{{about|the song}} <noinclude>{{Requested move notice|1=Dominique (song)|2=Talk:Dominique#Requested move 15 May 2026}} </noinclude>{{use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox song | name = Dominique | cover = Dominique - The Singing Nun.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Sœur Sourire | album = The Singing Nun | language = French | B-side = Entre les étoiles | released = October 1963 | recorded = 1963 | studio = Philips Studios, Brussels | genre = Folk | length = 2:53 | label = Philips | writer = Jeannine Deckers | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }}
"'''Dominique'''" is a 1963 French-language popular song, written and performed by Belgian singer Jeannine Deckers, better known as Sœur Sourire ("Sister Smile" in French) or The Singing Nun. The song is about Saint Dominic, a Spanish-born priest and founder of the Dominican Order, of which she was a member (as Sister Luc-Gabrielle).<ref>Dominique, by the "Singing Nun", Lyrics and Music. National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved on 25 January 2009</ref> The English-version lyrics of the song were written by Noël Regney.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-30-me-regney30-story.html Noel Regney, 80; Wrote Favorite Christmas Tune, Hit Song for Singing Nun] By Dennis Mclellan. 30 November 2002 for ''The Los Angeles Times.'' Retrieved on 25 January 2009.</ref> In addition to French and English, Deckers recorded versions in Dutch, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese.
It was a top selling record in 11 countries in late 1963 and early 1964.
==Commercial performance==
"Dominique" reached the Top 10 in 11 countries in late 1963 and early 1964, topping the chart in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It reached the Top 5 in Norway, Denmark, Ireland and South Africa, with the song making it into the lower reaches of the Top 10 in the Netherlands, West Germany, and the United Kingdom. The song reached and stayed at No. 1 on Top 40 radio station WABC in New York City for the four weeks of 19 November through 10 December.<ref>[https://www.musicradio77.com/Surveys/1963/surveydec1063.html Musicradio77.com/Surveys/1963 10 December 1963]</ref> On WLS Chicago, the song was No. 1 for the three weeks 15–29 November 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls631115.htm|title=Silver Dollar Survey|publisher=WLS|date=1963-11-15|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref> On both the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and "Easy Listening chart", "Dominique" was No. 1 for the four weeks 7–28 December 1963.
The song won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording (Musical) in 1964.<ref name="Grammy">{{Cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1964-216.html |title=Grammy Award Nominees 1964 – Grammy Award Winners 1964 |website=Awardsandshows.com |access-date=10 August 2019 }}</ref> It was also a nominee for Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and Sœur Sourire was a nominee for Best Female Vocal Performance.<ref name="Grammy"/> It was the second foreign language song to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1963, the first being "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto. For the next ten years or so, although there were a number of hits with most of the vocals in a language other than English (e.g., The Sandpipers' "Guantanamera", René y René's "Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero", etc.), no other purely foreign language song reached the ''Billboard'' Hot 100's top 40 until the Spanish language hit "Eres tú (Touch The Wind)" in 1974.<ref>{{cite book | first= Joel | last= Whitburn | year= 1990 | title= The Billboard Hot 100 Charts: The Seventies (12 January 1974 through 4 May 1974) | publisher= Record Research, Inc | location= Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin | isbn= 0-89820-076-8}}</ref> "Dominique" outsold Elvis Presley during its stay on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100; it was the second to last No. 1 hit before the British Invasion.
==The song== "Dominique" became a worldwide hit in 1963 and was the first, and only, Belgian number-one hit single in the American ''Billboard'' charts.
It is remembered chiefly for its refrain, which goes: : ''Domi-nique -nique -nique s'en allait tout simplement,'' : ''Routier, pauvre et chantant.'' : ''En tous chemins, en tous lieux,'' : ''Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu,'' : ''Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu.''
A literal English translation is: : ''Domi-nic -nic -nic went about simply,'' : ''a poor singing traveller.'' : ''On every road, in every place,'' : ''he talks only of the Good Lord,'' : ''he talks only of the Good Lord.''
