"Ça plane pour moi" (French pronunciation: [sa plan puʁ mwa]) is a 1977 song by Belgian musician Plastic Bertrand.[1] The music is also used in the song "Jet Boy, Jet Girl" by Elton Motello.[2]
"Ça plane pour moi" | ||||
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Single by Plastic Bertrand | ||||
from the album An 1 | ||||
B-side | "Pogo Pogo" | |||
Released | December 1977 | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:57 | |||
Label | RKM (Belgium) Vogue (France) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lou Deprijck, music Yvan Lacomblez, lyrics | |||
Producer(s) | Lou Deprijck | |||
Plastic Bertrand singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Ça plane pour moi" (TopPop, 1977) on YouTube |
The song has been covered by many artists, though the original recording was the most successful, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart in mid-1978.[3][4] While mainly regarded as a punk rock song,[5] "Ça plane pour moi" has also been described as new wave[1] and as a parody of punk rock.[6] The title is a French idiom that is best translated as "this works for me" (literally: "it is gliding for me").[7]
Controversy surrounding the vocals
editProducer Lou Deprijck always maintained that he performed the vocals on the original recording, and the question remains controversial. In 2006 the Brussels court of appeal, upholding the decision of a lower court, found that Bertrand was the sole interpreter of the song.[8] In 2010 an expert opinion produced for another case suggested the 1977 vocalist had a picard accent, like Deprijck's.[8] This did not, however, alter the 2006 ruling, and media statements by Deprijk to the effect that his claim to be the singer had been "recognised by the justice system"[9] were ill-founded.[8] (All of the proceedings between 2006 and 2010 arose from disputes between the record company AMC, which owned the catalogue of Plastic Bertrand's Belgian label RKM, and Deprijck, whom it believed to be making inappropriate use of the material. Deprijck never took the question of who sang what to court himself.)[10][8]
In an interview prompted by the 2010 episode, Bertrand appeared to admit that he was not the vocalist,[11] but in a follow-up interview the next day he denied this, saying he was being ironic and had been trapped, and threatening legal action.[12] This echoed a similar incident in the 1990s when Bertrand seemed to tell journalist Gilles Verlant that he was not the singer before quickly retracting.[13] Since 2010, Bertrand has consistently said that he is the performer on the original recording, and this remains the position in law.[14]
Background
edit"Ça plane pour moi" was written by Lou Deprijck and Yvan Lacomblez. It was conceived as a comic pastiche of the punk movement.[15][16] Deprijck explained:[15]
Everything started from the text of Pipou [Lacomblez], which required a very staccato singing, as did, in the United Kingdom, the then fashionable punk singers. I only brought to the text the title, by reference to a song by Michel Delpech, "Tu me fais planer". What we wanted to do was pogo-pogoing, the punk dance. A kind of pastiche. I had three simple chords, A E and D, and musicians that I had chosen to fit the bill. I did not want virtuosos but guys a little bit wild. Once in the studio, with this text and my three chords, I told them "Get by yourselves" and we did it.
