Plus grandir
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| “Plus grandir” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Mylène Farmer from the album Cendres de Lune |
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| Released | September 25, 1985 (album version) May 12, 1990 (live mix) |
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| Format | 7" single 7" maxi CD maxi Digital download (since 2005) |
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| Recorded | 1985, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 4:03 (Studio version) 4:10 (Live mix) |
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| Label | Polydor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Text : Mylène Farmer Music : Laurent Boutonnat |
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"Plus grandir" is a 1985 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The song was released twice : in its album version as second single from her first studio album Cendres de Lune, on September 25, 1985, and in in a live mix version as second single from her first live album En concert, on May 12, 1990.
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[edit] Background and writing
After the relative failure of the "On est tous des imbéciles", Farmer separated from the songwriter Jerome Dahan and her contract with the record company RCA ended. She then signed with Polydor for two albums and, for the first time, she wrote the lyrics of her next single, "Plus grandir", which was released in September 1985 (it was also released in Canada, at the same time that "We'll Never Die"). Despite sales fairly low, Polydor allowed the duo Mylène Farmer / Laurent Boutonnat to create the album Cendres de Lune, in March 1986.[1]
About five years after the single's release, Farmer did not yet accepted the relative success of this song, which was her first composition. She then decided to release this song for the second time, but in live version, after the success of the live album En concert in 1990.[2] The song's success was relative, except in nightclubs. Eventually, the song was the last collaboration at level of editing and management between Farmer and Bertrand Le Page because of artistic differences at the end of 1989.[3]
Among the various media of the live song, there was a picture disc - the first in Farmer's career.
The song was performed at time of 1989 concert. However, "Plus grandir" was not performed during the three next concerts, because in 1995, Farmer announced that the song would no longer part of her concerns.[1] [3]
[edit] Lyrics and music
The song deals with subjects that Farmer was especially fond of at the time : difficulty of leaving childhood, fear of aging, permanent pain of living and death. Boutonnat wrote music, rather pop for a sensitive theme.[4] About the lyrics, Farmer said : "Old age traumatizes me, it's what I wanted to say in the song".[5] Paris Normandie considered that the words were not very audible.[6]
[edit] Music video
- 1985 version
The 1985 video was made by Laurent Boutonnat who also wrote the screenplay. This Movie Box / Laurent Boutonnat / Polydor production with a 7:32 length cost about 330,000 frances (about 50,000 euros[7] ; the 1985 most expensive videoclip) and was shot for five days at Studio Sets in Stains and in Saint-Denis's cemetery. It was the first videoclip in cinemascope in the videoclip's history and was released at the cinema in preview.[8] It was broadcast on TV for the first time on Platine 45, on Antenne 2.[9]
Max Gautier, Farmer's father, participated in the preparation of scenery, which included among other things a pond (also used in Ainsi soit je...) and the dolls made by Farmer. Rambo Kolawski, who played the role of the rapist, has also appeared in the following video, "Libertine".[10] The instrumental "Cendres de Lune", available on the album of the same name, can be heard at the opening credits.[8]
In the video, we see a woman, played by Farmer, in a cemetery pushing a pram who comes to meditate at her own grave. Then, in a house full of spiders' webs, a girl on her bed, also played by Farmer, mistreats her doll throwing it in all directions and drowning it in the water. While crying, she begs the Virgin Mary to not grow and die. During her sleep, a man enters her room and rapes her, what the girl eventually agrees (Farmer reveals one of her breasts). The next day, dwarfish nuns beat the girl giving kicks because of this sexual intercourse. Then, with a knife, the girl cuts the doll's limbs, turns on herself and becomes a very old woman. The video ends with the woman in the cemetery who puts a bunch on the grave and goes away.[11]
In France, the video was censored and broadcast only in a shortened version. Indeed, the scene of the rape as well as that of the evil dwarfish nuns were removed.[1] Despite that, the video was much aired on television in 1985 and 1986.[8] According to an analysis, the amputation of the doll is a "symbolism of the defilement" and is synonymous with a "childhood stolen".[12] The magazine Charlie considered this music video as very "amazing"[13] while Salut said it had a "tortured atmosphere".[14]
- 1990 version
For the live version, a video of the 1989 tour was made with new images from "Plus grandir"'s performance and choreography. The introduction was filmed at the same time as the not live images from "Allan", and shows the monk who opened the concert, in a hazy nature.[3]
