Les Mots (album)

Les Mots is the first compilation by French singer Mylène Farmer, released on 26 November 2001. It contains most of the singer's hits and three new songs. It was certified Diamond in France.

Les Mots
Greatest hits album by
Mylène Farmer
Released26 November 2001
GenrePop, rock, dance
Length139:59
LabelPolydor
ProducerLaurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer chronology
Mylenium Tour
(2000)		 Les Mots
(2001)		 RemixeS
(2003)
Alternative cover
Long box (limited edition)
Singles from Les Mots
  1. "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
    Released: 27 February 2001
  2. "Les Mots"
    Released: 13 November 2001
  3. "C'est une belle journée"
    Released: 16 April 2002
  4. "Pardonne-moi"
    Released: 21 October 2002

Background and release

In 2001, rumours were launched that Farmer was doing her first compilation. However, while some people thought that it would be a remixes compilation as Dance Remixes, for others it would be an acoustic compilation and for others, it would be a best of containing all Farmer's hits. Eventually, it was a best of, preceded by the release of the new single "Les Mots", the first international duet of Farmer. The best of was also entitled Les Mots and was released throughout Europe on 28 November 2001.

This album includes all Farmer's tracks released as singles since "Maman a tort" until "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", except "On est tous des imbéciles" (due to problems of copyright) and "My Mum Is Wrong". It also contains several B-sides (two of them for the general public, the other ones in the long box ; "L'Annonciation" and "Dernier Sourire" don't feature on the album due to problems of copyright) and three news songs. The live singles are not included in the track listing. In total, there are 30 tracks for the general public and 33 titles for the limited edition. A long box was made with four CD instead of two, including a DVD of the new Farmer's video.

The booklet is composed of very sexy and provocative photographs of Farmer in suggestive positions wearing pearly stockings, a pink pants and a silk négligée.[1] These photos were taken by Ellen Von Unwerth, with a budget of 67,000 euros.[2] However, unlike previous albums, the singer is smiling in these photos.[3]

There were four singles from this best of: "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." (27 February 2001), "Les Mots" (13 November 2001), "C'est une belle journée" (16 April 2002) and "Pardonne-moi" (21 October 2002). The two first ones were released before the best of, and the two others after this one.

Critical reception

"Les Mots" was generally well received by contemporary musical critics and media.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Fnac link
Amazon.fr link

According to La Libre Belgique, the Farmer's work is "synthesized in a superb way" in this album. This compilation also "gives an idea of the real musical evolution" of the artist.[4] The Swiss newspaper Le Matin described this album as "a superb compilation" and "a 'must' in the matter", containing "many hits", with "provocative" images.[5] The French magazine Flèches Cool said that this album is an "imposing best of with 27 tracks, all very well known and appreciated by a wide public".[6] Télé Star praised the first CD, saying it contains hits with "unstoppable melody", "flights of strings", and "tortured or sexy words", while it criticized the second CD, that "testifies the frayed inspiration of the singer".[7] As for Voici, "this double album stands out".[8]

Commercial performance

This best of reached the highest position in France and Belgium since its release.[9] According to France Soir and La Lanterne, 670,000 copies of this album were sold in the first month in France,[10][11] and 700,000 in the two first months, according to Jukebox.[12]

In France, the best of debuted at #1 on Top Compilations on 1 December 2001 and remained there for 6 consecutive weeks. It appeared in the Top 10 for 39 weeks. It was ranked on this chart over one year, thanks to the release of the two new songs "C'est une belle journée" and "Pardonne-moi".[13] It was the best-selling compilation in 2001[14] and 2002.[15]

In Belgium, the album went straight to #2 on 12 December 2001, and then became number 1 for four weeks. It remained in the Top 10 for 15 weeks and in the Top 40 for 43 weeks.[16] The album featured at #28 and #14 on the 2001[17] and 2002[18] end of year chart.

In Switzerland, the album got its highest position when it entered at # 6, on 12 December 2001, and remained on the chart (Top 100) for 38 weeks.[19]

The best of won the World Platinum Award. It was certified Diamond in France,[20] Platinum in Belgium, and Gold in Switzerland.

Track listing

CD/Cassette

Disc one/A-side

  1. "Maman a tort"
  2. "Plus grandir"
  3. "Libertine"
  4. "Tristana"
  5. "Sans contrefaçon"
  6. "Ainsi soit-je..."
  7. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
  8. "Sans logique"
  9. "À quoi je sers..."
  10. "La Veuve noire"
  11. "Désenchantée"
  12. "Regrets" (featuring Jean-Louis Murat)
  13. "Je t'aime mélancolie"
  14. "Beyond My Control"
  15. "Que mon cœur lâche"

Disc two/B-side

  1. "Les Mots" (featuring Seal)
  2. "California"
  3. "XXL"
  4. "L'Instant X"
  5. "Comme j'ai mal"
  6. "Rêver"
  7. "C'est une belle journée"
  8. "L'Âme-stram-gram"
  9. "Je te rends ton amour"
  10. "Effets secondaires"
  11. "Souviens-toi du jour"
  12. "Optimistique-moi"
  13. "Innamoramento"
  14. "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
  15. "Pardonne-moi"

Collector's edition

Contains a third CD with new tracks and b-sides, while first and second CD's contain only a-sides.

