Innamoramento (song)
Encyclopedia
"Innamoramento" is a 1999
song recorded by French
singer-songwriter
Mylène Farmer
. It was the fifth single from her fifth studio album, Innamoramento
, and was released on 18 July 2000. This pop ballad was written by Farmer with the music composed by Laurent Boutonnat
. Lyrically, the song is about the need of love, and was accompanied by a music video directed by François Hanss which displays alternatively images of the singer on stage during her 1999 tour and in the Bois de Vincennes
. "Innamoramento" received positive reviews from critics who generally praised the quality of the remixes and the concept of the music video. The song became Farmer's 20th top ten hit in France, reaching number three in the first week of release; however, the song was the less-selling single from the album.
book, Le Choc amoureux, meaning Innamoramento in Italian
and s'énamourer in Old French
. Farmer explained that the song is about the fact of loving "in its larger spectrum". Journalist Benoît Cachin said the song deals with the themes of rebirth, love, and the questions that they raise. According to psychologist Hugues Royer, the song is "like the call of a solitude that wants to be broken".
, it alternately shows Farmer wearing a long white dress, without makeup, lying on the grass, and images recorded during the concert
"Mylenium Tour". The video ends with a close-up of Farmer.
According to Instant-Mag, the video shows roughly "the same visual as the first one from Live à Bercy
(i.e. "Rêver
") and seems to be a little repetitive. Indeed, there is "a blue and hushed atmosphere, a light and airy dress, a very present audience. The succession of images and the choice of camera angles (wide shots, overviews, zooms) show her desire for the stage and follow the same way, reinforcing the sense of déjà-vu (...). The whole is still saved by the insertion of country images, adding a personal touch." In spite of these criticisms, another issue of the magazine said that "the concept of the video was well-conceived and beautifully filmed".
, being the last song of the show. Farmer wore then a transparent white dress with a plunging neckline in the back, a sailing on the shoulders, shoes with high heels, and a large white necklace
. The final refrain is sung four times, instead of two in the album version, in chorus with the audience, then Farmer went into the statue's hand.
described the song as being "pleasant, but not surprisingly, [with] a silky melody, twin of "Ainsi soit je...
"". However, the covers of the various formats and the remixes were criticized. Gathering the various ideas expressed on the Internet on the matter, Instant-Mag said the picture of the CD single
is a bit blurred and does not show Farmer clearly, and regarding the CD maxi, it stated that "the neo-cube assembly of the cover, which wants to be creative, falls completely flat. Colour selection suffers from the most complete tastelessness and the play of geometric shapes absorbs all the visuals". Regarding the remixes, author Erwan Chuberre considered these accelerated and techno
versions a "treat". Similarly, French author Julien Rigal praised the remixes as being "successful", although musically different. More critical, Instant-Mag said some fans "expected more symphonic versions, such as those beautifully made, for example, for "Ainsi soit je...
" and "Sans logique
"", adding: "The 'darkness remix' amounts to a vague rhythmic (...); this pale copy [of Björk
] does not have the best effect, although both the last two minutes are distinguished from the rest, they did not manage to redeem the whole". The 'anamor remix' is "too soft, slow, filled with strange noises sometimes verging on the ridiculous. Lastly, the 'momento dance mix', "although better than the two others, doesn't avoid the pitfall of the facility, the whole is slightly sprinkled with a little rhythm suggesting those of a boy band
. It is nonetheless worthy of dancing".
. "Innamoramento" briefly charted in Belgium (Wallonia), debuting at number 32 on the Ultratop 40
on 29 July 2000, then peaked at number 24 the week after, dropped and left the chart after six weeks. In Switzerland, the single peaked at number 56 on 20 August 2008 and stayed for seven weeks in the top 100.
1999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
song recorded by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer
Mylène Farmer, , born Marie-Hélène Jeanne Gautier, , , is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author....
. It was the fifth single from her fifth studio album, Innamoramento
Innamoramento
Innamoramento is the fifth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 7, 1999.-Background and release:By 1999, Farmer had barely appeared in the media since her 1996 concerts at Paris-Bercy...
, and was released on 18 July 2000. This pop ballad was written by Farmer with the music composed by Laurent Boutonnat
Laurent Boutonnat
Laurent Pierre Marie Boutonnat is a French composer and film and music video director, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer and the director of moody, provocative and literature-inspired music videos.- Career :...
. Lyrically, the song is about the need of love, and was accompanied by a music video directed by François Hanss which displays alternatively images of the singer on stage during her 1999 tour and in the Bois de Vincennes
Bois de Vincennes
The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....
. "Innamoramento" received positive reviews from critics who generally praised the quality of the remixes and the concept of the music video. The song became Farmer's 20th top ten hit in France, reaching number three in the first week of release; however, the song was the less-selling single from the album.
