Words (F. R. David song)
| "Words" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by F. R. David | ||||
| from the album Words | ||||
| B-side | "When the Sun Goes Down" | |||
| Released | 1982 | |||
| Length | 3:31 | |||
| Label | Carrere | |||
| Writer(s) | Robert Fitoussi | |||
| Producer(s) | Frédéric Leibovitz | |||
| F. R. David singles chronology | ||||
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"Words" is a 1982 song by F. R. David, which sold eight million copies worldwide and peaked at number two on the British charts in spring of 1983. The song was originally released only in France and Monaco in the winter of 1981, later it was released in the rest of Europe. In 1983, it finally was released in America and the UK. It was a huge European hit, peaking at number one in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Norway. It also went to number one in South Africa in late 1982 and spent 25 weeks on the charts. The photography of the 7" vinyl was made by Vassili Ulrich.
Initial copies of the recording on both LP and single credit the composition of "Words" solely to Robert Fitoussi, which is the real name of F.R. David. All later reissues of F.R. David's original recording of "Words", as well as all re-recordings, credit the composition of the song to Fitoussi (music), and Marty Kupersmith & Louis S. Yaguda (lyrics).
In the 2000s, David released a French language duo version of the song with the singer Winda entitled "Words, j'aime ces mots". F.R. David and Winda included also an English version as a duo.
Cover versions
- British pop band The Tremeloes recorded the song as a single on CBS in 1983; their version garnered considerable airplay in the UK, but narrowly missed the Top 75 after being swiftly eclipsed by the original.
- Spanish singer Soraya Arnelas recorded a version of Words for her 2007 album La Dolce Vita. It was released as the second single, and reached number 6 in the Spanish Charts.
Track listings
- 7" single
- "Words" – 3:31
- "Dolce Vita" by Ryan Paris – 3:59
- 12" maxi
- "Words" – 3:31
- "When the Sun Goes Down" – 3:00
Charts and sales
Original version
Words (Remix '97)
Words '99
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Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
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Chart successions
Weekly charts
| Order of precedence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by "Someone Loves You Honey" by June Lodge and Prince Mohammed |
Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single 21 August 1982 – 4 September 1982 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "It Started with a Kiss" by Hot Chocolate |
| Preceded by "Abracadabra" by the Steve Miller Band |
Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number-one single 21 August 1982 – 4 September 1982 (3 weeks) | |
| Preceded by "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor |
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single (first run) 30 October 1982 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor |
| Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single (second run) 13 November 1982 – 22 January 1983 (11 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club | |
| Preceded by "Adios Amor" by Andy Borg |
German number-one single 27 September 1982 – 6 December 1982 (11 weeks) | |
| Austrian number-one single (first run) 1 November 1982 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Weil i di mog" by Relax | |
| Preceded by "Weil i di mog" by Relax |
Austrian number-one single (second run) 1 December 1982 (2 weeks) | |
| Preceded by "Let's Dance" by David Bowie "True" by Spandau Ballet |
Irish Singles Chart number-one single 17 April 1983 – 1 May 1983 (3 weeks) 15 May 1983 – 23 May 1983 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "True" by Spandau Ballet "Every Breath You Take" by The Police |
| Preceded by "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago |
Italian number one single 8 January 1983 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Carletto" by Corrado |
| Preceded by "You're in the Army Now" by Bolland |
Norwegian number-one single 48/1982 – 8/1983 (14 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Save Your Love" by Renée and Renato |
| Preceded by "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners |
South African number-one single 11 December 1982 – 22 January 1983 (7 weeks) |
Succeeded by "I Don't Wanna Dance" by Eddy Grant |
| Preceded by "Amor de hombre" by Mocedades "Amor de hombre" by Mocedades "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth "You Are a Danger" by Gary Low |
Spanish number-one single 27 December 1982 (1 week) 10 January 1983 – 14 February 1983 (6 weeks) 28 February 1982 (1 week) 4 April 1983 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Amor de hombre" by Mocedades "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth "The Girl Is Mine" by Michael Jackson featuring Paul McCartney "Maneater" by Hall & Oates |
| Preceded by "Our House" by Madness |
Swedish number-one single 8 March 1983 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Young Guns (Go for It)" by Wham! |
| Preceded by "I Know There's Something Going On" by Frida |
Swiss number-one single 17 October 1982 – 21 November 1982 (6 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners |
Year-end charts
| Order of precedence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by "How 'Bout Us" by Champaign 1981 |
Belgian best-selling single of the year 1982 |
Succeeded by "Stars on 45 Presents the Star Sisters" by Stars on 45 1983 |
| Preceded by "Stars on 45" by Stars on 45 1981 |
Swiss best-selling single of the year 1982 |
Succeeded by "Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara 1983 |
| Preceded by "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk" by Dr. Hook 1982 |
South African best-selling single of the year 1983 |
Succeeded by "Red Red Wine" by UB40 1984 |
References
- ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – F-R David – Words" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Words – F-R DAVID" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 1
- ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6241." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ↑ "Hits Of The World". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 95 (1): 72. 8 January 1983. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 June 2006). MusicSeek.info. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "F.R. David" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 31 June 2013. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ "Officialcharts.de – F-R David – Words". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 3: 1980-1990)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – F-R David - Words search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – F-R David – Words". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – F-R David – Words". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – F-R David – Words". Singles Top 60. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – F-R David – Words". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 1983-04-30" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ↑ "F.R. David: Words (Remix *97)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – F.R. David – Words '99" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1982" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ↑ "TOP – 1982" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ↑ "Single Top 100 1982" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1982" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ↑ "Les Meilleures Ventes Tout Temps de 45 T. / Singles" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (F.R. David; 'Words')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