[edit] Critical reception
The song was generally very well-received at the time by the media. Some of them said for example : "[It is] an impeccable record from a musical point of view ; the simple lyrics are a refreshing breath" (Microsil).[15] This song "confirms the depth of the singer" (Paroles).[16] "The result is pure, moving (...). That may be naive, but far from being stupid" (Podium).[17] "[Farmer] launched with her sweet voice this moving prayer" (Télé Poche).[18] "[This song] is perverse and morbid, but it is so exciting" (L'Evénement du jeudi).[19] "The disc is not bad at all" (Charlie).[13]
[edit] TV and chart performances
To promote the song in its original version, Farmer performed it in several TV shows : Ile de transe (October 31, 1985, FR3 ; she also sang "Maman a tort"), Super Platine (Antenne 2 ; she performed "On est tous des imbéciles" too), Tapage nocturne (December 27, 1985, TF1), Hit des Clubs (January 1986, RTL), L'Académie des 9 (January 14, 1986, Antenne 2), Citron Grenadine (RTBF) and Azimuts (FR3 Lorraine ; she also sang "Chloé").[20]
Whereas the 1985 studio version didn't reach the French Top 50 Singles Charts, the 1990 live single had a short running : it stayed on the chart for only 7 weeks, from May 19 to June 30, 1990, peaking at number 35 on June 16.[21]
[edit] Formats and track listings
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[edit] Versions
- Official versions
| Version | Length | Album | Remixed by | Year | Comment[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Album version | 4:05 | Cendres de Lune | 1985 | ||
| Single version | 4:03 | 1985 | |||
| Long version | 6:00 | Laurent Boutonnat | 1985 | This long version, only available on the maxi vinyl, includes a longer introduction, and more chorus and music. | |
| Live mix (recorded in 1989) | 4:50 | En concert | Laurent Boutonnat | 1989 | This is a remix version combining the voices of Fredericks (in fact originally heard on "Maman a tort") and that of Farmer. |
| Mother's live remix | 6:25 | Dance Remixes | Laurent Boutonnat | 1989 | This remixed version, a disco duet with Carole Fredericks, was aired in many discothèques. The song starts with a dialogue between Fredericks and Farmer (as for the Live Mix, Fredericks' words are originally recorded for "Maman a tort"). English words, particularly the phrase "Who's my mother ?" that Farmer repeats throughout the song, have been added in this version. |
| Mum's rap | 4:10 | Laurent Boutonnat | 1989 | This is a rap version. | |
| Album version | 3:35 | Les Mots | Laurent Boutonnat | 2001 | This is a remixed and shortened version in which the sound seems to be more present and the voice of Farmer slower. Unlike the original version, the song finishs with a musical passage. |
- Unofficial mentionable fan remixes[22]
- St. Ken's platinum remix (4:10)
[edit] Credits and personnel
- Text : Mylène Farmer
- Music : Laurent Boutonnat
- Editions : Bertrand Le Page and Toutankhamon
- Recording company : Polydor
- Photography : Laurent Boutonnat (1985 version), Marianne Rosentiehl (1990 version)
[edit] Charts, certifications and sales
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[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Plus grandir", L'histoire de la chanson : le premier texte signé Mylène Mylenefarmeriscalled.net (Retrieved January 17, 2008)
- ^ France Soir, April 13, 1990 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 22, 2008)
- ^ a b c "Plus grandir (Live)", L'histoire de la chanson : la première reprise live farmerienne Mylenefarmeriscalled.net (Retrieved January 17, 2008)
- ^ "Plus grandir" Sans-logique.com (Retrieved January 18, 2008)
- ^ "Mylène Farmer, No. 1 de demain", Marc Thirion Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ Paris Normandie, November 11, 1985, R.B. Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ Interview of Laurent Boutonnat, Starfix, No. 35, April 1986
- ^ a b c d Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 196-199
- ^ L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer, Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 247 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)
- ^ "Plus grandir", videoclip Mylenefarmeriscalled.net (Retrieved January 18, 2008)
- ^ "Plus grandir", music video Jukebo.fr (Retrieved May 15, 2008)
- ^ Instant-Mag, No. 7, 2001, p. 4-5
- ^ a b Charlie, January 1986 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ Salut, 1986, "De Libertine" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ Microsil, November 1985 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ Paroles, 11/1985 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ Podium, 11/1985 Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ Télé Poche, November 25, 1985, "La Petite qui ne veut plus grandir" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ L'Evénement du jeudi, December 31, 1986, Claire Baldewyns Devant-soi.com (Retrieved March 20, 2008)
- ^ "Plus grandir", TV performances Mylene.net (Retrieved January 17, 2008)
- ^ a b "Plus grandir (Live Mix)", French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved January 12, 2008)
- ^ Mentionable fan remixes Libnet.wuggleworld.com (Retrieved January 11, 2008)
