Souviens-toi du jour

Single infobox |
Name = Souviens-toi du jour

|200px
Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album = Innamoramento
Released = September 2, 1999
Format = CD single
CD maxi
12" maxi
Digital download (since 2005)
Recorded = 1999, France
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:55 (single version)
5:03 (album version)
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Certification = Silver France, 2000
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "Je te rends ton amour"
(1999)
This single = "Souviens-toi du jour"
(1999)
Next single = "Optimistique-moi"
(2000)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = Promotional CDExtra tracklisting
Album = Innamoramento
Type = studio
prev_track = "Et si vieillir m'était conté"
prev_no = 11
this_track = "Souviens-toi du jour"
track_no = 12
next_track = "Mylenium"
next_no = 13Extra tracklisting
Album = Mylenium Tour
Type = live
prev_track = "Je te rends ton amour"
prev_no = 6
this_track = "Souviens-toi du jour"
track_no = 7
next_track = ""
next_no = 9Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos III
Type = Video
prev_track = "Je te rends ton amour"
prev_no = 2
this_track = "Souviens-toi du jour"
track_no = 3
next_track = "Optimistique-moi"
next_no = 4Extra tracklisting
Album = Music Videos II & III
Type = Video
prev_track = "Je te rends ton amour"
prev_no = 7
this_track = "Souviens-toi du jour"
track_no = 8
next_track = "Optimistique-moi"
next_no = 9Extra tracklisting
Album = Les Mots
Type = compilation
prev_track = "Effets secondaires"
prev_no = 10
this_track = "Souviens-toi du jour"
track_no = 11
next_track = "Optimistique-moi"
next_no = 12

"Souviens-toi du jour" is a 1999 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her fifth studio album "Innamoramento", it was released on September 2, 1999. Dealing with the theme of the Holocaust, it surprisingly became in France the best-selling single from the album.

Background and writing

Initially, Farmer wanted to release "Et si vieillir m'était conté" as third single from the album "Innamoramento". However, as promotional plans were already made, she changed her mind and preferred to release "Souviens-toi du jour". Indeed, the record label Universal wanted to market a rhythmic single in order to obtain higher sales than that of the previous single, "Je te rends ton amour". ["Souviens-toi du jour", L'histoire de la chanson: Un hommage aux victimes de la Shoah [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/souvienstoiglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)]

The song was much broadcast on radio.

Among the promotional media, there was an orange envelope released on September 2, 1999. This envelope contains a silvery pocket within which there are seven stones transparent. ["Jukebox", No. 179, June 2002 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2002/Jukebox_magazine_179_062002_2.jpgDevant-soi.com] (Retrieved March 22, 2008)] This is undoubtedly a "reference to the symbol of memory in the Jewish religion". ["Instant-Mag", No. 7, 2001, p. 31]

The song is on the studio album "Innamoramento" and the best of "Les Mots". It is also available on the live album "Mylenium Tour", where it has been performed with a simple choreography referring to the universal sign language.

Lyrics and music

The song refers openly to Primo Levi's book "If This Is a Man", in which the author recounts his experience in the concentration camps. However, the song is "full of hope and resolutely turned towards the potentiality of human beings to overcome its hatred", while the book seeks to "prove that the concentration camps were able to make the man inhuman, removing the brotherhood and mutual aid". ["Instant-Mag", No. 8, 2002, p. 14] In its lyrics, "Souviens-toi du jour" is "the continuation and the antithesis of "Désenchantée", and is a plea for an alternation, a sublimated power, held by an ideal". ["Instant-Mag", No. 17, 2004, p. 6]

Some words of the song refer to a poem by the French author Pierre Reverdy, "Esprit pesant". ["Instant-Mag", No. 16, 2004, p. 11]

Music video

The video, whose screenplay was written by Farmer, is a Requiem Publishing et Stuffed Monkey production - like for the previous Farmer's singles - and was directed by Marcus Nispel. It was filmed for two days in Los Angeles, and cost about 100,000 euros.

