Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

"Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" is the debut single by French house duo Modjo, written and performed by vocalist Yann Destagnol and producer Romain Tranchart. It was released on June 25, 2000 as the lead single from the duo's self-titled debut studio album. It became a major worldwide success, topping at least 10 music charts, including the national charts of Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It also topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in January 2001.

"Lady (Hear Me Tonight)"
Single by Modjo
from the album Modjo
Released	June 25, 2000
Recorded	2000
Genre	French house nu-disco
Length	5:06 (album version) 3:45 (radio edit)
Label	MCA Sound of Barclay
Songwriter(s)	Yann Destagnol Romain Tranchart Bernard Edwards Nile Rodgers
Producer(s)	Yann Destagnol Romain Tranchart
Modjo singles chronology
"Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (2000) "Chillin'" (2001)
Music video
"Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" on YouTube

Content

The song is written in B flat minor; there is also an acoustic version recorded in G minor. It features a guitar sample of "Soup for One" performed by Chic, as written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.[1] In 2011, Chic added the song to their concert setlist, which is performed as a mash-up song with "Soup for One".

The single includes the original version of the track, plus an acoustic version, both performed by Modjo. Remixes have been provided by Harry Romero, Roy Davis, Jr. and Danny Tenaglia.[2]

Release

The song debuted at number one in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2000,[3] where it stayed for two weeks to become the sixteenth best-selling single of 2000.[4] It also reached number one in seven other European countries and became a top-ten hit in several others, as well as in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.[5][6] In the United States, the song peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100[7] and number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[8][9] As of 2017 the single has sold 2 million copies worldwide.[10]

Impact and legacy

Australian music channel Max placed the song at number 790 in their list of 1000 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2012.[11]

Mixmag included "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" in their list of The 30 best vocal house anthems ever in 2018.[12]

Insider put the song on their list of 102 songs everyone should listen to in their lifetime in 2019.[13]

The song was featured in the critically acclaimed 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V.

Music video

The music video was directed by François Nemeta and was filmed in June 2000 in various locations in Quebec, Canada.[14][15]

The video details the various shenanigans of three teenagers, one girl and two boys. The video starts off with the first teenager with a shaved head who walks into a restaurant where the other two are. The three then put all their money together. They make it to a dealership that sells used cars and they are able to purchase one, which they take on a ride to a country fair. The three watch a band playing and then grab their instruments during a break. Their efforts aren't appreciated and the teenager with the shaved head is hit with a bottle thrown from the crowd, after which they are chased out. They then sneak into a motel where they proceed to sing and dance while in the shower, all while still clothed. The next morning, they escape just as the hotel manager notices and gives chase before their car breaks down. The girl invites the boys to follow her into the woods and they come across a cliff with a view of the city, which they gaze into in amusement. The video ends after this scene.

Track listing

1. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (Original Mix)
2. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (Harry 'Choo Choo' Romero's Titanium Dub)
3. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (Roy's Universal Soldiers Mix)
4. "Lady" (Acoustic)

CD1

1. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (radio edit)
2. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (album version)
3. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (Roy's Universal Soldiers Mix)
4. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (Roy's Universal Radio Mix)

CD2

1. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (radio edit)
2. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)"
3. "Rollercoaster" (Avid Rovers Mix)
4. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (Remix)

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2000–2001) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 10 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 7 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[6] 2 Denmark (Tracklisten)[19] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 3 France (SNEP)[22] 7 Germany (Official German Charts)[23] 2 Greece (IFPI)[24] 1 Hungary (Mahasz)[25] 1 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[26] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 1 Ireland Dance (IRMA)[28] 1 Italy (FIMI)[29] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 3 Poland (Polish Airplay Chart)[34] 4 Portugal (AFP)[35] 1 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[36] 1 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[37] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[38] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[3] 1 UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[41] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[8] 81 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[9] 1 US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[42] 2 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[43] 27 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[44] 27 US Latin Tropical Airplay (Billboard)[45] 12 Chart (2016) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[46] 62

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Australia (ARIA)[47] 60 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[48] 55 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[49] 24 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[50] 13 France (SNEP)[51] 21 Germany (Official German Charts)[52] 52 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[53] 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[54] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[55] 36 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[36] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[56] 61 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[57] 6 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[4] 16 Chart (2001) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[58] 76 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[59] 74 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[60] Gold 35,000^^ Belgium (BEA)[61] Gold 25,000^* Germany (BVMI)[62] Gold 250,000^^ Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[63] Platinum 50,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Platinum 600,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

See also

• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s

References

1. "Song-writing credits for Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
2. Andy Gregory (2002). "International Who's Who in Popular Music". Routledge (UK). ISBN 1-85743-161-8. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
4. "Yearly Best Selling Singles" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
5. "Australian-charts.com – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
6. "Modjo Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
7. https://www.billboard.com/music/modjo
8. "Modjo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
9. "Modjo Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
10. Cirisano, Tatiana (3 November 2017). "French House Duo Modjo Reflect On Their Classic '00s Hit 'Lady (Hear Me Tonight)' & How the Song Refuses To Die in 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
11. "TOP 1000 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME – 2012". Max. 2012. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
12. "The 30 best vocal house anthems ever". Mixmag. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
13. "102 songs everyone should listen to in their lifetime". Insider. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
14. https://francoisnemeta.wordpress.com/2016/06/29/modjo-lady-hear-me-tonight-the-story/
15. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1g9wR_Zo2l7lf6GkVEG8IxDYeKeg&ll=45.895743541443046%2C-73.48641550000002&z=9
16. "Austriancharts.at – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
17. "Ultratop.be – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
18. "Ultratop.be – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (in French). Ultratop 50.
19. "Hits of the World: Denmark (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 09/11/00". Billboard. 112 (40): 53. 30 September 2000. ISSN 0006-2510.
20. Eurochart peak
21. "Modjo: Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
22. "Lescharts.com – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (in French). Les classement single.
23. "Offiziellecharts.de – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
24. "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
25. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
26. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 31.9. – 6.10. 2000 39. Vika)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 27 February 2020.
27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
28. "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 7 September 2000". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
29. "Italiancharts.com – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". Top Digital Download.
30. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 17 March 2019.
31. "Dutchcharts.nl – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
32. "Charts.nz – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". Top 40 Singles.
33. "Norwegiancharts.com – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". VG-lista.
34. "Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 45/2000". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on 5 March 2001. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
35. "Top 10 Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
36. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 January 2005.
37. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
38. "Spanishcharts.com – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
39. "Swedishcharts.com – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". Singles Top 100.
40. "Swisscharts.com – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". Swiss Singles Chart.
41. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
42. "Modjo Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
43. "Modjo Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
44. "Modjo Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
45. "Modjo Chart History (Latin Tropical Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
46. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
47. "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2000". ARIA. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
48. "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
49. "Rapports annuels 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
50. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
51. "Classement Singles – année 2000" (in French). Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
52. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
53. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 5 January 2001. p. 10. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
54. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2000". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
55. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
56. "Årslista Singlar, 2000" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
57. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000" (in German). Retrieved 10 September 2019.
58. "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18 no. 52. 22 December 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
59. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
60. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
61. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
62. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Modjo; 'Lady (Hear Me Tonight)')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
63. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Modjo; 'Lady (Hear Me Tonight)')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
64. "British single certifications – Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)". British Phonographic Industry.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics