"Dégénération" is a 2008 electro / techno song by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the first single from her seventh studio album Point de Suture, and was released first digitally and on radio in June 2008, then in a CD in August 2008. The song marked an important musical change in the singer's career. Despite cold critical and public reception, the single achieved success, peaking at number one in France on both physical and digital sales charts.
[edit] Background and release
On 21 May Thierry Suc, one of Farmer's producers, announced that the first single from the album would be "Dégénération"[1] and that it would be released on radio on 19 June 2008.[2] On 7 June 2008, a 30-second music clip was leaked to the Internet[3] as well as the official cover art.[4] On 14 June, the whole song was available to the Internet. At the time, as the origins of this song were, however, unclear, it had thus led many to believe that this leaked song was actually a remix due to its lack of lyrics.
Surprisingly, on the night from 13 to 14 June, the e-compil site, the official platform for downloading of Universal Music, proposed, for a few hours only, to legally download the song, probably by mistake.[5] On 16 June, "Dégénération" was aired for the first time on Radio Jeune Reims, at 8:20 pm, although it was announced that NRJ should have the exclusivity of the first broadcast, on June 19, at 7:00 am.[6] According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, the DJ Martin Solveig participated in one of the song remixes.[7] As scheduled, on June 19, several radio stations broadcast "Dégénération", including NRJ, Delta FM and RTL. The song was then also available digitally on musicMe, virginmega.fr and iTunes, but only one version. A few days later, an unofficial CDR promo (unknown remix) of "Dégénération" was circulated and received attention from high profile DJs. Finally, it was announced that the song would be released as a physical single on 18 August. On 4 July, certain French radio stations began to broadcast the radio edit version of the remix produced by Martin Solveig.
On the occasion of the single release, Farmer formed for the first time a partnership with a mobile phone company. So, the SFR subscribers received two SMS announcing first when the song would be available digitally on its site, then when the three excerpts of the music video would be broadcast on its site.[8] On 11 July, the newspaper Info Music Hebdo said that the CD single would be released in a limited edition (50,000 copies) and that the CD maxi would contain remixes by Tomer G and Manhattan Clique who had previously worked with Farmer for "Slipping Away (Crier la vie)". In early September, TF1 promoted the song airing some excerpts between the programmes and the fully music video in the night.
[edit] Lyrics, music and title
|  Coma t’es sexe, t’es styx,
Test statique
Coma t’es sexe, t’es styx,
Extatique...
|
| — Beginning of the chorus |
The song has an electro[9] and techno-sexy feel and the lyrics play with the sonorities. The only natural instruments audible in the song are piano and percussion; all others are effects. According to Discordance.fr, "Dégénération" is "an unstructured song, not a summer hit with an easy approach", and its music is "hypnotic". It can be assimilated to "Psychiatric", "Effets secondaires" or "Porno graphique" because of "its short text and its rather dub". The song "amounts to a couplet repeated in buckle, a spoken bridge, and many choirs". The text "remains partially incomprehensible without reading official lyrics". The electronic sound has a "more metallic rhythmic" than Farmer's previous singles and constitutes "a remarkable artistic experiment".[10]
Interviewed by Claire Chazal in the news broadcasting of 31 August, 8:00 pm, on TF1, Farmer explained that the title of the song was a reference to "Désenchantée", her 1991 number-one hit, in which the word "génération" is mentioned.[11] On the cover of the various formats, Farmer has in her back an enormous scar whose threads form the letters IY'H which mean in Hebrew : "With God's will".[12]
[edit] Music video
The music video was shot over two days (9 and 10 June) in Prague, Czech Republic. Polydor[13] and French magazine Paris-Match announced that Bruno Aveillan, a director who has directed several television commercials for companies such as Perrier, Louis Vuitton, Orange, Nintendo, Nike and Philips, directed this 4:30 music video. About thirty actors as well as the dancers of Cave Canem troupe feature in it. According to Aveillan, extras perform "a resolutely modern choreography, full of unexpected." In addition, a Phantom camera, ordinarily devoted to the scientific research, was used for the shooting.[14] Patricia Aveillan, Bruno Aveillan's mother, made the dress worn by Farmer in the video and explained in an interview that she was informed just ten days before the shooting. Her daughter and her son-in-law also participated in the shooting.[15]
The music video for "Dégénération" contains several gay and lesbian scenes.
