Gourmandises

This article is about the Alizée album. For the Alizée song from the album, see Gourmandises (song). For a person who takes great pleasure in food, see gourmand.
Gourmandises
Studio album by Alizée
Released 21 November 2000 (France)
13 March 2001 (Worldwide)
Recorded June–September 2000
Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes
Genre Pop, French pop, Synthpop
Length 44:23
Label Polydor, Universal
Producer Laurent Boutonnat, Mylène Farmer
Alizée chronology

Gourmandises
(2000)		 Mes Courants Électriques
(2003)
Singles from Gourmandises
  1. "Moi... Lolita"
    Released: 4 July 2000
  2. "L'Alizé"
    Released: 28 November 2000
  3. "Parler tout bas"
    Released: April 2001
  4. "Gourmandises"
    Released: August 2001

Gourmandises (English: Delicacies) is the debut studio album by French recording artist Alizée, released worldwide on March 13, 2001 by Polydor Records. It was certified double platinum by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) on December 2001, denoting sales of over a million copies in Europe.[1]

Four singles were released from the album, including global top-five hits "Moi... Lolita", "L'Alizé" and "Gourmandises". In order to promote Gourmandises and her following album, Alizée embarked on the En Concert Tour in 2003 with her next successful studio album Mes courants electriques. Critics and scholars have noted the album's influence on popular music, particularly the way it helped reintroduce electronic music to the pop scene.[2]

Lauded by critics as a masterpiece in the contemporary French Pop repertoire, the album was acclaimed on its release with reviewers commending the singer's vocals and choice of musical direction.

The singer and the album were honored by the highest accolade given by SACEM, the Prix Vincent Scotto in 2002. The NRJ Music Awards, M6 and many others media and music institutions nominated the singer, including her nomination to the Victoires de la Musique in the "Revelation Album of the Year" category. Alizée was awarded the 2002 World Music Award for Best French Music Exporter with more than 4 million albums sold worldwide.[3]

Background and composition

Recording for the debut album started in mid-2000. The album included elements of world music, pop, Chanson and dance. However, the album also incorporated strong elements of electronic music. Additionally, several genres and subgenres including techno, trip hop, drum and bass, ambient, rock and classical music influenced the album.[4]

Development

After Alizée's participation in the Graines de Star show where she met Laurent Boutonnat and veteran French pop diva Mylène Farmer, she was invited to record a single with their support as a songwriting team. Her collaboration with Boutonnat and Farmer on her first two albums produced a sweet but strong voice incorporating strong elements of electronic and pop music.

In July 2000 Alizée released single "Moi... Lolita", and after achieving high sales in France, released her second single "L'Alizé" in December 2000.[5] The single reached number one in France and topped charts in several other countries across the world, however did not reach the top spot in the United States because of the popularity of singers such as Britney Spears, P!nk and Christina Aguilera. Following the release of Gourmandises, Alizée was named Europop Queen by NRJ Radio.[2][6] Three months later, third single "Parler tout bas" also gained number one on French radio stations. The actual album Gourmandises was released in May 2001, charting strongly worldwide.

Alizée received public praise on television channel M6 and NRJ Radio.[7] Among other nominations and awards, she was nominated for the Victoires de la Musique. The following year Alizée received the World Music Award from the IFPI for top sales. In 2003 Alizée received an award from SACEM the most prestigious recognition given for the institution the Prix Vincent Sotto.[6]

Singles

"Moi... Lolita" was the first track from the album and was released as her debut single in 4 July 2000. It was popular in various countries such as, France, Spain, Belgium, Georgia, Austria, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia, Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, Denmark, United Kingdom.[8] "L'Alizé" was the second single from the album and was released in December 2000. It featured the song "L'alizé" as well as an instrumental version of the same track. Two limited editions were also released, which featured four remixes. The song became a hit particularly in France where it reached number one for two weeks. "Parler tout bas" was the third single by Alizée released in April 2001. It featured an instrumental rendition of the song in addition to Alizée's solo rendering.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic Positive[9]
The Daily Princetonian Positive[10]
Popjustice [11]
SACEM/SNEP Very Positive
Jenesaispop (Spain) Acclaim[12]

Gourmandises received positive reviews from contemporary critics upon its release. In 2013, following speculation about About Alizée's fifth album, 5, critics referred to Gourmandises as a "pop masterpiece of the contemporary music", calling it a "classic" of the 2000s decade and of the new millennium.

"...Sixteen-year-old Alizée is France's answer to the teen queen phenomenon. With one notable exception: Alizée has real talent..." by Eric Harkleroad in a Daily Princetonian article. .[13]

Legacy

Gourmandises gained Alizée worldwide fame. In three months the album sold 700,000 copies in France and over 1,000,000 in Europe.[1] In early 2001, she won the NRJ Music Awards for Francophone Revelation after she won an M6 Award in late 2000. The album is also named in a similar category to the Victoires de la Musique. In early 2002 Alizée won the World Music Award for Best French exporter (more than 4 million records worldwide in an album).[3]

The album's debut single "Moi... Lolita" generated a lot of international attention and the album launched to critical acclaim. This single is listed as the 31st best selling single in the history of France. Also released was "L'Alizé", which gained top of French charts for many weeks.

