Comment te dire adieu: Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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The song, originally called "It Hurts |
The song, originally called "It Hurts To Say Goodbye", was written by [[Arnold Goland]], who is considered a major factor in the creation of [[Phil Spector]]'s "[[Wall of Sound]]", and the American producer and songwriter Jacob "Jack" Gold (1921-1992) and was initially recorded by [[Margaret Whiting]] on her album ''The Wheel of Hurt'' in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/44754 |title=Cover versions of It Hurts to Say Goodbye by Margaret Whiting |website=SecondHandSongs.com |date= |accessdate=2016-10-01}}</ref> In 1967 a release by [[Vera Lynn]] reached #7 in Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p26680/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} Vera Lynn - Billboard Singles], [[Allmusic]]. Accessed on line May 5, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/44755 |title=Original versions of It Hurts to Say Goodbye by Vera Lynn |website=SecondHandSongs.com |date=1967-01-06 |accessdate=2016-10-01}}</ref> |
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The lyrics are notable for their uncommon rhymes in "ex", within the subject of the song having a sense of "ex" as in "ex-boyfriend". |
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These versions were interpreted in the style of a [[ballad]], as was the first French version of the song with a text by [[Michèle Vendôme ]] titled ''Avant de dire adieu'' which was released in 1967 by [[Ginette Reno]] with her album ''Quelqu'un à aimer''. More beat driven were the instrumental interpretations by Brazil's [[Walter Wanderley]] and the Frenchman [[Caravelli]], both published in the same year. ''Jack Gold Orchestra & Chorus'' peaked with their version in mid-1969 on #28 of the Billboard [[Easy Listening]] charts. |
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Françoise Hardy heard an "American instrumental version" of the song and her manager asked [[Serge Gainsbourg]] to provide suitable lyrics for it.<ref>p. 50, ''Serge Gainsbourg: a fistful of gitanes: requiem for a twister'', Sylvie Simmons, Da Capo Press, 2002, {{ISBN|0-306-81183-9}}.</ref> The resultant "Comment te dire adieu", was comnbined with an arrangement relatively closer to the Caravelli version and included on Hardy's [[Françoise Hardy (1968 album)|1968 album]].<ref name=a /> Hardy also recorded the song in [[Italian language|Italian]] (''"Il pretesto"'', 1968) and [[German language|German]] (''"Was mach' ich ohne dich"'', 1970; collected in the album ''[[Träume]]'', 1970.) The lyrics are notable for their uncommon rhymes in "ex", within the subject of the song having a sense of "ex" as in "ex-boyfriend". |
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Amongst the more recent versions of the song is a German version with a new text, titled ''Ich sage dir adieu'', released by veteran Greek-German singer [[Vicky Leandros]] on her 2010 album ''Zeitlos''. |
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==Formats and track listings== |
==Formats and track listings== |
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Revision as of 07:23, 10 November 2017
| "Comment te dire adieu" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "L'Anamour"[1] |
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
"Comment te dire adieu" (English: "How to Say Goodbye to You") is a French adaptation of the song "It Hurts to Say Goodbye". It was recorded by Françoise Hardy in 1968[3] and remains one of Hardy's most popular songs.
Background
The song, originally called "It Hurts To Say Goodbye", was written by Arnold Goland, who is considered a major factor in the creation of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound", and the American producer and songwriter Jacob "Jack" Gold (1921-1992) and was initially recorded by Margaret Whiting on her album The Wheel of Hurt in 1966.[4] In 1967 a release by Vera Lynn reached #7 in Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[5][6]
These versions were interpreted in the style of a ballad, as was the first French version of the song with a text by Michèle Vendôme titled Avant de dire adieu which was released in 1967 by Ginette Reno with her album Quelqu'un à aimer. More beat driven were the instrumental interpretations by Brazil's Walter Wanderley and the Frenchman Caravelli, both published in the same year. Jack Gold Orchestra & Chorus peaked with their version in mid-1969 on #28 of the Billboard Easy Listening charts.
Françoise Hardy heard an "American instrumental version" of the song and her manager asked Serge Gainsbourg to provide suitable lyrics for it.[7] The resultant "Comment te dire adieu", was comnbined with an arrangement relatively closer to the Caravelli version and included on Hardy's 1968 album.[3] Hardy also recorded the song in Italian ("Il pretesto", 1968) and German ("Was mach' ich ohne dich", 1970; collected in the album Träume, 1970.) The lyrics are notable for their uncommon rhymes in "ex", within the subject of the song having a sense of "ex" as in "ex-boyfriend".
Amongst the more recent versions of the song is a German version with a new text, titled Ich sage dir adieu, released by veteran Greek-German singer Vicky Leandros on her 2010 album Zeitlos.
Formats and track listings
French SP
- Production Asparagus/Disques Vogue/Vogue international industries (V.45-1552), 1968.
- A-side: "Comment te dire adieu" ("It Hurts to Say Goodbye"), (ad. lyrics from Jack Gold: Serge Gainsbourg / music: Arnold Goland, arr. S. Gainsbourg) – 2:25
- B-side: "L’Anamour" (lyrics and music: Serge Gainsbourg) – 2:14
English SP
- Asparagus Production/United Artists (UP 35011 ), 1969.
- A-side: "Comment te dire adieu" ("It Hurts to Say Goodbye"), (ad. lyrics from Jack Gold: Serge Gainsbourg / music: Arnold Goland, arr. S. Gainsbourg) – 2:25
- B-side: "La Mer, les étoiles et le vent" (lyrics and music: Françoise Hardy) – 1:50
French EP
- Production Asparagus/disques Vogue/Vogue international industries (EPL 8652), 1968.
- A1: "Comment te dire adieu" ("It Hurts to Say Goodbye"), (ad. lyrics from Jack Gold: Serge Gainsbourg / music: Arnold Goland, arr. S. Gainsbourg) – 2:25
- A2: "Il vaut mieux une petite maison dans la main, qu’un grand château dans les nuages" (lyrics: Jean-Max Rivière / music: Gérard Bourgeois) – 2:23
- B1: "Suzanne", (ad. lyrics from Leonard Cohen: Graeme Allwright / music: L. Cohen) – 3:08
- B2: "La Mer, les étoiles et le vent" (lyrics and music: Françoise Hardy) – 1:50
Jimmy Somerville version
| "Comment te dire adieu" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Tell the World" |
In 1989 it was covered by former Bronski Beat and Communards singer Jimmy Somerville, as a duet with June Miles-Kingston. The song was a hit in the UK, reaching #14 on the UK singles chart, helping Somerville's solo career take off.
Track listing
- 7" single
- "Comment te dire adieu (7" version) — 3:35
- "Tell the World" — 4:12
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| France[8] | Silver | 1990 | 200,000 |
Charts
| Chart (1989/90) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Mega Top 100[9] | 26 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart[9] | 3 |
| German Singles Chart[9] | 25 |
| Irish Singles Chart[10] | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart[11] | 14 |
Other cover versions
Apart from Jimmy Somerville, a number of artists have covered the song:
- Walter Wanderley, a Brazilian organist, recorded an instrumental cover of the song on his album Batucada (1967).
- Caravelli and his orchestra released an instrumental version on the album Eloïse in 1967
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad, later a member of ABBA, recorded the song in Swedish as "Så synd du måste gå" (1969). It was collected on her album Anni-Frid Lyngstad (1972).
- Aida Vedishcheva, recorded the song in Russian language as "Моя мечта" in 1974.
- Hana Hegerová recorded the song in Czech as "Rýmováni o životě".
- Ilona Csáková also recorded a Czech version, "Jedno Tajemství", collected in Blízká i vzdálená (1999).
- Jane Birkin, collected on her album Versions Jane (1996).
- Taxi Girl's frontman Daniel Darc, collected on Sous influence divine (1987).
- Jun Togawa recorded a Japanese version, さよならをおしえて (Sayonara wo oshiete, literally "Tell me goodbye"; 1985).
- Scottish indie group Belle and Sebastian have performed the song live in concert.
- In 2001, a cover arranged by Tomosuke Funaki, and sung by Shizue Tokui (as Orange Lounge), appeared in beatmania IIDX 6th style.
- In 2003, the song was also covered in France by Annie and Valérie, two contestants of Star Academy 3 and included on the album Star Academy fait sa bamba.[12]
- Amanda Lear recorded her version for her double-cd Brief Encounters in 2009.
- Meg, a Japanese singer, covered the song in French for her album La Japonaise in 2012.
- Kate Ryan, a Belgian singer, released a cover of the song in 2016.
References
- ^ Serge Gainsbourg Archived 2009-05-28 at the Wayback Machine, biography, RFI Musique. Accessed on line May 7, 2009.
- ^ On this label there is a mistake in the firstname of one of the authors of the song; we should read A. Goland instead of G. Goland.
- ^ a b "Original versions of Comment te dire adieu by Françoise Hardy". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ "Cover versions of It Hurts to Say Goodbye by Margaret Whiting". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ Vera Lynn - Billboard Singles, Allmusic. Accessed on line May 5, 2009.
- ^ "Original versions of It Hurts to Say Goodbye by Vera Lynn". SecondHandSongs.com. 1967-01-06. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ p. 50, Serge Gainsbourg: a fistful of gitanes: requiem for a twister, Sylvie Simmons, Da Capo Press, 2002, ISBN 0-306-81183-9.
- ^ French certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved October 3, 2008)
- ^ a b c "Comment te dire adieu", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved October 3, 2008)
- ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie Archived 2009-06-03 at WebCite (Retrieved October 3, 2008)
- ^ "Comment te dire adieu", UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved October 3, 2008)
- ^ Star Academy fait sa Bamba, track listing and charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved October 3, 2008)
