Chercheuse d’or (meaning Gold Digger) is the debut album by Algerian-born French singer Assia. It was released in France on 23 May 2000, through Virgin France. Chercheuse d'or is a R&B album and incorporates elements of funk, soul and raï styles. Three singles are released from the album. It includes her first hit "Elle est à toi", "Là-bas" and "Ghir dini". It peaked at number 47 on the French charts, selling 200,000 copies.

Chercheuse d’or
Studio album by
Released23 May 2000
Recorded1998–2000
GenreR&B[1]
Length55:49
LabelVirgin France
Producer
  • DJ Sample
  • Ken Kessie
  • Khalil
  • Djimi Finger
Assia chronology
Chercheuse d’or
(2000)
Encore et encore
(2005)
Singles from Chercheuse d’or
  1. "Elle est à toi"
    Released: 2000
  2. "Là-bas"
    Released: 2000
  3. "Ghir dini"
    Released: 2001

Background

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In 1995, Assia began her career as a songwriter. After released "Ghir Dini" from the soundtrack of the French film Taxi produced by IAM,[2] she signed in Virgin France in 1999. In 2000, Chercheuse d'or becomes a national success, especially with her hit single "Elle est à toi".

Critical reception

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Chercheuse d'or was met with mixed reviews from music critics, many of whom criticized the French-Arabic singing. Patrick Labesse of Le Monde tries to find an explanation for this French-Arabic mix in the article Du choix de chanter en arabe et en français. Assia continue to explain her album Chercheuse d'or is about the search for happiness : "I seek what everyone seeks, happiness! And then of course the love, not only that of a man but the universal love".[3] When Chercheuse d'or was released, Assia thus analyzes the reception of the album in France : "Sometimes I was told that my songs sounded too Arabic, sometimes they said that I lacked exoticism. That's the reason why I'm going my own way today".[4]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ghir dini"AssiaKhalil3:59
2."Elle est à toi"CalboAssia, Djimi Finger4:36
3."La nuit sera longue"AssiaAssia, Khalil4:04
4."Là-bas"CalboAssia, Khalil4:06
5."Fini"Assia, KhalilKhalil4:27
6."Nos destinées"AssiaKhalil4:43
7."Chercheuse d'or"AssiaKhalil4:49
8."L'homme de mes rêves"CalboAssia, Djimi Finger4:04
9."Quand les anges pleurent" (featuring Hamed Daye)Assia, Hamed DayeDavid Chevalier, Khalil4:27
10."Laissez-nous rêver"AssiaKhalil4:34
11."Wine"AssiaAssia, DJ Sample4:07
12."Va"AssiaAssia, Nico Nocchi4:04
13."Le nomade des coeurs"AssiaKhalil3:35
Total length:55:49

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Chercheuse d'or.[5]

  • Assia – composer, primary artist, vocals
  • Bernard Benant – photography
  • Hamed Daye – composer, performer, primary artist
  • Julien Delfaud – mixing assistant
  • Jean-François Delort – mixing assistant
  • Xavier Derouin – acoustic guitar
  • Mustapha Ettamri – percussion
  • Djimi Finger – programming
  • Pablo Gil – artwork, logo
  • Jean-Paul Gonnod – assistant engineer
  • Christophe Guiot – violone
  • Catherine Juste – assistant engineer
  • Ken Kessie – drum programming, engineer, realization
  • Peter Maunu – acoustic guitar
  • Marlon Mclain – guitar
  • Tim Pierce – electric guitar
  • Mickaël Rangeard – engineer
  • Stéphane Reichart – engineer
  • Patrick Shevelin – drum programming
  • Travis Smith – engineer
  • Philipp Weiss – engineer, mixing

Charts

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Chart (2000) Peak position Certification (FR)
France (SNEP)[6] 47 Gold[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Assia, chercheuse d'or". linternaute.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Assia - Ghir dini (Clip officiel)". youtube.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Assia, chercheuse d'or". linternaute.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "Assia? Elle est à vous". dhnet.be. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Chercheuse d'Or". allmusic.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. ^ Assia discography and peak positions in France Lescharts.com Archived October 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 22 July 2023)
  7. ^ Assia certifications in France Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved 22 July 2023)