Là-bas (song)
Encyclopedia
"Là-bas" is a 1987
song recorded as a duet by the French
singer Jean-Jacques Goldman
and the British-born artist Sirima
. It was the second single
from Goldman's 1987 album Entre gris clair et gris foncé
. It was a smash hit in France
and became a popular song throughout the years.
ian metro, and suggested that Goldman meet her. After several takes in studio, Goldman finally decided to record the duet with her.
Composed by Jean-Jacques Goldman, the song deals with "the need of escape and the dilemma between a vital renewal and the loss of one's roots". While Goldman wants to go away to start a more fruitful life, Sirima, who personifies "stability, rooting and habit", begs him to stay with her and to found a family. The song is built as a dialogue that ends with two monologue
s in which "one is decided, while the other begs".
The song was also released under the title "Over there" to win over the anglophone countries. On Radio Canada, it was awarded best francophone song of the year thanks to the voters of the listeners.
In an interview, Goldman explained that he had made reference to "Là-bas" by using a sentence from it in his 1997 song, "On ira".
's "Étienne
", then Sabrina
's "Boys (Summertime Love)
" which topped the chart then. After 12 weeks in the top ten, the single dropped on the chart. It achieved Gold
status awarded by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique
in 1988. The song sold about 593,000 units and is the 402nd best-selling single of all time in France.
and Lio
, Corey Hart and Julie Masse in 1998, Renaud Hantson and Nourith, Michel Leclerc (instrumental version) in 2000, Florent Pagny
and Natasha St-Pier
in 2002 (available on St-Pier's album De l'amour le mieux
), Philippe Heuvelinne and Marc Rouvé in 2003, Humana, Prise 2 Son (released as a single, the second track of the CD "Un Autre Monde, number 45 in France) in 2004, Opium du Peuple, and Grégory Lemarchal
and the 500 choristers in 2007 (available on his posthumous album La Voix d'un ange). All these versions were recorded on an album or a single.
Jean-Jacques Goldman re-recorded the song as a duet with Céline Dion
for the Les Enfoirés
' 1996 album La Compil' . In 1992, he performed the song with Fredericks and Jones for the live album Sur scène
.
The song was performed on several French TV programmes, such as Tapis Rouge à Notre-Dame de Paris (France 2
, 15 April 2000) by Hélène Ségara
and Bruno Pelletier
, Tubes d'un jour, tubes de toujours (TF1
, 27 December 2002) by Daniel Lévi
and Cécilia Cara
. The song was also performed in Dutch-language by Erik Mesie and Nadieh under the title "Ik sta".
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
song recorded as a duet by the 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 Jean-Jacques Goldman
Jean-Jacques Goldman
Jean-Jacques Goldman is a Grammy Awards-winning French singer-songwriter. He is hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and since 2003 was the second-highest-grossing French living pop singer, after Johnny Hallyday.- Biography :...
and the British-born artist Sirima
Sirima
Sirima was a British singer with Sri Lankan origins. She was primarily known for her duet "Là-bas", recorded in 1987 with Jean-Jacques Goldman, which was a number two hit in France.She was murdered by her companion Kahatra Sasorith, who stabbed her three weeks after the release of her single "A...
. It was the second 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...
from Goldman's 1987 album Entre gris clair et gris foncé
Entre gris clair et gris foncé
Entre gris clair et gris foncé is a 1987 double album recorded by French artist Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was his fifth studio album and was released in November 1987. It provided four successful singles : "Elle a fait un bébé toute seule" , "Là-bas" , "C'est ta chance" and "Puisque tu pars"...
. It was a smash hit 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...
and became a popular song throughout the years.
Background, lyrics and music
In 1987, Goldman had finished composing the song but had not yet found a female voice to record the duet with him. Philippe Delettrez, Goldman's saxophonist, met Sirima who sang in a ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian metro, and suggested that Goldman meet her. After several takes in studio, Goldman finally decided to record the duet with her.
Composed by Jean-Jacques Goldman, the song deals with "the need of escape and the dilemma between a vital renewal and the loss of one's roots". While Goldman wants to go away to start a more fruitful life, Sirima, who personifies "stability, rooting and habit", begs him to stay with her and to found a family. The song is built as a dialogue that ends with two monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
s in which "one is decided, while the other begs".
The song was also released under the title "Over there" to win over the anglophone countries. On Radio Canada, it was awarded best francophone song of the year thanks to the voters of the listeners.
In an interview, Goldman explained that he had made reference to "Là-bas" by using a sentence from it in his 1997 song, "On ira".
Chart performances
In France, the song charted for 21 weeks on the top 50, from 5 December 1987 to 23 April 1988. It entered at number 17 and reached the top ten three weeks later. It peaked at number two for five non consecutive weeks, but was unable to disloge Guesch PattiGuesch Patti
Guesch Patti, , born Patricia Porasse, is a French singer.-Early life:Patti was born in Paris, France. She chose her artist name from the nickname she had as a child Guesch...
's "Étienne
Étienne (song)
"Étienne" is a 1987 song recorded by French artist Guesch Patti, from her album, Labyrinthe. It was released as her debut single in late 1987 in several European countries...
