Ça plane pour moi

"Ça plane pour moi" (French pronunciation: ​[sa plan puʁ mwa]) is a 1977 song by Plastic Bertrand.[1] The music was composed by Lou Deprijck. Yvan Lacomblez wrote the lyrics. Despite being credited to Plastic Bertrand, the vocals were actually performed by Deprijck, the record's producer.[2] "Jet Boy, Jet Girl", an adaptation recorded in November 1977 by Elton Motello, has the same backing track. The song was covered by many artists, though Plastic Bertrand's original recording was the most successful, reaching No. 8 on the UK charts in the summer of 1978.[3][4] While mainly regarded as a punk song,[5] "Ça plane pour moi" has also been described as parody punk[6] and as new wave.[1] The song's name is a French idiomatic expression which is best translated as "everything's going well for me" (literally: "it is gliding for me").[7]

"Ça plane pour moi"
Single by Plastic Bertrand
from the album An 1
B-side	"Pogo Pogo"
Released	1977
Genre	Punk rock Blues rock
Length	2:57
Label	AMC Sire
Songwriter(s)	Lou Deprijck Yvan Lacomblez
Producer(s)	Lou Deprijck
Plastic Bertrand singles chronology
"New Promotion" (1975) "Ça plane pour moi" (1977) "Bambino" (1978)

Background

"Ça plane pour moi" was conceived as a pastiche, a caricature of the punk movement.[8][9] Lou Deprijck explained:[8]

Everything started from the text of Pipou [nickname of Yves Lacomblez] which required a very staccato singing, as did, in England, 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) and Bob Dartsch (drums), and the song was released as a B-side to "Pogo-Pogo"[9] which was chosen to launch the solo career of Plastic Bertrand. Due to the success of the B-side, it was decided, when re-pressing the single, to switch both sides.[10] It took two hours to record "Ça plane pour moi" and "Pogo-Pogo".[8][9]

Composition

"Ça plane pour moi" is a three-chord rocker[8][11] which features nonsensical French lyrics with occasional lines in English.[11] Steve Huey from AllMusic describes the song melody as a "four-note hook which sounds like something straight out of an early Beach Boys or Four Seasons song" that Roger Jouret (Plastic Bertrand) sings in a "dead-on falsetto".[11] This melody is created by "mildly distorted guitars, plus a steadily pumping rhythm section and an old-time rock & roll-style saxophone" which, according to him, is "hardly used for anything other than rhythmic accompaniment".[11] He also qualifies Jouret's voice as "cartoonish". His voice "stays in a monotone as he recites all the lyrics".[11]

Reputation

The song was praised by Joe Strummer. "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."[12]

Chart performance

"Ça plane pour moi" became a smash 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 UK, No. 6 in Germany, No. 4 in Ireland, and No. 2 in Netherlands (behind Boney M.'s "Rivers of Babylon").[13] It also topped the Swiss Charts for one week[14] and the French charts for 2 consecutive weeks.[15] In Oceania, the song peaked at No. 7 in New Zealand,[16] and No. 2 in Australia in early January 1979.[17]

On the other side of the Atlantic, "Ça plane pour moi" entered the Billboard Hot 100, a feat for a French-language song because only "Dominique" by the Belgian singer The Singing Nun and "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by French and English singers Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, respectively[9] had achieved such performance in the United States before this time.[9] "Je t'aime... moi non plus" had peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.[18] "Ça plane pour moi" eventually reached No. 47.[19] It also peaked at No. 58 in Canada.[20]

"Ça plane pour moi" has sold over 900,000 copies around the world[21] and is regarded as a "punk-new wave-pop classic".[9][22]

Weekly charts Chart (1977–1979) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 11 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[25] 7 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 58 France (IFOP)[15] 1 Germany (Media Control Charts)[26] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 2 New Zealand (RIANZ)[16] 7 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[3] 8 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 47 US Cash Box[31] 57

Year-end charts Chart (1977) Position France (IFOP)[32] 5 Chart (1978) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[33] 40 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 39 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 27 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 20

Leila K version

"Ça plane pour moi"
Single by Leila K
from the album Carousel
B-side	"Check The Dan"
Released	1993
Genre	Electropop[37]
Length	3:23
Label	Mega Records Urban Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Lou Deprijck Yvan Lacomblez
Producer(s)	Denniz Pop Douglas Carr
Leila K singles chronology
"Open Sesame" (1992) "Ça plane pour moi" (1993) "Slow Motion" (1993)
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 as the second single from her first solo album, Carousel. The song is 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, No. 13 in Germany, No. 14 in Denmark, 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

