Fuck Them All

Single infobox |
Name = Fuck Them All

|200 px
Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album = Avant que l'ombre...
Released = March 14 2005
Format = CD single
CD maxi
7" maxi
Digital download
Recorded = 2005, France
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:30
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Certification = Silver France, 2005
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "Pardonne-moi"
(2002)
This single = "Fuck Them All"
(2005)
Next single = "Q.I"
(2005)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = CD maxiExtra tracklisting
Album = Avant que l'ombre...
Type = studio
prev_track = "Avant que l'ombre..."
prev_no = 1
this_track = "Fuck Them All"
track_no = 2
next_track = "Dans les rues de Londres"
next_no = 3Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos IV
Type = Video
prev_track = "C'est une belle journée"
prev_no = 3
this_track = "Fuck Them All"
track_no = 4
next_track = "Q.I"
next_no = 5Extra tracklisting
Album = Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Type = live
prev_track = "Les Mots"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Fuck Them All"
track_no = 9
next_track = "Avant que l'ombre..."
next_no = 10

"Fuck Them All" is a 2005 song recorded by the French Canadian artist Mylène Farmer. It was the first single from her sixth studio album, "Avant que l'ombre...", and was released on March 14, 2005. This new song, officially presented before the album, was eagerly anticipated by the fans and deals with a feminist theme. It achieved a certain success and became the best-selling single from the album, even if its sales were not very high.

Background and writing

On December 16, 2004, Mylène gave a press conference to talk about her thirteen concerts at Paris-Bercy in January 2006 and her new album in March 2005, but she said nothing about her next single. As she hadn't released a single since "Pardonne-moi", the third from the compilation "Les Mots", in October 2002, this new single was very expected by the fans. Various titles were given in the media : "Aime-moi", "Aime", "Dans ma peau"... But the true single, "Fuck Them All", was announced by "Voici", a French magazine, which also revealed the theme of the song : the war of the sexes. ["Fuck Them All" [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/fuckglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 18, 2007)] Thus, the song's title is in the "Shakespeare's language which the diva hadn't used any more since her 1992 single "Beyond My Control""."Chartoscopie : Mylène et Ilona mènent la danse" [http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/article1042.html Chartsinfrance.net] (Retrieved December 18, 2007)] At that time, some foolish rumours went round, notably some duets with other artists such as Lara Fabian or Diam's."Fuck Them All" [http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/discographie/singles/single.php?single=fuck-them-all Sans-logique.com] (Retrieved December 18, 2007)] The single was eventually broadcast for the first time on February 9, 2005 and was also the first Farmer's song to be available for digital download. ["Mylène Farmer de A à Z", Florence Rajon, 2005, MusicBook Ed., p. 48]

As the other singles from "Avant que l'ombre...", the text was writing by Mylène Farmer herself, while the music was composed by Laurent Boutonnat. The single's cover was made by Robin. The release was made in two times : first, the CD single on March 14, then the CD maxi and vinyl on which the remixes were available, on April 18. There were three official remix versions : 'mother f... vocal mix' and 'mother f... dub mix', by Joachim Garraud, and 'the martyr's remix', by Y-Front, who had already remixed "Libertine" on the album "RemixeS".

The photo on the cover, made by Robin, shows Farmer sitting on the floor on a building roof near the Gare du Nord (Paris). ["Mylène Farmer, l'icône", "Jukebox", n°253, p. 8 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2008/02-2008-JUKEBOX-N253-5.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved May 13, 2008)] An international CD maxi version was also released but under the title "F**k Them All" to be not censored, with a sticker "Parental advisory - Explicit content".

The song is the second track on the studio album. It was sung at the time of the 2006 Farmer's concerts, and so is also present on the live album "Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy" (track 9, CD 2, 6:42).

Music and lyrics

This song is characterized by its music produced from synthetic keyboards - some have criticized his lack of innovation in music -, his musical bridge containing vulgar lyrics (with rap) reminding of Madonna's song "American Life", and choirs of children on guitar riffs.

The song deals with a feminist theme : the war between the sexes. It is a "feminist plea on women's place in History" and the title refers to the "cowardice of men"."Mylène Farmer, l'icône", "Jukebox", n°253, p. 7 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2008/02-2008-JUKEBOX-N253-2.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved May 13, 2008)] In the song, Farmer "reverses the roles" ["Télé Magazine", "Provocante et pudique", Frédéric Besnier, 2005 [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
] , [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
] (Retrieved September 5, 2008)] and "presents women as warriors". In the first couplet, she evokes "the role of women in History", recalling that "all the great men had on their side a woman to support, assist and advise them" ["Mylène Farmer Influences", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Mascara Ed., p. 38,39 (ISBN 978-2351440261)] . However, the singer said that "all that was done at the expense of women and takes for example, Mary, Jesus Christ's mother, a symbol of martyrdom and self-sacrifice". She denounces "the hypocrisy and the chatter of men who think only about power and sex". In the refrain, she advises women to rebel by taking up arms."Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 107-111]

