Les Mots (album)

Les Mots
Greatest hits album by Mylène Farmer
Released November 26, 2001
Genre Pop, rock, dance
Length 139:59
Label Polydor
Producer Laurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer chronology

Mylenium Tour
(2000)		 Les Mots
(2001)		 RemixeS
(2003)
Alternative cover
Long box
Singles from Les Mots
  1. "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
    Released: February 27, 2001
  2. "Les Mots"
    Released: November 13, 2001
  3. "C'est une belle journée"
    Released: April 16, 2002
  4. "Pardonne-moi"
    Released: October 21, 2002

Les Mots is the first compilation by French singer Mylène Farmer, released on November 26, 2001. It contains most of the singer's hits and three new songs. It achieved a smash success: it sold more than 1.6 million copies in France only, achieving Diamond status there, thus becoming to date the best-selling best-of album in France ever.

Background and release

In 2001, rumours were launched that Farmer was doing her first compilation. However, while some people thought that it would be a remixes compilation as Dance Remixes, for others it would be an acoustic compilation and for others, it would be a best of containing all Farmer's hits. Eventually, it was a best of, preceded by the release of the new single "Les Mots", the first international duet of Farmer. The best of was also entitled Les Mots and was released throughout Europe on November 28, 2001.[1]

This album includes all Farmer's tracks released as singles since "Maman a tort" until "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", except "On est tous des imbéciles" (due to problems of copyright) and "My Mum Is Wrong". It also contains several B-sides (two of them for the general public, the other ones in the long box ; "L'Annonciation" and "Dernier Sourire" don't feature on the album due to problems of copyright) and three news songs. The live singles are not included in the track listing. In total, there are 30 tracks for the general public and 33 titles for the limited edition. A long box was made with four CD instead of two, including a DVD of the new Farmer's video.

The booklet is composed of very sexy and provocative photographs of Farmer, on which she has suggestive positions, and wears pearly stockings, a pink pants and a silk négligée.[2] These photos were made by Ellen Von Unwerth, with a budget of 67,000 euros.[3] However, unlike on the previous albums, the singer is smiling on these photos.[4]

There were four singles from this best of: "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." (February 27, 2001), "Les Mots" (November 13, 2001), "C'est une belle journée" (April 16, 2002) and "Pardonne-moi" (October 21, 2002). The two first ones were released before the best of, and the two others after this one.

Critical reception

"Les Mots" was generally well received by contemporary musical critics and media.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic link
Fnac link
Amazon.fr link

According to La Libre Belgique, the Farmer's work is "synthesized in a superb way" in this album. This compilation also "gives an idea of the real musical evolution" of the artist.[5] The Swiss newspaper Le Matin described this album as "a superb compilation" and "a 'must' in the matter", containing "many hits", with "provocative" images.[6] The French magazine Flèches Cool said that this album is an "imposing best of with 27 tracks, all very well known and appreciated by a wide public".[7] Télé Star praised the first CD, saying it contains hits with "unstoppable melody", "flights of strings", and "tortured or sexy words", while it criticized the second CD, that "testifies the frayed inspiration of the singer".[8] As for Voici, "this double album stands out".[9]

Chart performances

This best of reached the highest position in France and Belgium since its release.[10] According to France Soir and La Lanterne, 670,000 copies of this album were sold in the first month in France,[11][12] and 700,000 in the two first months, according to Jukebox.[13]

In France, the best of debuted at #1 on Top Compilations on December 1, 2001 and remained there for 6 consecutive weeks. It appeared in the Top 10 for 39 weeks. It was ranked on this chart over one year, thanks to the release of the two new songs "C'est une belle journée" and "Pardonne-moi".[14] It was the best-selling compilation in 2001[15] and 2002.[16]

In Belgium, the album went straight to #2 on December 12, 2001, and then became number 1 for four weeks. It remained in the Top 10 for 15 weeks and in the Top 40 for 43 weeks.[17] The album featured at #28 and #14 on the 2001[18] and 2002[19] end of year chart.

In Switzerland, the album got its highest position when it entered at # 6, on December 12, 2001, and remained on the chart (Top 100) for 38 weeks.[20]

The best of was sold more than 500,000 copies in the first month, and 700,000 copies in two first months. In Europe, including France, over a million copies were sold in June 2002 and it won the World Platinum Award.[1] Certified Diamond in France,[21] Platinum in Belgium, and Gold in Switzerland, it sold throughout Europe more than 1.5 million copies, which is a record for a compilation.

Formats

(1) Contains also a third CD
(2) Only one CD with 16 songs

Track listing

Version CD / Cassette
CD 1 / A-side
  1. "Maman a tort"
  2. "Plus grandir"
  3. "Libertine"
  4. "Tristana"
  5. "Sans contrefaçon"
  6. "Ainsi soit-je..."
  7. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
  8. "Sans logique"
  9. "À quoi je sers..."
  10. "La Veuve noire"
  11. "Désenchantée"
  12. "Regrets" (featuring Jean-Louis Murat)
  13. "Je t'aime mélancolie"
  14. "Beyond My Control"
  15. "Que mon cœur lâche"
CD 2 / B-side
  1. "Les Mots" (featuring Seal)
  2. "California"
  3. "XXL"
  4. "L'Instant X"
  5. "Comme j'ai mal"
  6. "Rêver"
  7. "C'est une belle journée"
  8. "L'Âme-stram-gram"
  9. "Je te rends ton amour"
  10. "Effets secondaires"
  11. "Souviens-toi du jour"
  12. "Optimistique-moi"
  13. "Innamoramento"
  14. "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
  15. "Pardonne-moi"
Collector's edition

Contains a third CD with new tracks and b-sides, while first and second CD's contain only a-sides.

CD 1
  1. "Maman a tort"
  2. "Plus grandir"
  3. "Libertine"
  4. "Tristana"
  5. "Sans contrefaçon"
  6. "Ainsi soit-je..."
  7. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
  8. "Sans logique"
  9. "À quoi je sers..."
  10. "Désenchantée"
  11. "Regrets" (featuring Jean-Louis Murat)
  12. "Je t'aime mélancolie"
  13. "Beyond My Control"
  14. "Que mon cœur lâche"
CD 2
  1. "California"
  2. "XXL"
  3. "L'Instant X"
  4. "Comme j'ai mal"
  5. "Rêver"
  6. "L'Âme-stram-gram"
  7. "Je te rends ton amour"
  8. "Souviens-toi du jour"
  9. "Optimistique-moi"
  10. "Innamoramento"
  11. "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
CD 3
  1. "Les Mots" (featuring Seal)
  2. "C'est une belle journée"
  3. "Pardonne-moi"
  4. "La Veuve noire"
  5. "Mylène Is Calling"
  6. "Effets secondaires"
  7. "Puisque..."
  8. "My Soul Is Slashed"
DVD
  1. "Les Mots" (video)
European edition
CD
  1. "Les Mots"
  2. "Sans contrefaçon"
  3. "Libertine"
  4. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
  5. "Désenchantée"
  6. "Je t'aime mélancolie"
  7. "California"
  8. "XXL"
  9. "L'Instant X"
  10. "Rêver"
  11. "L'Âme-stram-gram"
  12. "Je te rends ton amour"
  13. "Souviens-toi du jour"
  14. "Innamoramento"
  15. "C'est une belle journée"
  16. "Pardonne-moi"

Credits

Certifications and sales

Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales
Belgium 2 x Platinum[22] September 18, 2009 100,000
France Diamond[21] April 9, 2003[23] 1,000,000 1,800,000+
Switzerland Gold[24] 2001 25,000

Charts

Chart (2001–2002) Peak
position
Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart[17] 1
French SNEP Compilations Chart[14] 1
Swiss Albums Chart[20] 6
End of year chart (2001) Position
Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart[18] 28
French Compilations Chart[15] 1
End of year chart (2002) Position
Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart[19] 14
French Compilations Chart[16] 1
Swiss Albums Chart[25] 55

Preceded by
La Compil vol.2 by Les Enfoirés		 French SNEP number-one compilation
December 1, 2001 - January 5, 2002 (6 weeks) 		Succeeded by
Ragga connection by Various artists
Preceded by
Chansons pour les pieds by Jean-Jacques Goldman		 Belgian (Wallonia) number-one album
December 15, 2001 - January 5, 2002 (4 weeks) 		Succeeded by
L'Album by Star Academy 1

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Les Mots Mylenefarmeriscalled.net (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  2. ↑ Virgin Mega Press, February 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  3. ↑ Mylène Farmer, le culte - L'envers du décor, Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 58
  4. ↑ Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 167-168
  5. ↑ La Libre Belgique, December 12, 2001 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  6. ↑ Le Matin, December 17, 2001, "Les bas de Mylène", Ch. F. Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  7. ↑ Flèches Cool, March 2, 2002, "Les Mots" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  8. ↑ Télé Star, No. 1323, February 9–15, 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  9. ↑ Voici, February 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  10. ↑ La Dernière Heure, December 4, 2001, "Farmer mène la bal...", L.L. Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  11. ↑ France Soir, January 15, 2002, "Ces chansons qui valent des millions", C.P. Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  12. ↑ La Lanterne, January 16, 2002, "Farmer, 10,4 millions d'€" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  13. ↑ Jukebox, No. 179, June 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Les Mots", French SNEP Compilations Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 2001 French Compilations Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 2002 French Compilations Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Les Mots", Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 2001 Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 2002 Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Les Mots", Swiss Albums Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Mylène Farmer certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved February 17, 2008)
  22. ↑ 2009 certifications in Belgium (Wallonia) Ultratop.be (Retrieved October 6, 2009)
  23. ↑ 2003 certifications in France Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved May 15, 2008)
  24. ↑ Mylène Farmer certifications in Switzerland Swisscharts.com (Retrieved May 14, 2008)
  25. ↑ 2002 Swiss Albums Chart Swisscharts.com (Retrieved February 17, 2008)