The video shows Farmer lying on an operating table in a laboratory, surrounded by scientists. When the music begins, she wakes up, unties her strips, gets up, and throws blue laser beams from her palms to the doctors and the militaries. Suddenly, they begin to perform choreographied sexual intercourses (men with men, women with women, women with men) which eventually end as an orgy, while Farmer goes out of the laboratory.[14]
On 26 June, SFR site revealed an excerpt from the music video for "Dégénération". Two other excerpts were broadcast on 1 and 2 July. The video was eventually fully aired on television on 10 July[16] and immediately available on several official websites such as TF1.fr, Music SFR and universalmusic.fr. In Russia, "MTV Russia" channel aired regularly the music video.[17]
This video was generally well-received in the media. For example, Musique.evous said: "Its atmosphere is consistent with the single and the universe of its performer: cold, careful and erotic. (...) The production is impeccable and the greatest attention was paid to lighting, the texture of the bodies and the special effects".[18] Many critics have noticed that the video was "erotic" and "provocative", and some have thought it was inspired by Luc Besson's film The Fifth Element (futuristic atmosphere, red hair, body covered with strips).[19] According to La Meuse, gay scenes would be "a wink to the fascination that Farmer has always exerted on the gay public".[20]
[edit] Critical reception
[edit] Reviews
"Dégénération" received generally negative reviews from the media and the public. Indeed, many Farmer's fans have criticized the lack of lyrics and the radio stations have not taken to the song.[9] On 29 July, Yahoo! proposed on its homepage a very critical analysis of "Dégénération", both at the level of music and video.[21] Tribu Move deemed that this song marked a big musical change in the singer's career.[22] On August 18, French magazine Télé Star qualified "Dégénération" as a "failure", "a repetitive single without refrain, which has left perplexed fans of the first hour as well as professional people". It also stressed that the song was "poorly aired on radio due to overall negative feedbacks from listeners".[23] According to Le Monde, "Dégénération" is characterized by "rather minimalist arrangements and a curtness tone".[24] For Le Figaro, it is a "very commercial single", with a "powerful rhythmic", a "very forward voice", and a "imperturbably 'farmerian' text".[25] Starac Mag deemed the song is "less melodious than [Farmer's] previous titles, but equally effective".[26] As for Le Point, "Dégénération" is "a repetitive electro pop [song] with naive lyrics full of muddled and mystic double meanings".[12] More positive, Swiss newspaper Coopération stated : "Make love, not the war : such is the message of this electro-pop hit which eyes up Depeche Mode".[27]
[edit] Chart performances
- France
Although it received negative reviews, the single, after just a few hours, climbed to number one on the French singles download chart, very far ahead of the number two in terms of sales.[28] In spite of the lack of substantial promotion, there were 4,998 digital downloads on the three first days.[29] However, the week after, "Dégénération" dropped to #8 with 2,028 downloads,[30], then to #10 with 1,769 downloads, and was only #25 in its fourth week with 940 downloads.[31] It continued to drop on the chart, but gained 35 places and reached #10, with 1,450 downloads, when the album was released in late August,[32] but began again to drop rather quickly the weeks after.[33] It fell off the top 50 after 13 weeks.
In France, the single went straight to number one on the SNEP chart on 23 August, selling 27,401 units, which was the highest weekly sales of 2008 for a number-one single in France.[32] It dropped to #2 the week after with 8,495 sales,[34] then to #5 with 4,891 sales.[35] Then it fell off the top ten and totaled 17 weeks in the top 50 and 41 weeks in the top 100, which is to date the singer's longest chart running of a single in this country. The song also reached #10 on the club chart, #16 on the television airplay chart and #51 on the airplay chart.[36]
- Other countries
On 5 July, "Dégénération", then only available digitally, entered the Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart at #6 before dropping quickly and remaining in low positions. However, on August 30, when the physical formats were released, "Dégénération" jumped directly from #33 to #1, thus becoming Farmer's third number-one hit in Belgium. It dropped rather quickly the next weeks and remained for a total of 14 weeks in the top 40.[37]
The single was first ranked for a sole week on the Swiss Singles Charts, at #58, on 6 July, thanks to the downloads, but re-entered at #26 on 23 August when the physical formats were available, then dropped and fell off the chart after six weeks.[38]
[edit] Formats and track listings
- CD single (limited edition — 50,000)
| 1. | "Dégénération" (single version) | 5:27 |
| 2. | "Dégénération" (radio edit) | 4:05 |
| 3. | "Dégénération" (instrumental version) | 5:27 |
- CD maxi / 12" maxi
| 1. | "Dégénération" (single version) | 5:27 |
| 2. | "Dégénération" (Tomer G sexy club mix) | 8:33 |
| 3. | "Dégénération" (MHC future generation remix club) | 6:29 |
| 4. | "Dégénération" (Manhattan clique mix) | 3:20 |
- CD single - Promo / CD single - Promo - Digipack format 12" (collector edition)
| 1. | "Dégénération" (edit version) | 3:55 |
- CD maxi - Promo
| 1. | "Dégénération" (comatik club remix (remixed by Martin Solveig)) | 7:04 |
| 2. | "Dégénération" (Tomer G sexy club mix) | 8:28 |
| 3. | "Dégénération" (single version) | 5:23 |
- 12" maxi - Promo
| 1. | "Dégénération" (Martin Solveig degenerave remix) | 7:04 |
| 2. | "Dégénération" (Tomer G sexy club mix) | 8:28 |
- CD single - Promo (released in September 2008. Limited edition — 120)
| 1. | "Dégénération" (MHC future generation remix club) | 6:29 |
- Digital download
| 1. | "Dégénération" (single version) | 5:27 |
| 2. | "Dégénération" (Tomer G sexy club mix) | 8:33 |
| 3. | "Dégénération" (MHC future generation remix club) | 6:29 |
| 4. | "Dégénération" (Manhattan clique mix) | 3:20 |
[edit] Release history
| Date | Label | Region | Format | Catalog |
| Early July, 2008 | Polydor | Belgium, Switzerland | Digital | — |
| July 19, 2008 | France |
| August 18, 2008 | Belgium, France, Switzerland | CD maxi | 5310110 |
| 12" | 5310111 |
| CD single | 5310112 |
[edit] Official versions
| Version | Length | Album | Remixed by | Year | Comment |
| Album / Single version | 5:27 | Point de Suture | — | 2008 | See the previous sections |
| Radio edit | 4:05 | — | — | 2008 | There are less verses than on the album version. |
| Radio edit - Promo | 3:55 | — | — | 2008 | |
| Instrumental version | 5:27 | — | — | 2008 | All lyrics are deleted. |
| Comatik club remix / Degenerave mix | 7:04 | — | Martin Solveig | 2008 | This version, only available on the promotional formats and digitally via SFR, has electronic sounds. The radio edit version lasts about three minutes. |
| Manhattan Clique mix | 3:20 | — | Manhattan Clique | 2008 | |
| MHC future generation remix club | 6:29 | — | Manhattan Clique | 2008 | |
| Tomer G sexy club mix | 8:33 | — | Tomer G | 2008 | |
[edit] Credits and personnel
- Lyrics : Mylène Farmer
- Music : Laurent Boutonnat
- Photo : Simon Hawk (H&K)
- Art "Cicatrice" : Melikito
- Design : Henry Neu
- Editions : Isiaka
| - Tomer G sexy club remix
- Remixed by Tomer G at Tomer G Studios for Rave World of Music
- MHC future generation remix club and Manhattan Clique mix
- Remixed and additional production by Manhattan Clique
- Keyboards : Philip Larsen
- Guitar : Lee Turner
|
[edit] Charts and sales
| Chart (2008) | Peak
position | | Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[37] | 1 | | Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[39] | 6 | | French Airplay Chart[36] | 51 | | French Digital Chart[40] | 1 | | French SNEP Singles Chart[41] | 1 | | Russian Airplay Chart[42] | 124 | | Russian Airplay Chart 1 [42] | 65 | | Swiss Singles Chart[38] | 26 | | | End of year chart (2008) | Position | | Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[43] | 77 | | French Singles Chart[44] | 22 | | Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales | Downloads | | France[45] | — | — | — | 62,000 (53,270 in 2008) | 16,860 | |
1 Tomer G sexy club mix
[edit] References
- ^ (French) "Une "Dégénération" signée Mylène Farmer". Musique Radio. 2008-05-21. http://www.musiqueradio.com/article_news5980_une-degeneration-signee-mylene-farmer.php. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer revient le 19 juin avec "Dégénération"", Ouest France, 2008-05-21
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer : découvrez les 30 premières secondes de "Dégénération", son nouveau titre". News de Stars. http://www.news-de-stars.com/actualite/mylene-farmer-decouvrez-les-30-premieres-secondes-de-degeneration-son-nouveau-titre_art4479.html. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer : visuel de "Dégénération"". Musique Radio. 2008-06-09. http://www.musiqueradio.com/article_news6092_en-bref--mylene-farmer--visuel-de-degeneration.php. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ (French) Mylène Farmer - Le culte, Sophie Khairallah, Why Not Ed., p. 149,150 (ISBN 978-2916611259)
- ^ (French) Thierry Cadet (2008-06-07). "Farmer : Extrait de "Dégénération" et pochette". Chartsinfrance. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Mylene-Farmer/news-66406.html. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer remixée". Le Parisien. 2008-06-17. http://mylene.net/img_data/leparisien_17062008%2802%29.jpg. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ (French) Mylène Farmer - Le culte, Sophie Khairallah, Why Not Ed., p. 50 (ISBN 978-2916611259)
- ^ a b (French) "Mylène Farmer : "Dégénération" dérange !". Musique.evous. http://www.evous.fr/musique/Mylene-Farmer-Degeneration-derange,4242.html. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ (French) Arno Mothra (2008-07-11). "Mylène Farmer - "Dégénération"". Discordance. http://www.discordance.fr/Mylene-Farmer-Degeneration.html. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ * (French) "News broadcasting". TF1 LCI. 2008-08-31. http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/jt/0,,4061945,00-mylene-farmer-invitee-du-20h-je-suis-quelqu-un-du-secret-.html. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
* (French) "Vidéo : Mylène Farmer au 20h". People Plurielles. 2008-09-01. http://people.plurielles.fr/news-people/video-mylene-farmer-au-20h-4062208-402.html. Retrieved 2008-09-04. - ^ a b (French) Michel Augier (2008-09-04). "Mylène à la peine". Le Point. http://www.mylene.net/img_data/lepoint_04092008.jpg. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer : Universal dévoile enfin l'envers du décor !". Musique.evous. http://www.evous.fr/musique/Mylene-Farmer-Universal-devoile,4371.html. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ a b (French) "Mylène Farmer comme vous ne l'avez jamais vue". Jérôme Béglé. 2008-07-03. http://www.mylene.net/img_data/parismatch_03072008%2803%29.jpg. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ (French) L.C.-C. (2008-08-03). "Les costumes de Mylène Farmer viennent de Perpignan !". L'Indépendant. http://www.lindependant.com/articles/2008/08/03/20080803-FAITS-DU-JOUR-Les-costumes-de-Mylene-Farmer-viennent-de-Perpignan.php5. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer, le mystère continue". Musique SFR. http://musique.sfr.fr/Varietes+Fran%E7aises/Portrait/MYLENE-FARMER-artist-1147#lien_video. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ "НОВЫЙ АЛЬБОМ МИЛЕН ФАРМЕР". Universalmusic. 2008-08-26. http://www.universalmusic.ru/ru/artists/213/news/918/. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer : Premiers avis sur le clip "Dégénération"". Musique.evous. http://www.evous.fr/musique/Mylene-Farmer-avis-clip,4488.html. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- ^ (French) "Découvrez "Dégénération", le dernier clip de Mylène Farmer !". Actustar. 2008-06-11. http://www.actustar.com/Actualites/23488/decouvrez-degeneration-le-dernier-clip-de-mylene-farmer. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- ^ (French) Sam Christophe (2008-08-27). "Du génie ou du toc? On a passé au scanner la nouvel album de Mylène Farmer...". La Meuse. http://www.mylene.net/img_data/lameuse_27082008_02.jpg. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer : héroïne de clip". Yahoo!. 2008-07-29. http://new.fr.music.yahoo.com/blogs/voxpop/55/mylne-farmerhrone-de-clip. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ (French) "Coup de cœur - Mylène Farmer - "Dégénération"". Tribu Move. August 2008. http://www.mylene.net/img_data/mylenefarmer_presse_tribumove_aout2008.jpg. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- ^ (French) Jean-Rémy Gaudin-Bridet (2008-08-18). "Mylène Farmer, un retour sans éclat". Télé Star. http://www.mylene.net/img_data/telestar_18082008_01.jpg. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ (French) Sylvain Siclier (2008-08-28). "Mylène Farmer signe son retour avec un album sans surprise". Le Monde. http://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2008/08/27/mylene-farmer-signe-son-retour-avec-un-album-sans-surprise_1088469_3246.html. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ (French) Bertrand Dicale (2008-08-21). "Mylène Farmer, un album massif et discret". Le Figaro. http://www.mylene.net/img_data/lefigaro_21082008.jpg. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ^ (French) "Dégénération". Starac Mag. September 2008. http://www.devant-soi.com/Monde-de-Myl%E8ne/presse/articles-presse/2008/09/09-2008-staracmag.jpg. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer". Coopération. 2008-09-02. http://www.mylene.net/img_data/cooperation_02092008.jpg. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
- ^ (French) "Mylène Farmer écrase tout le monde sur son passage !". Pure People. 2008-06-19. http://www.purepeople.com/10609-Mylene-Farmer-ecrase-tout-le-monde-sur-son-passage-.html. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ (French) Antoine Masson (2008-06-25). "Disques : Julien Doré juste derrière Coldplay". Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/disques-coldplay-julien-dore-mylene-farmer/145714. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ (French) Antoine Masson (2008-07-02). "Mylène Farmer dégringole déjà". Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/disques-mylene-farmer-degringole/149736. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ (French) Antoine Masson (2008-07-18). "Disques : Carla débute fort, Mylène s'effondre". Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/disques-carla-debute-fort-mylene-effondre/152136. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ a b (French) Antoine Masson (2008-08-26). "Disques : Mylène cartonne, Quentin démarre bien". Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/charts-mylene-farmer-quentin-mosimann-duel/157938. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
- ^ (French) Antoine Masson (2008-09-03). "Téléchargements : Mylène et Madcon en tête". Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/telechargements-mylene-madcon-tete/159562. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ^ (French) Antoine Masson (2008-09-02). "Disques : carton plein pour Mylène Farmer". Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/disques-carton-plein-mylene-farmer/159308. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ^ (French) Antoine Masson (2008-09-09). "Disques : Mylène détrônée par Tryo !". Ozap. http://www.ozap.com/actu/disques-mylene-farmer-point-suture-detronee-tryo/161266. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- ^ a b "French Airplay, TV and Club Charts". Yacast. http://www.yacast.fr/fr/index.html. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ a b ""Dégénération", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart". Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=475108&cat=s. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
- ^ a b ""Dégénération", Swiss Singles Chart". Hitparade. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?key=475108&cat=s. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=European+Hot+100+Singles&pageNumber=Top+1-10&g=Singles. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ "French Digital Chart". Ifop. http://www.ifop.com/europe/sondages/topteletitres/tlt0825.stm. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ ""Dégénération", French Singles Chart". Lescharts. http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=475108&cat=s. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ a b ""Dégénération", Russian Airplay Chart". Tophit. http://www.tophit.ru/cgi-bin/trackinfo.cgi?id=14507. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ "2008 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart". Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2008. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
- ^ "2008 French Singles Chart". Disqueenfrance. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/page-259376.xml. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ "2008 French Singles Chart + sales". Infodisc. http://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Single08.php. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
[edit] External links
.jpg)