Release
In June 2000, a luxurious cardboard cube was sent to the radio stations. Then, after many several postponements, the single was eventually released on 18 July 2000. There were two issues of the CD single "Innamoramento": the main one which contains a white disc, and the collector format printed in a limited edition which presents a picture CD. As both editions had the same cover, some fans bought several copies to obtain each kind of edition, which helped to increase the sales.Lyrics
The song's title, which is the same as its parent album, is based on a Francesco AlberoniFrancesco Alberoni
|right|150px|Franesco AlberoniFrancesco Alberoni is an Italian Journalist, and professor in Sociology...
book, Le Choc amoureux, meaning Innamoramento 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...
and s'énamourer in Old French
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
. Farmer explained that the song is about the fact of loving "in its larger spectrum". Journalist Benoît Cachin said the song deals with the themes of rebirth, love, and the questions that they raise. According to psychologist Hugues Royer, the song is "like the call of a solitude that wants to be broken".
Music video
The screenplay of the music video was written by Mylène Farmer. It was directed by François Hanss and produced by Requiem Publishing and Stuffed Monkey, with a budget of about 30,000 euros. Shot in two days in the Bois de VincennesBois de Vincennes
The Bois de Vincennes is a park in the English landscape manner to the east of Paris. The park is named after the nearby town of Vincennes....
, it alternately shows Farmer wearing a long white dress, without makeup, lying on the grass, and images recorded during the concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
"Mylenium Tour". The video ends with a close-up of Farmer.
According to Instant-Mag, the video shows roughly "the same visual as the first one from Live à Bercy
Live à Bercy
Live à Bercy is the second live album by Mylène Farmer, released on May 21, 1997. It was also produced as a video.-Background:After the successful concerts tour of 1996, whose shows were spread out from May 25 to December 15, a live album was recorded and produced by Thierry Suc, and sponsored by...
(i.e. "Rêver
Rêver
"Rêver" is a 1995 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the fifth single from her fourth album Anamorphosée and was released on 16 November 1996...
") and seems to be a little repetitive. Indeed, there is "a blue and hushed atmosphere, a light and airy dress, a very present audience. The succession of images and the choice of camera angles (wide shots, overviews, zooms) show her desire for the stage and follow the same way, reinforcing the sense of déjà-vu (...). The whole is still saved by the insertion of country images, adding a personal touch." In spite of these criticisms, another issue of the magazine said that "the concept of the video was well-conceived and beautifully filmed".
Promotion and live performances
Farmer did not promote "Innamoramento" which was poorly broadcast on radio at the time. It was only sung during the 1999 Mylenium TourMylenium Tour (tour)
Mylenium Tour is Mylène Farmer's 1999-2000 concert tour in support of her fifth studio album, Innamoramento.-Critical reception and commercial success:...
, being the last song of the show. Farmer wore then a transparent white dress with a plunging neckline in the back, a sailing on the shoulders, shoes with high heels, and a large white necklace
Necklace
A necklace is an article of jewellery which is worn around the neck. Necklaces are frequently formed from a metal jewellery chain. Others are woven or manufactured from cloth using string or twine....
. The final refrain is sung four times, instead of two in the album version, in chorus with the audience, then Farmer went into the statue's hand.
Critical reception
The song generally enjoyed positive reviews from critics. Belgian newspaper La Dernière HeureLa Dernière Heure
La Dernière Heure and "Les Sports" is a French general daily newspaper in Belgium....
described the song as being "pleasant, but not surprisingly, [with] a silky melody, twin of "Ainsi soit je...
Ainsi soit je... (song)
"Ainsi soit je..." is a 1988 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The song was released as a single twice: as the second single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je... on 4 April 1988, and as the second single in a live version from her second live album Live à Bercy on 20...
"". However, the covers of the various formats and the remixes were criticized. Gathering the various ideas expressed on the Internet on the matter, Instant-Mag said the picture of the CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
is a bit blurred and does not show Farmer clearly, and regarding the CD maxi, it stated that "the neo-cube assembly of the cover, which wants to be creative, falls completely flat. Colour selection suffers from the most complete tastelessness and the play of geometric shapes absorbs all the visuals". Regarding the remixes, author Erwan Chuberre considered these accelerated and techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
versions a "treat". Similarly, French author Julien Rigal praised the remixes as being "successful", although musically different. More critical, Instant-Mag said some fans "expected more symphonic versions, such as those beautifully made, for example, for "Ainsi soit je...
Ainsi soit je... (song)
"Ainsi soit je..." is a 1988 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The song was released as a single twice: as the second single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je... on 4 April 1988, and as the second single in a live version from her second live album Live à Bercy on 20...
" and "Sans logique
Sans logique
"Sans logique" is a 1988 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was released on 20 February 1989 as the fourth and last single from her second studio album Ainsi soit je.... The song deals with schizophrenia, death, love and religion and was accompanied by a cinematic video...