In the text, Farmer "is angry with men and the song would be a form of feminist anthem". The combination of an acoustic guitar, electronic beats and synths, in the second part of the song, evokes very strongly what Madonna has produced in recent years, while the ethereal song is typical of Farmer. A rap interlude sang in English launches a few insults sometimes thrown to women, before the final refrain"."Ouest-France" (Caen), February 24, 2005, "Le tube ? - Mylène Farmer : "Fuck Them All"", Philippe Richard [http://milenia.ifrance.com/html/of050224.htm Milenia.ifrance.com] (Retrieved February 22, 2008)]

Critical reception

The music and text have divided the fans : some have appreciated, while others do not. According to the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique (SACEM), the song was downloaded more than 5,000 times in the first week on the official sites, and over than one million times illegally. ["Fan 2", "Mylène Farmer - Son grand retour", Rowan Mayfair, 2005 [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
] (Retrieved September 4, 2008)]

According to the magazine "France-Ouest", ""Fuck Them All" is done to revive the provocative aura which is the singer's business". The song "amounts with a bit of confusion, between outrageously precious rhymes and vulgar slogans against the male hegemony". "With a hint of sulphur as a supplement, it is a choir of young boys who sings 'fuck them all' in the refrain. This single was sometimes found "unconvincing". ["Ouest France", April 5, 2005, "Dans le monde sensuel de Mylène Farmer", Michel Troadec [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/Ouest_France_050412.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] According to the "TV Magazine", the single is "catchy both by its provocative title and its lyrics quite bloomed". ["TV Magazine" No. 18378, March 13-19, 2005, "Mylène Farmer : un single surprenant", Nathalie Chuc [http://milenia.ifrance.com/html/tvm18378.htm Milenia.ifrance.com] (Retrieved February 22, 2008)]

Music video

Production

The videoclip, shot in Romania for two days, cost approximately 150,000 euros. Farmer wrote its scenario and it was directed by Agustin Villaronga, then broadcast on TV from March 9."Fuck Them All", videoclip [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/ftaclip.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)] The video for "Peut-être toi" was originally intended to illustrate this song. ["Mylène Farmer, le culte - L'envers du décor", Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 44]

The scarecrows which feature in this one were made by Martial Leiter, a Swiss artist. Farmer had the idea to contact him after seeing a documentary on France 3 about the exhibition in the open air of scarecrows theoretically representing the human soul in its worst states. She wanted to use them in her videoclip, but Leiter refused to give her those of his exhibition, preferring to create some new scarecrows easier to break. In the music video, they have a black bird skull and wear black veils torn floating in the wind.

The video and its making of are released in a DVD available on the second edition of the studio album.

Plot

In the music video, we can see first a woman who gallops on a horse in a snowy forest. She comes in a warehouse where a cage surrounded by crows was suspended by chains. There, a woman with short hair and face flayed is trapped. Her eyes are like those of the crows. The first woman enters in the warehouse and stops below this cage that is empty and looks at it. She casts a stone against a wall that reflects her like a mirror and the building collapses. In the snow, she finds a body - the second woman, inanimate and frozen - hidden under a blanket. She closes her eyes and plunges her hands into the body and comes out a sword. She goes into the forest where flying numerous crows and ends up on a snowy plain on which are erected many scarecrows. During the refrains, she uses her sword to destroy scarecrows, rip their sails and breaks the wooden crosses. Scarecrows' eyes weep black blood that turns to crow. Then we understand how the other woman was died : the cage in which she was, had major peaks to its ceiling, and the latter had gradually lowered. Finally, the living woman plants her sword in the snow, then she disappears in the air. ["Mylène Farmer - La part d'ombre", Caroline Bee, Antoine Bioy & Benjamin Thiry, 2005, Archipel Ed., p. 142-143] Farmer plays the role of the two women.

Reviews

The videoclip has a high level of symbolism. Gothic, ["Télé Star", "Les secrets d'un retour au top", Jean-Rémy Gaudin-Bridet, 2005 [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
] (Retrieved September 5, 2008)] the video has "undeniable aesthetic qualities" and allows "great freedom of interpretation". ["L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer", Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 140 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)] The music video, analysed in French magazines "Elle" ["Elle", "Mylène Farmer, son clip décrypté" [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/elle_4.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)] and "Télé 7 Jours", ["Télé 7 Jours", "Le mystère Mylène", Romain Roussel & Édouard B. Cluzel, 2005 [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
] , [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
] (Retrieved September 5, 2008)] generated mixed reviews, ["Télé 7 Jours", "Le clip qui divise", E.B. Cluzel, 2005 [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
] (Retrieved September 5, 2008)] but was generally deemed as disappointing because of its lack of innovation. ["France Soir", April 4, 2005, "Mylène Farmer fuit la lumière", Richard Gianorio [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2005/france_soir_04042005.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 20, 2008)]