Disc one

  1. "Maman a tort"
  2. "Plus grandir"
  3. "Libertine"
  4. "Tristana"
  5. "Sans contrefaçon"
  6. "Ainsi soit-je..."
  7. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
  8. "Sans logique"
  9. "À quoi je sers..."
  10. "Désenchantée"
  11. "Regrets" (featuring Jean-Louis Murat)
  12. "Je t'aime mélancolie"
  13. "Beyond My Control"
  14. "Que mon cœur lâche"

Disc two

  1. "California"
  2. "XXL"
  3. "L'Instant X"
  4. "Comme j'ai mal"
  5. "Rêver"
  6. "L'Âme-stram-gram"
  7. "Je te rends ton amour"
  8. "Souviens-toi du jour"
  9. "Optimistique-moi"
  10. "Innamoramento"
  11. "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."

Disc three

  1. "Les Mots" (featuring Seal)
  2. "C'est une belle journée"
  3. "Pardonne-moi"
  4. "La Veuve noire"
  5. "Mylène Is Calling"
  6. "Effets secondaires"
  7. "Puisque..."
  8. "My Soul Is Slashed"

DVD

  1. "Les Mots" (video)

European edition
  1. "Les Mots"
  2. "Sans contrefaçon"
  3. "Libertine"
  4. "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
  5. "Désenchantée"
  6. "Je t'aime mélancolie"
  7. "California"
  8. "XXL"
  9. "L'Instant X"
  10. "Rêver"
  11. "L'Âme-stram-gram"
  12. "Je te rends ton amour"
  13. "Souviens-toi du jour"
  14. "Innamoramento"
  15. "C'est une belle journée"
  16. "Pardonne-moi"

Personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[33] 2× Platinum 100,000*
France (SNEP)[34] Diamond 1,582,600[35][36]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[37] Gold 20,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[38] Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide — 2,000,000[39]

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

Formats
  • Double CD – Crystal case
  • Double CD – Digipack – Limited edition (100,000)
  • Cassette 1 – Double length
  • Cassette 2 – Double length
  • Quadruple LP
  • Collector edition – Long Box 3 CD + 1 DVD – Limited edition (30,000) (1)
  • CD – European version (2)
  • Double CD – Digipack – Promo
  • Cassette 1 – Double length – Promo
  • Cassette 2 – Double length – Promo
  • Collector edition – Long Box 3 CD + 1 DVD – Promo (1)

(1) Contains also a third CD
(2) Only one CD with 16 songs

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References
  1. Virgin Mega Press, February 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  2. Mylène Farmer, le culte – L'envers du décor, Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 58
  3. Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 167-168
  4. La Libre Belgique, 12 December 2001 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  5. Le Matin, 17 December 2001, "Les bas de Mylène", Ch. F. Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  6. Flèches Cool, 2 March 2002, "Les Mots" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  7. Télé Star, No. 1323, 9–15 February 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  8. Voici, February 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  9. La Dernière Heure, 4 December 2001, "Farmer mène la bal...", L.L. Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  10. France Soir, 15 January 2002, "Ces chansons qui valent des millions", C.P. Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  11. La Lanterne, 16 January 2002, "Farmer, 10,4 millions d'€" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  12. Jukebox, No. 179, June 2002 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
  13. "Les Mots", French SNEP Compilations Chart Ifop.com Archived 13 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  14. 2001 French Compilations Chart Ifop.com Archived 27 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  15. 2002 French Compilations Chart Ifop.com Archived 16 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  16. "Les Mots", Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  17. 2001 Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  18. 2002 Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  19. "Les Mots", Swiss Albums Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  20. Mylène Farmer certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
  21. "Ultratop.be – Mylène Farmer – Les Mots" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  22. "Hits of the World". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  23. "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – Mylène Farmer – Les Mots". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  25. "Rapports annueles 2001" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  26. "Rapports annueles 2001 - albums francophones" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  27. "Classement Compilations - année 2001" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  28. "Rapports annueles 2002" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  29. "Rapports annueles 2002 - albums francophones" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  30. "Classement Compilations - année 2002" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  31. "Swiss Year-end Charts 2002". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  32. "Classement Compilations - année 2003" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  33. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  34. "French compilation certifications – Mylène Farmer – Best Of" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  35. "Les Meilleures Ventes de CD / Albums "Tout Temps"" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  36. Jonathan Hamard (3 January 2016). "Mylène Farmer : quel est son album le mieux vendu ?" (in French). Webedia. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  37. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Farmer; 'Les Mots')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  38. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2002". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
  39. "Mylène Farmer: Interview". Gael (in French). 15 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
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