J'ai un problème

"J'ai un problème" ("I have a problem") is a French language song, a duet by then-married couple Sylvie Vartan and Johnny Hallyday. However, the single cover credited a shortened version of their name as Sylvie & Johnny.

"J'ai un problème"
Single by Sylvie & Johnny
from the album Untitled (J'ai un problème)
Language	French
English title	I have a problem
Released	10 June 1973
Recorded	Early 1973
Studio	Olympic Studios, London Studio Ferber, Paris
Genre	Pop
Length	2:59
Label	Philips, RCA
Songwriter(s)	Jean Renard and Michel Mallory
Sylvie Vartan singles chronology
"La vie c’est du cinéma" (1973) "J'ai un problème" (1973) "L’homme que tu seras" (1973)
Johnny Hallyday singles chronology
"Le soleil se lève à l'est" (1973) "J'ai un problème" (1973) "Le Feu" (1973)
Music video
"J'ai un problème" "J'ai un problème" (French TV, 1973) on YouTube

The single

The song appears on an album of Vartan's that remains untitled, but is commonly known as the J'ai un problème album because of the appearance of the song as the first title track on the album.

"J'ai un problème" is written and composed by Jean Renard and Michel Mallory. The musical direction for the song was done by Gabriel Yared. the song was a huge hit in France staying at the top of the French Singles Chart for seven weeks during July and August 1973. making it one of the biggest successes of Sylvie Vartan, wife of Hallyday. The song was a success on many international charts as well and translated to a number of languages, most notably German and Italian.

Track list

• Side A: "J'ai un problème"
• Side B: "Te tuer d'amour"

Charts

Charts (1973)	Peak position
French Singles Chart	1

Marie-Ève Janvier and Jean-François Breau version

"J'ai un problème"
Single by Marie-Ève Janvier and Jean-François Breau
from the album La vie à deux
Released	3 October 2011
Recorded	2011
Genre	Pop
Label	Les Disques Musicor
Songwriter(s)	Jean Renard and Michel Mallory
Marie-Ève Janvier singles chronology
"Tout pour être heureux" (2011) "J'ai un problème" (2011)
Jean-François Breau singles chronology
"Tout pour être heureux" (2011) "J'ai un problème" (2011)
Music video
"J'ai un problème" on YouTube

In October 2011, the Canadian artists Marie-Ève Janvier & Jean-François Breau released the song as a duo from their joint album La vie à deux.

The music video for the new version was a tribute to the original singers, as it shows both Breau and Janvier on a motorcycle being affectionate with each other, exactly as in the original Johnny & Sylvie shooting.

Other versions

Language versions

In Autumn 1974, Vartan and Hallyday recorded a German version in Paris as "Vielleicht bist du für mich noch nicht die große Liebe"; (English: "Maybe you're not my true love yet", French: "Peut-être que tu n'es pas encore mon véritable amour", Italian: "Forse non sei ancora il mio vero amore") It was released as the B-side of their 45 rpm single that included "Te tuer d'amour" as side A. In 1975, Wess and Dori Ghezzi released an Italian version "Il mio problema" as a double A side 45 rpm single alongside "Voglio tutto di te" that became a #1 hit on the Italian Singles Chart during May 1975.

Musical versions

Paul Mauriat and his orchestra played a musical score of the song and included it in his album Goodbye My Love, Goodbye as the second track in the album.

Live versions

Many artists have made rendition of the song on occasion. For example:

• Alain Souchon and Jean-Jacques Goldman
• Garou, a humorous version with assistance of many other acts in Juste pour rire in 2005
• La Caravane des Enfoirés sang it in 2007 during the "Medley Johnny" sequence (referring to a number of famous Johnny Hallyday songs)

In popular culture

The song was used in the soundtrack of the 2014 French-Belgian film Not My Type (French: Pas son genre)