", then Sabrina
Sabrina Salerno
Sabrina Salerno , also known in her singing career as Sabrina, is an Italian singer, television hostess, model, actress and record producer...
's "Boys (Summertime Love)
Boys (Summertime Love)
"Boys " is a 1987 song performed by Italian singer Sabrina. It is the third single from her eponymous album and achieved a great success in many countries, including Spain, Switzerland, France and Italy, where it was a number-one single. It was Sabrina's first single to be released in the UK...
" which topped the chart then. After 12 weeks in the top ten, the single dropped on the chart. It achieved Gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
status awarded by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique
Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique
The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry...
in 1988. The song sold about 593,000 units and is the 402nd best-selling single of all time in France.
Cover versions
The song was covered by many artists throughout the years, including Michel Delpech in 1996, Murray HeadMurray Head
Murray Seafield Saint-George Head is a British actor and singer, most recognised for his international hit songs "Superstar" and "One Night in Bangkok" and his album Say It Ain't So...
and Lio
Lio
Lio is a singer and actress who was a pop icon in France and Belgium during the 1980s.- Biography :...
, Corey Hart and Julie Masse in 1998, Renaud Hantson and Nourith, Michel Leclerc (instrumental version) in 2000, Florent Pagny
Florent Pagny
Florent Pagny is a French musician. He has also acted in many French films. He records work in French, Italian, Spanish and English, and his greatest hits include "N'importe quoi", "Savoir aimer", "Ma Liberté de penser" and "Caruso" .As of 2008, he has sold 4,268,980 copies of singles,...
and Natasha St-Pier
Natasha St-Pier
Natasha St Pier is a Canadian pop singer.-Career:Natasha St Pier released her first album, Émergence, in 1996, produced by composer/producer Steve Barakatt...
in 2002 (available on St-Pier's album De l'amour le mieux
De l'amour le mieux
De l'amour le mieux is the third studio album by Natasha St-Pier, released on 2002. It achieved great success in France, Belgium and Switzerland, staying for a very long time in the charts .-French version:...
), Philippe Heuvelinne and Marc Rouvé in 2003, Humana, Prise 2 Son (released as a single, the second track of the CD "Un Autre Monde, number 45 in France) in 2004, Opium du Peuple, and Grégory Lemarchal
Grégory Lemarchal
Grégory Jean-Paul Lemarchal was a French singer who rose to fame by winning the fourth series of the reality TV programme Star Academy France, broadcast on the TF1 television network....
and the 500 choristers in 2007 (available on his posthumous album La Voix d'un ange). All these versions were recorded on an album or a single.
Jean-Jacques Goldman re-recorded the song as a duet with Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
for the Les Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés
Les Enfoirés , is the name given to the singers and performers in the yearly charity concert for the Restaurants du Cœur .-History:...
' 1996 album La Compil' . In 1992, he performed the song with Fredericks and Jones for the live album Sur scène
Sur scène
Sur scène is a 1992 album recorded by the trio Carole Fredericks, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones. It was its first live album and its second album overall. It was recorded between August and November 1991 in Vienne, Aix-les-Bains and Lyon and was released on 26 November 1992...
.
The song was performed on several French TV programmes, such as Tapis Rouge à Notre-Dame de Paris (France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
, 15 April 2000) by Hélène Ségara
Hélène Ségara
Hélène Ségara is a French female singer revealed in her interpretation of Esmeralda in the french musical Notre Dame de Paris.-Her childhood in the French Riviera:...
and Bruno Pelletier
Bruno Pelletier
Bruno Pelletier , is a francophone Quebecer singer.-Life:Pelletier was born in Charlesbourg, a suburb of Quebec City. In 1983 Pelletier performed in the bands Amanite and Sneak Preview, which sang in English. He later started a group called Pëll, singing in French. At 23 years old, he moved to...
, Tubes d'un jour, tubes de toujours (TF1
TF1
TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
, 27 December 2002) by Daniel Lévi
Daniel Lévi
Daniel Lévi , is a French singer-songwriter, composer and pianist.-Biography:Daniel Lévi was born in Constantine, French Algeria. He spent his childhood in Lyon, where he was preparing for his job as a musician studying piano for a decade at the conservatory in the city. In 1983, he composed and...
and Cécilia Cara
Cécilia Cara
Cécilia Cara is a French actress and singer.-Biography:Cécilia was born in Cannes, on the French Riviera. Before making it big in France, Cécilia was still a 15-year-old attending secondary school. She started learning ballet at the age of 3, and at the age of 5 she began singing in the school...
. The song was also performed in Dutch-language by Erik Mesie and Nadieh under the title "Ik sta".
Formats and track listings
- 7" single
- "Là-bas — 4:46
- "À quoi tu sers ?" — 5:29
- 12" maxi
- "Là-bas" (extended version) — 6:08
- "À quoi tu sers ?" (vocal) — 5:29
- CD single
- "Là-bas — 4:46
- "À quoi tu sers ?" — 5:29
- "Entre gris clair et gris foncé" — 7:19
Charts and certifications
| Chart (1987/88) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 2 |
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Gold | 1988 | 500,000 | 593,000 |