"", adding: "The 'darkness remix' amounts to a vague rhythmic (...); this pale copy [of Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
] does not have the best effect, although both the last two minutes are distinguished from the rest, they did not manage to redeem the whole". The 'anamor remix' is "too soft, slow, filled with strange noises sometimes verging on the ridiculous. Lastly, the 'momento dance mix', "although better than the two others, doesn't avoid the pitfall of the facility, the whole is slightly sprinkled with a little rhythm suggesting those of a boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
. It is nonetheless worthy of dancing".
Chart performances
In France, the single entered the singles chart at a peak of number three on 22 July 2000, making Farmer able for the first time to place the five singles from a same album in the top ten. Expert of French chart Élia Habib thinks this high debut was due to the "excitement which coincided with the week of the single's release", as the next week "Innamoramento" made a dizzy drop and was only placed at number 17. Then the single continued to drop and remained for a total of eleven weeks in the top 50 and twenty weeks in the top 100, becoming the lower-selling single from InnamoramentoInnamoramento
Innamoramento is the fifth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 7, 1999.-Background and release:By 1999, Farmer had barely appeared in the media since her 1996 concerts at Paris-Bercy...
. "Innamoramento" briefly charted in Belgium (Wallonia), debuting at number 32 on the Ultratop 40
Ultratop 40
Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization...
on 29 July 2000, then peaked at number 24 the week after, dropped and left the chart after six weeks. In Switzerland, the single peaked at number 56 on 20 August 2008 and stayed for seven weeks in the top 100.
Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "Innamoramento":- CD single / CD single - Picture disc
- CD maxi - Digipack
- 12" maxi / 12" maxi - promo
- CD single - Promo / CD single - Promo - Luxurious cube
- VHS - Promo
Official versions
| Version | Length | Album | Remixed by | Year | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Album version | 5:20 | Innamoramento Innamoramento Innamoramento is the fifth studio album by Mylène Farmer, released on April 7, 1999.-Background and release:By 1999, Farmer had barely appeared in the media since her 1996 concerts at Paris-Bercy... |
— | 1999 | See the previous sections |
| Single version | 4:50 | — | Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Pierre Marie Boutonnat is a French composer and film and music video director, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer and the director of moody, provocative and literature-inspired music videos.- Career :... |
2000 | This version is shorter than the album one and ends in a fade-out. |
| Radio edit | 4:10 | — | Laurent Boutonnat | 2000 | The last refrain ends with Farmer's voice, unlike the previous versions. |
| Darkness remix | 5:26 | — | Hot Sly and Visa | 2000 | This remix emphasizes Farmer's voice and adds some electronic Electronic music Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound... sounds. |
| Anamor remix | 4:40 | — | Quentin and Visa | 2000 | This R&B and electro remix contains the whole lyrics from the original version. |
| Momento dance mix | 6:12 | — | Hot Sly | 2000 | This dance remix uses more drum machine Drum machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music... s and Farmer's voice is accelerated. |
| Music video | 5:52 | Music Videos III Music Videos III Music Videos III is a VHS recorded by the French singer Mylène Farmer, containing all the singer's videoclips from 1999 to 2000. It was released in November 2000 in France.... , Music Videos II & III Music Videos II & III Music Video II & III is a DVD recorded by the French singer Mylène Farmer, containing all the singer's videoclips from 1992 to 2000. It was released in March 2001 in France.... |
— | 2000 | |
| Live version (recorded in 2000) |
6:13 (audio) 6:49 (video) |
Mylenium Tour Mylenium Tour Mylènium Tour is the third live album by Mylène Farmer, released on December 5, 2000.-Background:After having ending her third successful tour whose last shows were held in Russia on March 7, 2000, Farmer rested, and then decided to release an album and a DVD retracing her concert... |
— | 2000 | There are four chorus at the end of the song, although the album version has only two ones after the musical bridge. The video version is longer as it ends in fade in. (see Mylenium Tour (tour) Mylenium Tour (tour) Mylenium Tour is Mylène Farmer's 1999-2000 concert tour in support of her fifth studio album, Innamoramento.-Critical reception and commercial success:... ) |
| Album version | 5:10 | Les Mots | Laurent Boutonnat | 2001 | The song ends in fade-out. |
Credits and personnel
These are the credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single:- Mylène Farmer – lyrics
- Laurent Boutonnat – music
- Requiem Publishing – editions
- Polydor – recording company
- Claude Gassian – photo
- Henry Neu / Com'N.B – design
- Made in the E.U.
Charts and sales
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 24 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 3 |
| French Airplay Chart | 29 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 54 |
| Country | Certification | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|
| France | — | 100,000 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| France, Belgium, Switzerland | June 2000 | Promo CD single, Promo 12" maxi, VHS |
| 17 July 2000 | CD single, 12" maxi, 12" maxi | |