Music & Media wrote about the song: "The Plastic Bertrand French-language punk classic is re-styled in an electronic dance fashion á la Billy Idol. Très bien! Bonton Radio/Prague head of music Peter Kricek says that the original out of 1978 was known in his country in the communist days, but it was more of an underground thing. "The people here are absolutely mad about Leila's cover, which is a powerplay at our station. Every four hours we play it."[38]

Track listing

Maxi single (Urban 861 597-2)[39]

1. "Ça plane pour moi" (Short) – 3:23
2. "Check the Dan" (Short) – 3:55
3. "Ça plane pour moi" (Long) – 5:48
4. "Check the Dan" (Long) – 6:35

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[40] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[39] 16 Denmark (IFPI)[41] 8 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[42] 21 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[43] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)[44] 13 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[45] 24 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[46] 31 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 25 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 17 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[49] 69

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[50] 95 Germany (Official German Charts)[51] 49 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[52] 205

Other cover versions

• In 1979, Telex released "Ça plane pour moi" on their album Looking for Saint Tropez.[53]
• In 1984, Hermann Gunnarsson covered "Ça plane pour moi" under the title "Einn dans við mig" on his album Frískur og Fjörugur.[54]
• In 1992, Sonic Youth covered "Ça plane pour moi" for the Freedom of Choice: Yesterday's New Wave Hits as Performed by Today's Stars album.[55]
• In 1997, Thee Headcoatees covered "Ça plane pour moi" on their album Punk Girls.[56]
• In 1998, The Presidents of the United States of America covered "Ça plane pour moi" on their album Rarities.[57]
• In 2009, French band Nouvelle Vague covered "Ça plane pour moi" on their album 3.[58]

See also

• List of number-one singles of 1978 (France)
• List of number-one singles from 1968 to 1979 (Switzerland)

References

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2. "Plastic Bertrand admits not singing pop classic". Expatica. 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
4. "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.
5. • "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.
6. "The Other Brussels". LTM Recordings. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
7. "Plastic Bertrand: lyrics". David.gibbs.co.uk. August 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
8. Przybylski, Eddy (8 October 2006). "Les vrais musiciens de Ça plane pour moi". La Dernière Heure (in French). Retrieved 11 June 2013.
9. 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.
10. "Ça plane pour moi par Plastic Bertrand" (in French). Radio Bodink. SABAM. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
11. Huey, Steve. "Ca Plane Pour Moi – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
12. Sherlock, Dev (June 1995). "Frontman: Joe Strummer". Musician. No. 7.
13. "Week 21 (27 mei 1978)". Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
14. "Plastic Bertrand – Ça plane pour moi – swisscharts.com". Swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
15. "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70's". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved 21 May 2017.
16. "charts.nz – Plastic Bertrand – Ça plane pour moi". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
17. Kent, David (1993). "8 January 1979". Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
18. "Jane Birkin – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
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21. 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.
22. "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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31. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 24, 1978". Archived from the original on 4 October 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
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37. "Mega's Encyclopedia Of Crossover Talent > Leila K." (PDF). Music & Media. 4 December 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
38. "New Releases > Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 22. 29 May 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
39. "Ultratop.be – Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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41. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 June 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
42. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 29 May 1993. p. 35. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
43. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 29 May 1993. p. 34. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
44. "Offiziellecharts.de – Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
45. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 21 July 2019.
46. "Dutchcharts.nl – Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
47. "Swedishcharts.com – Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
48. "Swisscharts.com – Leila K. – Ça plane pour moi". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
49. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
50. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
51. "Jahrescharts – 1993". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
52. "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
53. Simpson, Dave (22 January 2013). "Hidden treasures: Telex – Looking for Saint Tropez". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
54. "Fræg á fölskum forsendum". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 30 July 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
55. "Various Artists – Freedom of Choice: Yesterday's New Wave Hits as Performed by Today's Stars". AllMusic.
56. Fennessy, Kathleen C. "Punk Girls – Overview". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
57. "The Presidents of the United States of America – Rarities". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
58. "Talking Shop: Nouvelle Vague". BBC News. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2017.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics