Les Démons de minuit
Encyclopedia
"Les Démons de minuit" is the debut single of the French
band Images. Released in June 1986, it was the first single from their first album Album d'Images. Very popular, the song was a huge hit in France. It was the summer hit of 1986, peaking at number one for 13 weeks.
It was very difficult for the group to find a record company agreeing to sign a contract with them, because at the beginning nobody believed in the potential of the song.
Christophe Desprès, who took part in the composition of the song, was also a member of the group Pacifique
, which released two hits in the late 1980s.
At the time, the music video apparently was regarded scandalous in France as it featured a little particular priest, tortured by the temptation among seductive women.
For about seven years, "Les Démons de minuit" remained the song with "most weeks at number one" on French SNEP Singles Chart (this record was also performed in 1987 by Licence IV's "Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison
", and was beaten in 1993 by Jordy's "Dur dur d'être bébé!
", which stayed at #1 for 15 weeks).
It was one the most successful singles of the 1980s in France
.
In 1999, the song was included in a successful medley entitled "Jusqu'au bout de la nuit", performed with Émile, the singer of French band Gold
(#12 in France, #24 in Wallonia).
The song was covered by DV8 feat. R. Fame in 2002. It was also covered by Soma Riba and DJ Fou in 2005, and this version achieved a minor success, failing the Top 50 (#54 in France).
The playback of the song was used for a rap version in English-language under the title "Devil's Rap" (by "Ramsdy Jay and Gang").
12" maxi
3 Original version (1986)
4 Medley version (1999)
1 Medley version "Jusqu'au bout de la nuit", by Émile and Images
2 Soma Riba and DJ Fou version
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...
band Images. Released in June 1986, it was the first single from their first album Album d'Images. Very popular, the song was a huge hit in France. It was the summer hit of 1986, peaking at number one for 13 weeks.
Background and writing
"Les Démons de minuit" was also released as an English version (by the same group), titled "Love Emotion".It was very difficult for the group to find a record company agreeing to sign a contract with them, because at the beginning nobody believed in the potential of the song.
Christophe Desprès, who took part in the composition of the song, was also a member of the group Pacifique
Pacifique (band)
Pacifique was a French group founded in 1988.It is a trio composed of two brothers, Christophe and Stéphane Despres , and Cathy Nozeran...
, which released two hits in the late 1980s.
At the time, the music video apparently was regarded scandalous in France as it featured a little particular priest, tortured by the temptation among seductive women.
Chart performances
In France, the single debuted at #30 on SNEP Chart on June 21, 1986. It reached very quickly the top 10 (two weeks after), and climbed to #1 on July 19. There it stayed for 13 weeks. After that, the single fell almost every week but managed to stay in the charts until its 30th week.For about seven years, "Les Démons de minuit" remained the song with "most weeks at number one" on French SNEP Singles Chart (this record was also performed in 1987 by Licence IV's "Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison
Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison
"Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison" is a 1987 song recorded by the French band Licence IV. Released as a single in March 1987, the song achieved a huge success in France, becoming the best-selling single of the 1980s in France.-Music and lyrics:...
", and was beaten in 1993 by Jordy's "Dur dur d'être bébé!
Dur dur d'être bébé!
"Dur dur d'être bébé!", which was retitled "Dur dur d'être bébé! " for its American audience, is a 1992 song recorded by French singer Jordy Lemoine, and was credited to him under the name Jordy...
", which stayed at #1 for 15 weeks).
It was one the most successful singles of the 1980s in France
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...
.
Cover versions
"Les Démons de minuit" was re-recorded by the group Images in 1996 in a remixed version and features in this new version on their cover album Jusqu'au bout de la nuit, which was #1 on French Albums Chart for four weeks in France and #6 in Belgium (Wallonia).In 1999, the song was included in a successful medley entitled "Jusqu'au bout de la nuit", performed with Émile, the singer of French band Gold
Gold (band)
Gold is a French music band from Toulouse which enjoyed considerable success in the Francophone world in the 1980s.-History:Gold was originally composed of five musicians : Lucien Crémadès , Alain Llorca , Bernard Mazauric , Etienne Salvador and lead singer/guitarist Emile Wandelmer.The group...
(#12 in France, #24 in Wallonia).
The song was covered by DV8 feat. R. Fame in 2002. It was also covered by Soma Riba and DJ Fou in 2005, and this version achieved a minor success, failing the Top 50 (#54 in France).
The playback of the song was used for a rap version in English-language under the title "Devil's Rap" (by "Ramsdy Jay and Gang").
Track listings
7" single- "Les Démons de minuit" — 3:54
- "Les Démons de minuit" (instrumental) — 3:58
12" maxi
- "Les Démons de minuit" — 6:05
- "Les Démons de minuit" (instrumental) — 4:25
Certifications and sales
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France3 | Platinum | 1986 | 1,000,000 | 1,175,000 |
| France4 | Silver | November 10, 1999 | 125,000 | 132,000 |
3 Original version (1986)
4 Medley version (1999)
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 22 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 1 |
| Chart (1999)1 | Peak position |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 12 |
| Belgium (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 24 |
| Chart (2005)2 | Peak position |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 54 |
1 Medley version "Jusqu'au bout de la nuit", by Émile and Images
2 Soma Riba and DJ Fou version
| End of year chart (1986) | Position |
|---|---|
| French Singles Chart | 1 |
| End of year chart (1999) | Position |
| French Singles Chart | 75 |