The video, which shows an apartment and its old furniture which catch fire, was filmed in a building destined for destruction. Among the books that burn, Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and other German ideological books can be seen. Farmer wore two dresses made by Thierry Mugler, which one of them had already been worn when the singer performed "Ainsi soit-je..." in August 1997. ["Souviens-toi du jour", videoclip [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/souviensclip.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)]

This video is the least one appreciated of Farmer's career by her fans, because of his lack of respect - Farmer stands in suggestive positions, and her clothes are almost transparent - towards the Holocaust. Indeed, about the video, the magazine "Instant-Mag" says : "Quality, good taste, value of this short film are frankly debatable. Not only it doesn't contribute towards the work, but moreover, it comes a certain fragrance that the shooting was made in a hurry, with a cock-and-bull accumulation of colorful images, which also fall precariously balanced with the theme of the song. The gap is rather embarrassing, even oppressive, and some people find it downright insulting and inappropriate". ["Instant-Mag", No. 3, 2000, p. 8] However, according to the magazine's analysis, Farmer's position on a sofa, elbows resting on knees and head bowed as to protect herself from fire, would be inspired by the text "Le Brasier", written by the French poet Guillaume Apollinaire. ["Instant-Mag", No. 6, 2001, p. 20] This video was first broadcast on September 21, 1999, when the Mylenium Tour started.

Chart performances

In France, "Souviens-toi du jour" got its peak position in its first week in the French SNEP Singles Chart, on October 2, 1999. It debuted at number 4. The song certainly fell the following weeks, but it managed to remain in the Top 50 longer (15 weeks) than the two previous Farmer's singles. Finally, it left the chart in March 2002, after its 22th week of attendance,"Souviens-toi du jour", French SNEP Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Souviens%2Dtoi+du+jour&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)] and ranked #79 in the 1999 Annual Chart.1999 French Singles Chart [http://www.ifop.com/europe/sondages/discannu/single99.stm Ifop.com] (Retrieved December 24, 2007)] Certified Silver single by the SNEP.French certifications in 1999 [http://www.disqueenfrance.com/certifications/single.asp?suite=3&forme_certif=6&annee=15 Disqueenfrance.com] (Retrieved August 31, 2007)] , "Souviens-toi du jour" was the best-selling single from the album "Innamoramento"

In Belgium, the single was charted for nine weeks, from October 9 to December 4, 1999. It peaked at #18 in its third week"Souviens-toi du jour", Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=13966&cat=s Ultratop.be] (Retrieved April 5, 2008)] and was ranked #99 on 1999 End of the Year chart.1999 Belgian Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1999 Ultratop.be] (Retrieved April 5, 2008)]

TV performances

Farmer performed "Souviens-toi du jour" in two French TV shows :"Tapis rouge", on September 11, 1999, on France 2, and "100% Johnny", on November 12, on TF1 (Farmer was personally invited by Johnny Hallyday). ["Souviens-toi du jour", TV performances [http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/discographie/repertoire-des-chansons.php?chanson=souviens-toi-du-jour Sans-logique.com] (Retrieved December 28, 2007)]

Formats and track listings

; CD single
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (single version) — 4:55
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (Royal G's radio mix) — 3:58

; CD maxi - Digipack
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (single version) — 4:55
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (Royal G's club mix) — 6:55
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (sweet guitar mix) — 4:11
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (remember mix) — 5:18

; 12" maxiA-side :
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (Royal G's club mix) — 6:55
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (sweet guitar mix) — 4:11B-side :
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (single version) — 4:55
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (remember mix) — 5:18

; Digital download
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (album version) — 5:03
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (live version) — 5:18; CD single - Promo
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (single version) — 4:55

; CD single - Promo - Luxurious envelope
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (single version) — 4:55

; 12" maxi - PromoA-side :
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (Royal G's club mix) — 6:55
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (sweet guitar mix) — 4:11B-side :
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (single version) — 4:55
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (remember mix) — 5:18

; DVD - Promo
# "Souviens-toi du jour" (video)

Versions

; Official versions

References