The music was recorded by Mike Butcher (guitar), John Valcke (bass guitar) and Bob Dartsch (drums), and the song was released as a B-side to "Pogo-Pogo",[16] which was chosen to launch the solo career of Plastic Bertrand. However, following the success of "Ça plane pour moi", the two sides were switched when the single was re-pressed.[17] The session to record both songs took only two hours.[15][16]
Composition
edit"Ça plane pour moi" is a three-chord rock song based on a twelve-bar blues progression[15][18] that features nonsensical French lyrics with occasional lines in English.[18] Lou Deprijck states that "the lyrics are a sequence of unconnected things, that a guy, who is stoned, thinks he sees".[19] Steve Huey of AllMusic describes the song's melody as a "four-note hook which sounds like something straight out of an early Beach Boys or Four Seasons song",[18] accompanied by "... mildly distorted guitars, plus a steadily pumping rhythm section and an old-time rock & roll-style saxophone."[18] Huey also describes Deprijck's voice as "cartoonish...[staying] in a monotone as he recites all the lyrics."[18]
Reception
editThe song was praised by Joe Strummer of The Clash: "Plastic Bertrand compressed into that three minutes a bloody good record that will get any comatose person toe-tapping, you know what I mean? By purist rules, it's not allowed to even mention Plastic Bertrand. Yet, this record was probably a lot better than a lot of so-called punk records."[20]
In a review of the song for AllMusic, Steve Huey praised its "simple, inspired stupidity".[18]
Chart performance
edit"Ça plane pour moi" became a hit in several European countries, peaking at No. 19 in Austria, No. 12 in Sweden, No. 11 in Bertrand's native Belgium, No. 8 in the U.K., No. 6 in West Germany, No. 4 in Ireland, No. 2 in the Netherlands, No. 7 in New Zealand and No. 2 in Australia.[21][22][23] It also topped the Swiss charts for one week[24] and the French charts for two consecutive weeks.[25]
In the U.S., the single peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100, a strong performance for a French-language song; only "Dominique" by The Singing Nun[citation needed] and "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin[16] had performed as well previously.[16][26][27] It also peaked at No. 58 in Canada.[28]
The single has sold over 900,000 copies around the world[29] and is regarded as a "punk-new wave-pop classic."[16][30]
In popular culture
edit"Ça plane pour moi" is featured in the 1985 film National Lampoon's European Vacation, 2001's Winning London starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the 2004 comedy Eurotrip, Danny Boyle's 2010 film 127 Hours, the opening scene of 2011's Jackass 3.5, the 2012 film Ruby Sparks, the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street, the 2017 film Freak Show, and the trailer for the 2018 film Super Troopers 2. The song is also used as the soundtrack for a commercial spot for Time Warner Cable in the United States (April 2011). A cover version is featured in the video game Just Dance 2019.
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Certifications and sales
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[46] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Leila K version
edit"Ça plane pour moi" | ||||
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Single by Leila K | ||||
from the album Carousel | ||||
B-side | "Check The Dan" | |||
Released | 1993 | |||
Genre | Electropop[48] | |||
Length | 3:23 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Leila K singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Ça plane pour moi" on YouTube |
Swedish singer and former rapper Leila K covered "Ça plane pour moi" in 1993. It was released by Mega Records as the second single from her first solo album, Carousel (1993). The song was produced by Denniz Pop and Douglas Carr, and achieved moderate success on the charts in many European countries. It peaked at No. 6 in Finland, No. 8 in Austria and Denmark, No. 13 in Germany, No. 16 in Belgium and No. 17 in Switzerland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Ça plane pour moi" reached No. 21 in May 1993.
Critical reception
editSimon Price from Melody Maker called the song "a bizarre Moroder-ised version [...] on which she gets away with calling someone 'a fat c***' because it's in French, and adds, unbelievably, 'I am the Queen of the Divan'."[49] Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked that here, the Plastic Bertrand French-language punk classic had been "re-styled in an electronic dance fashion à la Billy Idol. Très bien!" Head of music Peter Kricek at Czech Republic's Bonton Radio/Prague said that the original from 1978 was known in his country in the communist days, but it was more of an underground thing. He said, "The people here are absolutely mad about Leila's cover, which is a powerplay at our station. Every four hours we play it."[50]
Alan Jones from Music Week gave it three out of five, stating that the song "is transformed into technopunk by the self-proclaimed 'queen of the divan' who, although better known as a rapper is in singing mode here." He also added that the Felix mixes on the CD and 12-inch "take it into trance territory. An odd combination, but likely to do well."[51] Sylvia Patterson of Smash Hits praised Leila K's version, giving it five out of five and naming it Best New Single. She declared it "brilliant", saying, "Phew! Ruck and Rool!! (Or whatever it is in French). A delirious synth whirl which hollers and spits and pouts not unlike EMF in a Electrolux spin-cycle without their guitars."[52]
Track listing
edit- Maxi single (Urban 861 597-2)[53]
- "Ça plane pour moi" (Short) – 3:23
- "Check the Dan" (Short) – 3:55
- "Ça plane pour moi" (Long) – 5:48
- "Check the Dan" (Long) – 6:35
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Other cover versions
edit- In 1978, by Benny under the title "Bin wieder frei".
