Mignon Mignon
Encyclopedia
"Mignon Mignon" is a 2010 song recorded by virtual singing groundhog
René la Taupe
. It was the second single
from the album Les Aventures de René la Taupe and was released in July 2010. It became a number-one hit in France.
, with over 5 million views on Youtube
in two months. A few time after, the song was available digitally, then was released as CD single in the late August 2010. The single, remixed, instrumental and music video versions were all included in the album.
The lyrics, written by Christian Buttner, Hank Hobson and Marcello Pagin, suggest the chubby look of the animal that makes it adorable. The song deals with topics of overweight
and scatology
. According Boulissière, the lyrics are "naive and funny. Success comes from there. These lyrics are a simple opposing view to everything that takes place in French music. And the substance of lyrics - a character who accepts and enjoys the beads - goes against the cult of thin and tanned body." He admitted that the song was performed to generate controversy, and the vulgarity and grammar mistakes in the lyrics were "wanted to create a marketing buzz
, to get people talking". The song was not finely-worked.
There was also a derivative version by Jamba, a brand of Fox Mobile Group under the title "Mauvais, Mauvais" (English: "Bad, Bad") released after the failure of the France team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
but it was not successful.
In 2010 only, the song sold 114,546 units and 117,389 downloads.
of one of his songs, "Au Parc de Mougins", a medley for piano and accordion, which was publicly performed weekly during over a year by the chorister residents of a retirement home. Gamany certified that he composed the music "a decade ago", i.e. in the late 1990s or the early 2000. He said he was determined to "assert his legitimate rights", the legal department of the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique
being on his side.
Groundhog
The groundhog , also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but...
René la Taupe
René la Taupe
René la taupe is a virtual singing character created in 2009 by Fox Mobile Group studios. The character, which is in fact a groundhog, was made famous through a music for mobile phone and a music video available on the Internet...
. 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 the album Les Aventures de René la Taupe and was released in July 2010. It became a number-one hit in France.
Background and lyrics
Commercial Director of Fox Mobile France Stéphane Boulissière said: "We had a big commercial success with "Merde" with over 100,000 downloads. At the time we proposed this song to a record company but nobody wanted it. We believed in it and we launched "Mignon Mignon"". The song was initially composed for being just a ringtone. The music video was released on the Internet and the music video became immediately an Internet memeInternet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
, with over 5 million views on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in two months. A few time after, the song was available digitally, then was released as CD single in the late August 2010. The single, remixed, instrumental and music video versions were all included in the album.
The lyrics, written by Christian Buttner, Hank Hobson and Marcello Pagin, suggest the chubby look of the animal that makes it adorable. The song deals with topics of overweight
Overweight
Overweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary...
and scatology
Scatology
In medicine and biology, scatology or coprology is the study of feces.Scatological studies allow one to determine a wide range of biological information about a creature, including its diet , healthiness, and diseases such as tapeworms. The word derives from the Greek σκώρ In medicine and biology,...
. According Boulissière, the lyrics are "naive and funny. Success comes from there. These lyrics are a simple opposing view to everything that takes place in French music. And the substance of lyrics - a character who accepts and enjoys the beads - goes against the cult of thin and tanned body." He admitted that the song was performed to generate controversy, and the vulgarity and grammar mistakes in the lyrics were "wanted to create a marketing buzz
Marketing buzz
Marketing buzz or simply buzz — a term used in word-of-mouth marketing — is the interaction of consumers and users of a product or service which serves to amplify the original marketing message. a vague but positive association, excitement, or anticipation about a product or service...
, to get people talking". The song was not finely-worked.
There was also a derivative version by Jamba, a brand of Fox Mobile Group under the title "Mauvais, Mauvais" (English: "Bad, Bad") released after the failure of the France team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
but it was not successful.
Chart performances
"Mignon, Mignon" debuted at number 12 on the French Digital Chart on 17 July 2010, then climbed to number two where it remained for three weeks and topped the chart for two weeks, then fell off and totaled 18 weeks in the top 50. The success of the single generated an increase of the ringtone sales, becoming one of the most downloaded of the middle of 2010 with help from Fun Radio. On the chart edition of 4 September, the single entered the French Physical Chart at number one. With over 17,300 units sold in this first week, the single performed the highest weekly sales of a single in 2010 in France. The single stayed atop for 13 weeks and eventually become the best-selling single of the year.In 2010 only, the song sold 114,546 units and 117,389 downloads.
Controversy
In September 2010, pianist and composer Serge Gamany stated that "Mignon Mignon" was actually a plagiarismPlagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in dictionaries as the "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own original work, but the notion remains problematic with nebulous...
of one of his songs, "Au Parc de Mougins", a medley for piano and accordion, which was publicly performed weekly during over a year by the chorister residents of a retirement home. Gamany certified that he composed the music "a decade ago", i.e. in the late 1990s or the early 2000. He said he was determined to "assert his legitimate rights", the legal department of the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique
Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique
Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique is a French professional association collecting payments of artists’ rights and distributing the rights to the original songwriters, composers and music publishers.-History:...
being on his side.
Track listings
- CD single / Digital download
Credits
- Produced by Christian "The FatRat" Buettner, Marcelio Pagin for Famties Productions and Hank Hobson
- Published by Famties Publishing
- Remixed by Christian "The FatRat" Buettner and Marcelio Pagin for Famties Productions
- Video "Mignon Mignon" by Julian Kramer // Kramer-Visual
Peak positions
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Eurochart Hot 100 Singles | 5 |
| French SNEP Digital Chart | 1 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 40 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 1 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Gold | 24 November 2010 | 150,000 |