Words (F. R. David song)

"Words"
Single by F. R. David
from the album Words
B-side "When the Sun Goes Down"
Released 1982
Format
Genre Synthpop
Length 3:31
Label Carrere
Writer(s) Robert Fitoussi
Producer(s) Frédéric Leibovitz
F. R. David singles chronology
"Words"
(1982)
"I Need You"
(1983)

"Words" is a 1982 song by F. R. David, which sold eight million copies worldwide and peaked at number two on the British charts in spring of 1983. The song was originally released only in France and Monaco in the winter of 1981, later it was released in the rest of Europe. In 1983, it finally was released in America and the UK. It was a huge European hit, peaking at number one in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Norway. It also went to number one in South Africa in late 1982 and spent 25 weeks on the charts. The photography of the 7" vinyl was made by Vassili Ulrich.

Initial copies of the recording on both LP and single credit the composition of "Words" solely to Robert Fitoussi, which is the real name of F. R. David. All later reissues of F. R. David's original recording of "Words", as well as all re-recordings, credit the composition of the song to Fitoussi (music), and Marty Kupersmith & Louis S. Yaguda (lyrics).

In the 2000s, David released a French language duo version of the song with the singer Winda entitled "Words, j'aime ces mots". F. R. David and Winda included also an English version as a duo.

Track listings

7" single
  1. "Words" – 3:31
  2. "Dolce Vita" by Ryan Paris – 3:59
12" maxi
  1. "Words" – 3:31
  2. "When the Sun Goes Down" – 3:08

Charts and sales

Original version

Chart (1982–83) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 12
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 1
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[4] 1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[5] 9
Denmark (IFPI)[6] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 1
France (IFOP)[8] 2
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 1
Italy (FIMI)[11] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 7
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] 1
Spain (AFYVE)[17] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] 2

Words (Remix '97)

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 19

Words '99

Chart (1999) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[22] 27

Year-end charts

Chart (1982) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 1
France (IFOP)[24] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 1
Chart (1983) Position
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[28] 1

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Sales/shipments
France 1,000,000[29]
Germany (BVMI)[30] Gold 250,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart successions

Weekly charts

Order of precedence
Preceded by
"Someone Loves You Honey" by June Lodge and Prince Mohammed
Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single
21 August 1982 – 4 September 1982 (3 weeks)
Succeeded by
"It Started with a Kiss" by Hot Chocolate
Preceded by
"Abracadabra" by the Steve Miller Band
Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number-one single
21 August 1982 – 4 September 1982 (3 weeks)
Preceded by
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single (first run)
30 October 1982 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single (second run)
13 November 1982 – 22 January 1983 (11 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club
Preceded by
"Adios Amor" by Andy Borg
German number-one single
27 September 1982 – 6 December 1982 (11 weeks)
Austrian number-one single (first run)
1 November 1982 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Weil i di mog" by Relax
Preceded by
"Weil i di mog" by Relax
Austrian number-one single (second run)
1 December 1982 (2 weeks)
Preceded by
"Let's Dance" by David Bowie
"True" by Spandau Ballet
Irish Singles Chart number-one single
17 April 1983 – 1 May 1983 (3 weeks)
15 May 1983 – 23 May 1983 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"True" by Spandau Ballet
"Every Breath You Take" by The Police
Preceded by
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" by Chicago
Italian number one single
8 January 1983 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Carletto" by Corrado
Preceded by
"You're in the Army Now" by Bolland
Norwegian number-one single
48/1982 – 8/1983 (14 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Save Your Love" by Renée and Renato
Preceded by
"Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners
South African number-one single
11 December 1982 – 22 January 1983 (7 weeks)
Succeeded by
"I Don't Wanna Dance" by Eddy Grant
Preceded by
"Amor de hombre" by Mocedades
"Amor de hombre" by Mocedades
"Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth
"You Are a Danger" by Gary Low
Spanish number-one single
27 December 1982 (1 week)
10 January 1983 – 14 February 1983 (6 weeks)
28 February 1983 (1 week)
4 April 1983 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Amor de hombre" by Mocedades
"Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth
"The Girl Is Mine" by Michael Jackson featuring Paul McCartney
"Maneater" by Hall & Oates
Preceded by
"Our House" by Madness
Swedish number-one single
8 March 1983 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Young Guns (Go for It)" by Wham!
Preceded by
"I Know There's Something Going On" by Frida
Swiss number-one single
17 October 1982 – 21 November 1982 (6 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners

Year-end charts

Order of precedence
Preceded by
"How 'Bout Us" by Champaign
1981
Belgian best-selling single of the year
1982
Succeeded by
"Stars on 45 Presents the Star Sisters" by Stars on 45
1983
Preceded by
"Stars on 45" by Stars on 45
1981
Swiss best-selling single of the year
1982
Succeeded by
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara
1983
Preceded by
"Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk" by Dr. Hook
1982
South African best-selling single of the year
1983
Succeeded by
"Red Red Wine" by UB40
1984

Cover versions

References

  1. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  2. "Austriancharts.at – F-R David – Words" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  3. "Ultratop.be – F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  4. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 21 augustus 1983" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6241." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. "Hits Of The World". Billboard 95 (1): 72. 8 January 1983. ISSN 0006-2510.
  7. MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 June 2006). MusicSeek.info. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  8. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "F.R. David" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  9. "Officialcharts.de – F-R David – Words". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – FR David". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  11. "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 3: 1980-1990)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – F R David - Words search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  14. "Charts.org.nz – F-R David – Words". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  15. "Norwegiancharts.com – F-R David – Words". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  16. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  17. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  18. "Swedishcharts.com – F-R David – Words". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  19. "Swisscharts.com – F-R David – Words". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  20. "Archive Chart: 1983-04-30" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  21. "F.R. David: Words (Remix *97)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  22. "Lescharts.com – F.R. David – Words '99" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  23. "Jaaroverzichten 1982" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  24. "TOP – 1982" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  25. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  26. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  27. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1982" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  28. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  29. "Les Meilleures Ventes Tout Temps de 45 T. / Singles" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  30. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (F.R. David; 'Words')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.

External links

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