L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...

Single infobox |
Name = L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...


Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album = Les Mots
Released = February 27, 2001 (France)
September 4, 2001 (Switzerland)
Format = CD single
Digital download (since 2005)
Recorded = 2001, France
Genre = Pop
Length = 4:44
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Certification =
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "Dessine-moi un mouton
(2000)
This single = "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
(2001)
Next single = "Les Mots"
(2001)Extra tracklisting
Album = Les Mots
Type = compilation
prev_track = "Innamoramento"
prev_no = 13
this_track = "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
track_no = 14
next_track = "Pardonne-moi"
next_no = 15

"L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." is a 2001 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. It was one of the singles from the album ' (' or "" in U.S.), a soundtrack from the movie of the same name. The song was released on February 27, 2001. Without any promotion by the singer nor music video, the song even so managed to reach the top ten in France.

Background and writing

The Razmokets are the characters of two cartoons released in film and intended for children, whose second episode, "Les Razmokets à Paris", was produced in 2000, with a great budget. After the shooting, the producers wanted to record the movie soundtrack mainly with French songs (but with English songs too). Several stars were contacted, including Tionne Watkins (a member of TLC), the 1990s boys band 2 Be 3, Sinéad O'Connor, Cyndi Lauper and Mylène Farmer. [Elia Habib, "Muz hit. tubes", p. 524 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)] Moreover, according to some unconfirmed rumors, Madonna has expressly asked Farmer to participate in the soundtrack of the film."L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", 2001 [http://www.mylene.net/mylene/d_s_fee.php Mylene.net] (Retrieved December 23, 2007)] The French singer accepted, but preferred to produce a new song instead of licensing the rights to one of his old compositions. Then, the label Maverick signed a contract for an unreleased song, composed by Farmer (text) and her songwriting partner Laurent Boutonnat (music). So, it was the first time that the singer recorded a song specially for a movie. Finally, the song was played for 15 seconds in this one."L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", L'histoire de la chanson : Un texte faussement enfantin [http://www.mylenefarmeriscalled.net/feeglob.html Mylenefarmeriscalled.net] (Retrieved December 23, 2007)]

An English version originally recorded was canceled in favor of a French version. ["L'Intégrale Mylene Farmer", Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 258 (ISBN 978-2-35288-108-7)] The title first chosen, "Attrapez-moi", was also quickly abandoned because it was very similar to the Pokémon's cry of launching ("Attrapez-les tous"). Finally, the title chosen by Farmer was "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." ["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)] It is ambiguous and cheeky because it contains a pun in French alluding to the spanking.

In Europe, the marketing of the soundtrack has been postponed because Farmer had bought the song's royalties and finally decided to release it as a single, while retaining the principle that the song is from a movie. A single medium was available : a digipack CD single, containing the song's lyrics on the inside. For the second time in the singer's career - after the song "XXL" -, the media's cover doesn't show her, but a drawing of a fairy from the film.

The song began circulating on the Internet a month before the soundtrack's release. It was very well received by many fans who felt that it could be a big hit. ["Jukebox", No. 179, June 2002 [http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2002/Jukebox_magazine_179_%20062002_4.jpgDevant-soi.com (2)] (Retrieved March 22, 2008)] A rumour have suggested the fact that Bloody Cook, the famous producer of the Tartempions Bookmarkers, would participate in the remixes of the song. But ultimately no remix has been made. Exceptionally, there was no video either."Instant-Mag", No. 7, 2001, p. 8]

The song was a little broadcast on the radio. Only Europe 2 broadcast it regularly.

Except on the CD single, "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." is also available on the soundtrack of the film (5:10), on Mylène Farmer's best of, "Les Mots", and on the European CD maxi "Les Mots" (track 3).

Lyrics and music

The song tells the story of the mischievous and malicious fairy Mélusine, here embodied by Farmer"Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 117-119] .

Chart performances

On March 3, the single debuted at #9 on the French SNEP Singles Chart, offering to Farmer her 22th top ten. The following weeks, the song fell steadily, but slowly enough, and remained for 9 weeks in the top 50 and 15 weeks in the chart."L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", French SNEP Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=L%27histoire+d%27une+f%E9e%2C+c%27est%2E%2E%2E&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 23, 2007)] However, this course is very acceptable, taking into account various parameters (little broadcasts on radio, no video, no promotion on TV, a single media, and the film has not had much success in France). The beauty of the single's cover has undoubtedly helped the increase of the sales.

In Belgium (Wallonia), the single started to #23 on March 15, before jumping to #11, then to #10, its peak position. After that, it kept on dropping, first slowly, then faster, and left the chart after 13 weeks of attendance."L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=62689&cat=s Ultratop.be] (Retrieved January 3, 2007)] In the 2001 Belgian singles year end chart, "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." was ranked at number 89.2001 Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2001 Ultratop.be] (Retrieved September 2, 2007)]

In Switzerland, the single was released on September 4, 2001, about six months after France and Belgium, but it failed to enter the Swiss Singles Chart.

Formats and track listings

; CD single - Digipack
# "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." (single version) — 4:44
# "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." (instrumental) — 5:00; Digital download
# "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." (album version) — 5:00

Versions

; Official versions

References