Une enfant du siècle
| Une enfant du siècle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Alizée | ||||
| Released | 29 March 2010 | |||
| Recorded |
2009–2010 Plus 30 (Paris, France) Third Side Records (Paris, France) The Exchange (London, England) | |||
| Genre | Pop, electronic | |||
| Length | 36:25 | |||
| Language | French, English, Spanish | |||
| Label | Jive Epic, Institutibles, Wisteria Song, Sony Music | |||
| Producer | Château Marmont | |||
| Alizée chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Une enfant du siècle | ||||
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Une enfant du siècle (in English: "a child of the century") is the fourth studio album by the French recording artist Alizée. The first one released under Jive Records/Epic label and her first French-English-Spanish language album. The full album leaked on to the Internet on 19 March 2010. The album was released in France on 29 March 2010. The album received positive reviews from critics, who praised the radical change and collaborations, but criticized the perceived lack of enthusiasm in her singing.[1][2] Respondents praised the album for its mature nature, abstract and sober, the musical direction of Alizée, calling it her "most risky record".[2][3][4] On the same day Alizée signed autographs at Virgin Megastore in Paris. The album is inspired by and depicts the life of Edie Sedgwick.
Background
The theme of the album is the life of the American model Edie Sedgwick since her birth to her death. With a base of a Andy Warhol style, his name is not mentioned in the lyrics but in all the album has references of him.
The musical style is a hard electronic pop, litmus between dark and light shades of colors fading together, outfitted with deep and abstract lyrics that make reference to the model's life and her influence in contemporary culture since its emergence in the media, art, politics and everything encompassed her and Warhol. In the lyrics is mentionated clearly Edie and is referred as Factory Girl, making a direct reference to the Waholian Factory (the factory of dreams), also is mentioned the NYC elite society and in some interviews the singer answer that she is also mention to the France and Paris elite. The Tiffany & Co 5th Avenue's boutique and the opinion of the policy class.
Development
In the beginning of 2009, Alizée had to cancel a concert in France. Shortly after it she announced work on her future album, which would sound very different from all of her previous recordings. It was released in France on 29 March 2010.
The album was recorded in Paris and London. British website Popjustice gave out that the first single is partially in English and it is called "Limelight". On 15 February 2010 they uploaded the full version of the song and a clip from the music video.[5] However, it was later confirmed by Popjustice itself that "Limelight" was a teaser single, and the official single from Alizée's fourth album is "Les Collines (Never Leave You)".[6]
The Collector's Edition of the album was made available for pre-order on 4 February 2010. It was sold only on her official website.
Promotion
For the promotion of the album Alizée did a photo shoot for her album. She also posed on the French magazine Technikart, on which she was imitating Madonna from her single "Like a Virgin". A small showcase was held at Point Ephémère in Paris. She also participated in hommage to Serge Gainsbourg in Tel Aviv with cover version of Dis-lui toi que je t'aime by Vanessa Paradis, accompanied with the national orchestra at National Opéra Hall and another presentations with the Israeli singer Harel Skaat and other artist with whom she won the respect and affection of the country making this album a hit positioning itself at number one for two weeks on the Israeli charts after Israel's promotion.
Singles
Limelight was used as a teaser song for the album. The song is in English and is electro-pop in style. It was composed by Angy Laperdrix, Guillaume de Maria, Julien Galinier and Raphael Vialla. The single was only on sale in Poland.
Les collines (never leave you) (English: "the hills (never leave you)") released in 2010. Is the first single from the album. The single is electro-pop. It was composed by Angy Laperdrix, Guillaume de Maria, Julien Galinier and Raphael Vialla. The single was praised by critics[7] telling it to be "The song and the album that gave new life to Alizée's career, a good buzz in radical change of style."[8] The single mixes French and English lyrics as many French songs these day. The English is used as an effect to bring it more variety.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| SACEM/SNEP | Positive[9] |
| Popjustice |  |
| Les Inrocks | Negative[10] |
Une enfant du siècle was met with positive reviews, some praising the album's production and ambition, but others also criticizing Alizée's perceived lack of interest in the project. The album was considered a commercial failure.
Track list
Complete track list:
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Éden, Éden" | Jean-René Etienne | Robin Coudert ("Rob") | 4:22 |
| 2. | "Grand Central" | Jérôme Échenoz, Jean-René Etienne, Rebecca Zlotowski | Jerome Echenoz, David Stanzke ("Tahiti Boy") | 3:24 |
| 3. | "Limelight" | "Chateau Marmont" | "Chateau Marmont" (Angy Laperdrix, Guillaume de Maria, Julien Galinier, Raphael Vialla) | 5:09 |
| 4. | "La Çandida" | Adan Jodorowsky (Adanowski) | Robin Coudert | 2:14 |
| 5. | "Les Collines (Never Leave You)" | Jean-René Etienne | "Chateau Marmont" | 3:43 |
| 6. | "14 décembre" | "Chateau Marmont" | "Chateau Marmont" | 3:18 |
| 7. | "À cœur fendre" | Jean-René Etienne | "Chateau Marmont" | 3:07 |
| 8. | "Factory Girl" | Jérôme Echenoz, Jean-René Etienne, David Behar ("David Rubato") | David Behar | 4:11 |
| 9. | "Une fille difficile" | Jean-René Etienne | Jean-Baptiste de Laubier, "Chateau Marmont" | 3:41 |
| 10. | "Mes fantômes" | Jean-René Etienne | Robin Coudert | 3:16 |
Total length: |
36:25 | |||
Personnel
Credits adapted from Une enfant du siècle liner notes.
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Chart performance
Une enfant du siècle entered the French Albums Chart at place 24 on 3 April 2010. On its second week, it fell down to place 69, spending only 2 weeks in the top 100 and 6 weeks in the top 200. It also peaked at place 13 on the digital chart but only spent 1 week in the top 50. In Mexico, the album started at place 22 and spent 5 weeks in the top 100, the first single peaked at the first place on the third week.
Weekly charts
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Certifications
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Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| France[12] | 29 March 2010 | Jive Epic | CD, Digital download, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered
CD, 5 × Vinyl, 7", Album, 45 RPM |
| United Kingdom | 29 March 2010 | Wisteria | CD, Digital download |
References
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/une-enfant-du-siècle-mw0001969711
- 1 2 http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Alizee/news-69466.html
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Alizée-Limelight/release/2260917
- ↑ http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Alizee/news-69412.html
- ↑ "Alizée Does It – Popjustice".
- ↑ "Alizee like Wednesday morning - Popjustice".
- ↑ http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Alizee/news-69487.html>
- ↑ <http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Alizee/news-69487.html>
- ↑ <http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Alizee/Une-Enfant-Du-Siecle--a108063380.html,play>
- ↑ http://www.lesinrocks.com/2010/04/19/musique/alizee-la-grande-absente-1131689/
- 1 2 http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Aliz%E9e&titel=Une+enfant+du+si%E8cle&cat=a
- ↑ "Une Enfant Du Siècle" France release information
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