Both singles are listed in the French Top 100 singles of the 2000s and List of best-selling singles in France history.[14][15] In the same year, newspaper Le Figaro announced Alizée's music was the top earning rentable French music of the year thanks in part to Farmer and Boutonnat's collaboration, which earned 10.4 million €.[16][17]

Gourmandises was certified platinum in Europe, double gold in Belgium and platinum in Switzerland.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Mylène Farmer and Alizée, all music composed by Laurent Boutonnat.

No. Title Length
1. "Moi... Lolita"   4:27
2. "Lui ou Toi"   4:18
3. "L'Alizé"   4:18
4. "J.B.G."   4:00
5. "Mon Maquis"   5:44
6. "Parler tout bas"   4:42
7. "Veni Vedi Vici"   4:22
8. "Abracadabra"   4:08
9. "Gourmandises"   4:15
10. "À quoi rêve une jeune fille"   4:09

Personnel

Credits adapted from Gourmandises liner notes.
  • Assistant engineers: Stéphane Briand & Denis Caribaux
  • Mixed by Didier Lozahic ("Lui ou toi" to "À quoi rêve une jeune fille")
  • Mixed by Bertrand Châtenet ("Moi... Lolita")
  • Mastered by Bruno Gruel & André Perriat at Top Master, Paris
  • Executive producer: Paul Van Parys for Requiem Publishing
  • L.B.: photography
  • Henry Neu for Com'N.B: cover design

Charts and Sales

The album was considered a great commercial success. In its first week of release, the album debuted at tenth place on the French Top 100 Albums Chart. Reaching number 1 in the ninth week and remaining there for the entire first month of its release, the album was certified platinum. In Europe, the album single Moi... Lolita gained popularity with the album reaching the top 25 of many European charts. After being on the French charts throughout the year, the album hit double gold in Belgium and platinum in Europe. In 2002 the album was still listed on the top charts and was then certified double platinum in France.

Weekly charts

Chart (2000–02) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart[18] 40
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[18] 7
Chinese Albums Chart[19] 18
Dutch Albums Chart[18] 36
Finnish Albums Chart[18] 26
French Albums Chart[18][20] 1
German Albums Chart[21] 29
Hungarian Albums Chart[1] 23
Italian Albums Chart[22] 27
Japanese Albums Chart[23] 40
Polish Albums Chart[24] 13
Russian Albums Chart[19] 9
South Korean Albums Chart[19] 4
Spanish Albums Chart[19] 22
Swiss Albums Chart[18] 27

Certifications

Region Certification
Belgium Platinum[25]
France 2x Platinum[20]
Switzerland Platinum[26]
Europe Platinum[1]

Release history

Region Date Label Format
France28 November 2000PolydorCD
United KingdomCD
France3 December 2000CD
CD/DVD
Vinyl
SwitzerlandCD
Belgium
Europe 16 January 2001
Germany12 February 2001 CD
Asia10 April 2001 CD
Canada25 June 2001Universal RepublicCD/DVD

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2002.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2001/09/27/arts/3423.shtml
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1858520.stm
  4. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Alizée-Gourmandises/release/2241399
  5. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/alizée-mn0000010817was
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.allmusic.com/artist/alizée-mn0000010817
  7. ↑ http://www.rfimusic.com/artist/chanson/alizee/biography
  8. ↑ lescharts.com - Alizée - Moi... Lolita
  9. ↑ Allmusic|class=album|id=r524822|pure_url=yes
  10. ↑ http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2001/09/27/arts/3423.shtml link
  11. ↑ <http://www.popjustice.com/popstars/alizee/>
  12. ↑ http://jenesaispop.com/2013/07/02/clasicos-que-nunca-lo-fueron-gourmandises-de-alizee/
  13. ↑ Eric Harkleroad. "French teen queen breaks the mold". Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  14. ↑ InfoDisc : Les 45 T. / Singles les plus vendus en France
  15. ↑ InfoDisc : Les 45 T. / Singles les plus vendus en France
  16. ↑ Figaro Entreprises, 14 February 2002
  17. ↑ Mylène Farmer Biography at RFI Musique
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Aliz%E9e&titel=Gourmandises&cat=a
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 http://www.alizee-fanpage.com/page.php?language=en&content=charts
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259165-DISQUES-D-OR.html?year=2001
  21. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Aliz%E9e&title=Gourmandises&cat=a&country=de
  22. ↑ http://archivio.sorrisi.com/sorrisi/lettere/art023001043436.jsp
  23. ↑ http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/269030/ranking/cd_album/
  24. ↑ http://muzyka.interia.pl/plyty/plyta/alizee-gourmandises,801
  25. ↑ "Belgium Database". Fan Of Music. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  26. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2012-02-19.

External links