During a musical program called "Les 100 Meilleurs clips du XXIè siècle" aired on MCM on February 25, 2007, this video reached number 1 thanks to the voters of TV viewers. [Mylène Farmer, rétrospective 2007 [http://www.mylene.net/modules/index.php?r=213 Mylene.net] (Retrieved January 11, 2008]

Chart performances

In France, the single went straight to number 2 on March 19, 2005, with 26,688 sales2005 weely selling singles [http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?showtopic=15622 Chartinfrance.net] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)] (only the CD single was released that week). Elia Habib, a French Charts specialist, said about this high debut : ""Fuck Them All", to succeed in persisting on the podium, will have to count on a broader basis than that of her traditional fans, [because they are] sufficiently numerous to send the single of their idol in the top 10 in its first week of release, but not for keeping it in this one the weeks after, as the last superstar's singles had regularly proved it, except for "Les Mots" and "C'est une belle journée", which were general public hits". Indeed, the following week, the single dropped on 10 and kept on dropping but slowly in its three next weeks. On April 3, it made an enormous jump from #21 to #3 with 14,701 sales, thanks to the releases of the CD maxi and vinyl. After that, it started again to fall every week, and stayed 11 weeks in the top 50 - after all, it was better than the ten weeks for "L'Âme-stram-gram", the first single from the preceding Farmer's studio album, "Innamoramento" - and left the chart before its 19th week."Fuck Them All", French SNEP Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Fuck+Them+All&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)] Certified Silver disc by SNEP, the French certificator, on May 25 (two months after it release),2005 certifications [http://www.disqueenfrance.com/certifications/single.asp?suite=3&forme_certif=6&annee=23 Disqueenfrance.com] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)] "Fuck Them All" was the 70th best selling single in 2005.2005 French Singles Chart [http://www.ifop.com/europe/sondages/DISCANNU/single05.STM Ifop.com] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)]

In Belgium, the single entered in the Ultratop 40 Singles Chart on March 24 ; it was number 3, then number 2, its best position, and reached to stay in the top ten for eight weeks. It left the chart on July 2, after having been listed for 14 weeks."Fuck Them All", Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=6511&cat=s Ultratop.be] (Retrieved January 3, 2007)] According to Ultratop, the Belgium Chart, "Fuck Them All" was the 26th best selling single in 2005.2005 Belgian Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2005 Ultratop.be] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)]

On March 27, the single debuted at its peak position (#14) in Switzerland, before dropping. However, as in France, it went from 54th to 30th position on May 1 thanks to the CD maxi and vinyl's sales. Then the single took back its descent of the chart, but stabilized in its last weeks. It remained on the chart for a total of 16 weeks ; thus the single was Farmer's longest one running in the Swiss Singles Chart at that time."Fuck Them All", Swiss Top 100 Singles Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Fuck+Them+All&cat=s Hitparade.ch] (Retrieved December 17, 2007)]

Formats and track listings

; CD single
# "Fuck Them All" — 4:30
# "Fuck Them All" (instrumental) — 4:32

; CD maxi - Digipack
# "Fuck Them All" (single version) — 4:39
# "Fuck Them All" (mother f... vocal mix) — 8:34
# "Fuck Them All" (the martyr's remix) — 5:26
# "Fuck Them All" (mother f... dub mix) — 7:55

; 7" maxi
# "Fuck Them All" (mother f... vocal club mix) — 8:30
# "Fuck Them All" (the martyr's remix) — 5:20
# "Fuck Them All" (mother f... dub mix) — 7:50

; CD maxi - International
# "F**k Them All" (single version) — 4:30
# "F**k Them All" (mother f... vocal club mix) — 8:30
# "F**k Them All" (the martyr's remix) — 5:20
# "F**k Them All" (mother f... dub mix) — 7:50; Digital download
# "Fuck Them All" — 4:30
# "Fuck Them All" (instrumental) — 4:34

; 7" maxi - Promo - Limited edition (500)
# "Fuck Them All" (mother f... vocal club mix) — 8:30
# "Fuck Them All" (the martyr's remix) — 5:20
# "Fuck Them All" (mother f... dub mix) — 7:50

; 7" maxi - Monoface, promo - Limited edition (200)
# "Fuck Them All" (mother f... remix) — 7:50

; CD single - Promo
# "Fuck Them All" (radio edit) — 3:55

; CD single - Promo - Luxury envelope
# "Fuck Them All" (radio edit) — 3:55

; DVD - Promo
# "Fuck Them All" (video)

Versions

; Official versions

References

External links

* [http://www.mylenorama.com/photos/index.php?album=press-cuttings-2000s&
]