Fable (song)

"Fable" is a song by the Italian musician Robert Miles. It was released in May 1996 as the second single from his album Dreamland. The song features uncredited vocals from Fiorella Quinn. Like Children, the single received universal acclaim. It was a hit in several countries, reaching top ten in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and UK. Its highest position in Europe was number 2 in Finland, but the single was unable to dislodge Metallica's "Until It Sleeps", which topped the chart then. The song was charted in 1997, as third single (after "Children" and "One and One"), on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play on which it peaked at number one for one week. In the United States and Europe, the song was featured in advertising to promote the 1998 film Ever After starring Drew Barrymore.

"Fable"
Artwork for Italian CD maxi-single release, also used for French CD release
Single by Robert Miles
from the album Dreamland
B-side	"Remix"
Released	27 May 1996
Recorded	1994–1995
Genre	Dream house
Length	7:16
Label	Sony
Songwriter(s)	Roberto Concina
Producer(s)	Roberto Milani
Robert Miles singles chronology
"Children" (1995) "Fable" (1996) "One and One" (1996)
Music video
"Fable" on YouTube

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis wrote that the song "continues with the same formula he utilized in "Children", this time using ethereal female chant-like vocals (also included is an instrumental version of "Fable")."[1] Larry Flick from Billboard noted that "on this third instrumental epic from the highly influential album "Dreamland" Miles continues to blend racing dance beats with new-age sweetened keyboards with a flair that is difficult to fully duplicate or describe. You simply have to let the melody wash over your senses, while the groove inspires your body to move."[2]

Music video

The music video for "Fable" was directed by Maria Mochnacz. In it, Robert Miles falls asleep on his sofa, in front of the television. On the wall behind him, three girls are performing a choreography of synchronized swimming.

Track listings

CD single

Belgium

1. "Fable" (radio edit) – 3:50
2. "Fable" (message radio edit) – 4:00

France

1. "Fable" (message radio edit) – 4:08
2. "Fable" (radio edit) – 3:52

CD maxi

France

1. "Fable" (message radio edit) – 4:08
2. "Fable" (radio edit) – 3:52
3. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
4. "Fable" (extended message version) – 7:43
5. "Fable" (club mix) – 6:22
6. "Fable" (wake edit) – 4:42
7. "Fable" (psycho version) – 4:30

Germany

1. "Fable" (radio edit) – 3:50
2. "Fable" (message radio edit) – 4:00
3. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
4. "Fable" (club mix) – 6:23
5. "Fable" (extended message version) – 7:43
6. "Fable" (psycho version - NRG mix) – 4:28
7. "Fable" (wake edit) – 4:44

Italy

1. "Fable" (radio edit) – 3:56
2. "Fable" (message radio edit) – 4:11
3. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
4. "Fable" (message version) – 7:44
5. "Fable" (club version) – 6:22
6. "Fable" (wake-up version) – 4:44
7. "Fable" (psycho version) – 4:30

Netherlands

1. "Fable" (radio edit) – 3:56
2. "Fable" (message radio) – 4:11
3. "Fable" (wake up version) – 4:30
4. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12

UK

1. "Fable" (radio edit) – 3:50
2. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
3. "Fable" (message radio edit) – 4:00
4. "Fable" (message version) – 7:30
5. "Fable" (club mix) – 6:15
6. "Fable" (wake up version) – 4:30
7. "Fable" (psycho version) – 4:20

12" maxi

Belgium

1. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
2. "Fable" (wake up version) – 4:30
3. "Fable" (message version) – 7:30
4. "Fable" (NRG mix) – 4:20

France

1. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
2. "Fable" (wake up) – 4:44
3. "Fable" (message version) – 7:43
4. "Fable" (psycho version) – 4:28

Germany

1. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
2. "Fable" (club version) – 6:23
3. "Fable" (message version) – 7:43
4. "Fable" (psycho version - NRG mix) – 4:28
5. "Fable" (wake up) – 4:44

Italy

1. "Fable" (message version) – 7:43
2. "Fable" (psycho version - NRG mix) – 4:28
3. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
4. "Fable" (wake-up version) – 4:44

UK

1. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
2. "Fable" (wake up version) – 4:30
3. "Fable" (extended message version) – 7:43
4. "Fable" (club mix) – 6:15

Double 12"

France

1. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
2. "Fable" (extended message version) – 7:43
3. "Fable" (wake up) – 4:42
4. "Fable" (psycho version) – 4:30
5. "Fable" (club mix) – 6:22

Germany

1. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
2. "Fable" (club mix) – 6:23
3. "Fable" (extended message version) – 7:43
4. "Fable" (psycho version - NRG mix) – 4:28
5. "Fable" (wake up) – 4:44

Italy

1. "Fable" (extended version) – 7:12
2. "Fable" (extended message version) – 7:43
3. "Wake Up" – 4:44
4. "Fable" (psycho version - NRG mix) – 4:28
5. "Fable" (club mix) – 6:23

Charts and sales

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[3] 21 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] 5 Denmark (IFPI)[7] 12 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 2 France (SNEP)[10] 10 Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 3 Hungary (Mahasz)[12] 8 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[13] 5 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 6 Italy (Musica e dischi)[15] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 24 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 20 Norway (VG-lista)[19] 15 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[20] 4 Spain (AFYVE)[21] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 3 UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[24] 3 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[25] 7 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[26] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[27] 47 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[28] 51 Eurochart Hot 100[29] 29 French Singles Chart[30] 25 Germany (Official German Charts)[31] 49 Swiss Singles Chart[32] 35 UK Singles Chart 49 Certifications Country Certification Physical sales France[33] Silver 149,000[34]

References

1. "Robert Miles - Dreamland". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
2. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 12 April 1997. p. 66. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
3. "Australian-charts.com – Robert Miles – Fable". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
4. "Austriancharts.at – Robert Miles – Fable" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
5. "Ultratop.be – Robert Miles – Fable" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
6. "Ultratop.be – Robert Miles – Fable" (in French). Ultratop 50.
7. Danish Singles Chart 14 June 1996
8. "Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100 (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 07/06/96". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 108 (27): 56. July 6, 1996. ISSN 0006-2510.
9. "Robert Miles: Fable" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
10. "Lescharts.com – Robert Miles – Fable" (in French). Les classement single.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Robert Miles – Fable". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
12. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
13. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (29.06.1996 - 05.07.1996)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Fable". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
15. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 24. 15 June 1996. p. 14. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Robert Miles" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Robert Miles – Fable" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
18. "Charts.nz – Robert Miles – Fable". Top 40 Singles.
19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Robert Miles – Fable". VG-lista.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
21. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
22. "Swedishcharts.com – Robert Miles – Fable". Singles Top 100.
23. "Swisscharts.com – Robert Miles – Fable". Swiss Singles Chart.
24. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
26. Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 3, 2008)
27. 1996 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be Archived October 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved May 15, 2008)
28. 1996 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be Archived October 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved May 15, 2008)
29. "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
30. 1996 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Archived October 17, 2005, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved May 15, 2008)
31. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
32. 1996 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved May 15, 2008)
33. French certifications Disqueenfrance.com Archived 2009-02-20 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved August 3, 2008)
34. Singles certifications and sales, database Infodisc.fr Archived 2012-07-13 at WebCite (Retrieved August 3, 2008)