Comment te dire adieu
Encyclopedia
"Comment te dire adieu?" (English
: "How to Tell You Goodbye?") is a French adaptation of the song "It Hurts to Say Goodbye". It was recorded by Françoise Hardy
in 1968 and remains one of Hardy's most popular songs.
on her album The Wheel of Hurt (1966). It was also recorded by Vera Lynn
in 1967; this version reached #7 in Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Hardy heard an American instrumental version of the song and her manager asked Serge Gainsbourg
to provide suitable lyrics for it. Gainsbourg's French adaptation of the original lyrics, "Comment te dire adieu?", was recorded on Hardy's album of the same name
, released in 1968. Hardy also recorded the song in Italian
("Il pretesto", 1968) and German
("Was mach' ich ohne dich", 1970; collected in the album Träume, 1970.)
The lyrics are notable for their uncommon rhymes in "ex", within the subject of the song having a sense of "ex" as in "ex-boyfriend".
it was covered by former Bronski Beat
singer Jimmy Somerville
in a single
featuring June Miles-Kingston
. The song was a hit in the UK, reaching #14 on the UK singles chart
, and helping Somerville's solo career take off.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "How to Tell You Goodbye?") is a French adaptation of the song "It Hurts to Say Goodbye". It was recorded by Françoise Hardy
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
in 1968 and remains one of Hardy's most popular songs.
Background
The song, originally called "It Hurts to Say Goodbye", was written by Arnold Goland and Jacob Gold and was recorded by Margaret WhitingMargaret Whiting
Margaret Whiting was a singer of American popular music and country music who first made her reputation during the 1940s and 1950s.-Youth:...
on her album The Wheel of Hurt (1966). It was also recorded by Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
in 1967; this version reached #7 in Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. Hardy heard an American instrumental version of the song and her manager asked Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
to provide suitable lyrics for it. Gainsbourg's French adaptation of the original lyrics, "Comment te dire adieu?", was recorded on Hardy's album of the same name
Comment te dire adieu?
Comment te dire adieu? is a studio album by the French popular singer Françoise Hardy. Although it was released without title, except for Hardy's name on the cover, it has become known by the name of the most successful song on the album, "Comment te dire adieu?".- Track listing :# "Comment te...
, released in 1968. Hardy also recorded the song in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
("Il pretesto", 1968) and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
("Was mach' ich ohne dich", 1970; collected in the album Träume, 1970.)
The lyrics are notable for their uncommon rhymes in "ex", within the subject of the song having a sense of "ex" as in "ex-boyfriend".
Jimmy Somerville version
In 19891989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
it was covered by former Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat were a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid 1980s, particularly with the 1984 chart hit "Smalltown Boy". All members of the group were openly homosexual and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues...
singer Jimmy Somerville
Jimmy Somerville
James William Somerville is a Scottish pop singer and songwriter. He had considerable success in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a successful solo career. He is known in particular for his falsetto singing voice...
in a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
featuring June Miles-Kingston
June Miles-Kingston
June Miles-Kingston is a singer and drummer.-Career:Miles-Kingston was an art student who studied at the National Film School. She helped Julien Temple make the Sex Pistols' film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle...
. The song was a hit in the UK, reaching #14 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and helping Somerville's solo career take off.
Track listings
7" single- "Comment te dire adieu (7" version) — 3:35
- "Tell the World" — 4:12
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Silver | 1990 | 200,000 |
Charts
| Chart (1989/90) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Mega Top 100 | 26 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 3 |
| German Singles Chart | 25 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart | 14 |
Other cover versions
Apart from Jimmy Somerville, a number of artists have covered the song:- Anni-Frid LyngstadAnni-Frid LyngstadAnni-Frid Prinzessin Reuss von Plauen , is a Norwegian-born Swedish pop singer...
, later a member of AbbaAbbaABBA is the name of a former Swedish pop music group.Abba may also refer to:* ABBA , a self-titled album by the Swedish pop music group ABBA* "Abba ", a song by Christian pop and rock artist, Rebecca St...
, recorded the song in SwedishSwedish languageSwedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
as "Så synd du måste gå" (1969). It was collected on her album Anni-Frid LyngstadAnni-Frid Lyngstad (album)Anni-Frid Lyngstad was a compilation album released by EMI in 1972, after Lyngstad had had her first Svensktoppen number one, "Min Egen Stad", a Swedish language version of the Hep Stars track "It's Nice To Be Back Again"...
(1972). - Hana HegerováHana HegerováHana Hegerová , is a leading Czechoslovakian singer, actress and uncrowned queen of Czechoslovakian chanson. Foreign critics call her "The Great Lady of Chanson", "The Piaf from Prague", and "The Chanteuse with a Slavic Soul"...
recorded the song in CzechCzech languageCzech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
as "Rýmováni o životě". - Ilona CsákováIlona CsákováIlona Csáková is a Czech popular singer.- Biography :Ilona Csáková wanted to be a singer as a child. She sang with child band Butterflies, learnt to play the guitar, and played the drums in the school orchestra in Klášterec nad Ohří. She participated in her first singing competition in 1985. She...
also recorded a Czech version, "Jedno Tajemství", collected in Blízká i vzdálená (1999). - Jane BirkinJane BirkinJane Mallory Birkin, OBE is an English-born actress and singer who lives in France. In recent years she has written her own album, directed a film and become an outspoken proponent of democracy in Burma.- Early life :...
, collected on her album Versions Jane (1996). - Taxi GirlTaxi GirlTaxi Girl were a French New Wave band, adopting the New Romantic aesthetics of the time, such as clashing red and black clothing, synthesiser-led songs, and taking influence from mythology and literature. The group existed between 1978 and 1986, producing 5 mini-albums, and one full-length album,...
's frontman Daniel DarcDaniel DarcDaniel Darc , born Daniel Rozoum, is a French singer, who has achieved success with his band Taxi Girl between 1978 and 1986, and also as a solo artist...
, collected on Sous influence divine (1987). - Jun Togawa recorded a Japanese version, さよならをおしえて (Sayonara wo oshiete, literally "Teach me goodbye"; 1985).
- Scottish indie group Belle and Sebastian have performed the song live in concert.
- In 2003, the song was also covered in France by Annie and Valérie, two contestants of Star Academy 3 and included on the album Star Academy fait sa bamba.
- in 2009 Amanda LearAmanda LearAmanda Lear is a French singer, lyricist, composer, painter, TV presenter, actress and novelist....
recorded her version for her double-cd Brief EncountersBrief EncountersFor the 1945 film, see Brief Encounter.For the 1967 film, see Brief Encounters .Brief Encounters is the fourteenth studio album by French singer Amanda Lear. The album was released in Italy on October 16, 2009 as a double CD set containing twenty five new recordings sung in both English and French,...
.