus appeals to the celebration of the life while (...) the second verse [is about] the contemporary woman and underlines its multiplicity.[1]"

Chart performance

In France, the single started at #48 on September 9, 1986, then climbed every week and eventually reached number one in its 13th week. It remained on the chart for 27 weeks, 16 of them spent in the top ten.[2] It was certified Gold disc by the SNEP.[3] According to Infodisc Website, the song is currently the 193rd best-selling single of all time in France, with about 790,000 copies sold.[4]

Cover versions

In 2002, the song was covered by French contestants of Star Academy 2 Emma Daumas and Anne-Laure Sibon for the album Star Academy fait sa boum.[5]

French singer Leslie covered the song for her 2007 album 80 souvenirs.

Track listings

These are the formats of track listings of the releases of "Ève lève-toi":[6]

7" single - France
  1. "Ève lève-toi" — 3:50
  2. "L'homme qui aimait les femmes" — 4:10
7" single - Europe
  1. "Listen to your heart" (English version of "Ève lève-toi") — 4:22
  2. "Norma Jean" (English version of "L'homme qui aimait les femmes") — 4:03

12" maxi - France
  1. "Ève lève-toi" (remix club) — 5:52
  2. "Ève lève-toi" — 3:50
12" maxi - Europe
  1. "Listen to Your Heart" (extended club remix) — 6:42
  2. "Norma Jean" — 4:03

Certifications and sales

Country Certification Sales certified Physical sales
France Gold 500,000 790,000[3]

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Eurochart Hot 100 25
French SNEP Singles Chart[2] 1
Preceded by
"Holiday Rap" by MC Miker G & DJ Sven
French SNEP number one single
November 1, 1986 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"The Final Countdown" by Europe

References

  1. Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, 2002, p. 86 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Ève lève-toi", French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved December 13, 2007)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Julie Pietri's certifications and sales See: "Les Ventes" => "Toutes les certifications depuis 1973" => "PIETRI Julie" Infodisc.fr (Retrieved December 13, 2007)
  4. Best-selling singles of all time in France Infodisc.fr (Retrieved December 13, 2007)
  5. Star Academy fait sa boum, track listing and charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
  6. "Julie Pietri - "Ève lève-toi"". Discogs. Retrieved 23 March 2010.