- In 1979, by Telex on the album Looking for Saint Tropez.[69][70]
- In 1984, by Hermann Gunnarsson under the title "Einn dans við mig" on the album Frískur og Fjörugur.[71]
- In 1988, by Rumble on the Beach on the album Rumble[70]
- In 1992, by Sonic Youth for a compilation album.[72]
- In 1997, by Thee Headcoatees on the album Punk Girls.[73]
- In 1998, by the Presidents of the United States of America on their compilation album Rarities.[74]
- In 2006, by Richard Thompson on the album RT- The Life and Music of Richard Thompson.[75]
- In 2006, by Pigloo under the title "Ça plane pour moi (le twist)", as the third single from the album La Banquise. It reached number 18 on the French SNEP Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for 24 weeks.[76]
- In 2009, by Nouvelle Vague on the album 3.[77]
- In 2019, by Metallica at a concert in King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels.[78]
See also
editReferences
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- ^ Reid, Graham (3 November 2010). "Elton Motello: Jet Boy Jet Girl (1978)". Elsewhere. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ "Plastic Bertrand did not sing hit record, court hears". BBC News. 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^
- "Celine Dion Enters War Of Words". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 30. 29 July 1995. p. 38. ISSN 0006-2510.
- Ferrere, Vanessa (27 July 2010). "Plastic Bertrand: le point sur la polémique". L'Express (in French). Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- Fricke, David. "Plastic Bertrand". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- Jones, Sam (29 July 2010). "Plastic Bertrand admits: Ça n'était pas moi". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- "Plastic Bertrand, de retour sur Terre". Paris Match (in French). 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "The Other Brussels". LTM Recordings. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "Plastic Bertrand: lyrics". David.gibbs.co.uk. August 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Plastic Bertrand est, juridiquement, le seul artiste-interprète", La Dernière Heure, 26 July 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ ""Plastic Bertrand n'a pas chanté son tube", Le Figaro, 26 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ Christian Nauwelaers, "Lou Deprijck : adieu au Lou dans la belgerie", Culturius Magazine, 28 September 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Thierry Coljon, "Plastic Bertrand réagit : « Ce n’était pas ma voix, mais ... »", Le Soir, 28 July 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Plastic Bertrand revient sur ses propos", Europe 1, 29 July 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Thierry Coljon, "Une affaire de gros sous", Le Soir, 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Le fantasque compositeur belge du tube « Ça plane pour moi » est décédé à l’âge de 77 ans", Sud Ouest, 19 September 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d Przybylski, Eddy (8 October 2006). "Les vrais musiciens de Ça plane pour moi". La Dernière Heure (in French). Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Deheneffe, Bruno (10 August 2001). "Lou Deprijck un mégatube, "Ça plane pour moi"". Le Soir (in French). Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
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- ^ a b c d e f Huey, Steve. "Ca Plane Pour Moi – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "Plastic Bertrand - Ca Plane Pour Moi Het verhaal achter het nummer". Top 2000 a gogo. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Sherlock, Dev (June 1995). "Frontman: Joe Strummer". Musician. No. 7.
- ^ "Week 21 (27 mei 1978)". Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Plastic Bertrand – Ça plane pour moi". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). "8 January 1979". Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "Plastic Bertrand – Ça plane pour moi". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70's". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- ^ "Jane Birkin – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Plastic Bertrand – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4614b." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ Deheneffe, Bruno (28 July 2010). "Plastic Bertrand admits he did not sing hit single "Ça plane pour moi"". Radio France Internationale. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "Allan Sport-Télévie – Plastic Bertrand". Allan Sport-Télévie. 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
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- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Plane Pour Moi". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
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- ^ "TOP – 1977". Top-france.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1978" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1978" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1978" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 10 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.
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- ^ "Mega's Encyclopedia of Crossover Talent > Leila K." (PDF). Music & Media. 4 December 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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- ^ "Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ "Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ "Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ "Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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- ^ Simpson, Dave (22 January 2013). "Hidden treasures: Telex – Looking for Saint Tropez". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Rumble On The Beach - Rumble". Discogs.com. 1988. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
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- ^ "Pigloo - "Ça plane pour moi (le twist)"". Lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 1 June 2021.
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