The lyrics of the chorus of Regney's English-language translation are: : ''Domi-nique -nique -nique, o'er the land he plods along,'' : ''And sings a little song.'' : ''Never asking for reward,'' : ''He just talks about the Lord,'' : ''He just talks about the Lord.''
==Chart history== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1963–1964) !Peak<br/>position |- |Argentina Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardMay1964>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iEUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 |title=Billboard Magazine, May, 1964 |publisher=Billboard |date= 9 May 1964|access-date=2018-07-03}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |Australian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SQsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 |title=Billboard – Google Livres |date= 14 December 1963|access-date=2015-02-26}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |Brazil Singles Chart (IBOPE)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cash Box - International Best Sellers|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1964/CB-1964-03-07.pdf|website=worldradiohistory.com|publisher=Cash Box. 7 March 1964. p. 62.}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |Brazil EP's Chart (IBOPE)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cash Box - International Best Sellers|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1964/CB-1964-03-07.pdf|website=worldradiohistory.com|publisher=Cash Box. 7 March 1964. p. 62.}}</ref> |align="center"|2 |- |Canadian (CHUM Charts Top 20)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=855&Itemid=52 | title=Chart #351 – Monday, December 2, 1963 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |Danish Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardFeb1964>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DSIEAAAAMBAJ |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DSIEAAAAMBAJ/page/n66 44] |title=Billboard Magazine, February, 1964 |date=1964-02-29 |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2018-07-03}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- |Dutch Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://dutchcharts.nl |title=Dutch Charts |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |date=2015-02-21 |access-date=2015-02-26}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|6 |- |German Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~topsi/deu_60s1sthalft.html |title=INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20 |publisher=Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de |date=2001-01-22 |access-date=2015-02-26 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111609/http://ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~topsi/deu_60s1sthalft.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|7 |- |Finland Singles Chart (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=235|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=The Singing Nun|page=235|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=14 March 2024|language=Finnish}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|23 |- |Irish Singles Chart<ref name="Billboard, February 1, 1964">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30|title=Billboard Magazine, February 1, 1964 |magazine=Billboard|date=1 February 1964}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |Japanese Singles Chart<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cash Box - International Best Sellers|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1964/CB-1964-03-14.pdf|website=worldradiohistory.com|publisher=Cash Box. 14 March 1964. p. 46.}}</ref> |align="center"|2 |- |Mexican Singles Chart (AMPROFON)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cash Box - International Best Sellers|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1964/CB-1964-03-07.pdf|website=worldradiohistory.com|publisher=Cash Box. 7 March 1964. p. 63.}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |New Zealand Hit Parade<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=lever%20hit%20parades&qyear=1963&qmonth=Dec&qweek=19-Dec-1963#n_view_location |title=flavour of new zealand – Home |publisher=Flavourofnz.co.nz |access-date=2015-02-26 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724192615/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=lever%20hit%20parades&qyear=1963&qmonth=Dec&qweek=19-Dec-1963#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |Norwegian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Soeur+Sourire&titel=Dominique&cat=s |title=Sœur Sourire – Dominique |publisher=norwegiancharts.com |access-date=2015-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324021537/http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Soeur+Sourire&titel=Dominique&cat=s |archive-date=2015-03-24 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- |South African Singles Chart | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |Swedish Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://s0416.tripod.com/1963.htm |title=Bästa låtar 1963 |publisher=S0416.tripod.com |date=1963-12-14 |access-date=2015-02-26}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|12 |- |Swiss Hitparade<ref name=BillboardMay21964>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32 |title=Billboard Magazine, May 2, 1964 |publisher=Billboard |date= 2 May 1964|access-date=2018-07-03}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|4 |- |Uruguay Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardJune61964>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_UQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28|title=Billboard Magazine, June 6, 1964 |publisher=Billboard |date= 6 June 1964|access-date=2018-07-03}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- |UK Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/ |title=UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts |publisher=everyHit.com |date=2000-03-16 |access-date=2015-02-26}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|7 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-singing-nun-soeur-sourire |title=The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire) Chart History: Hot 100 |date=2019 |website=Billboard.com |access-date=10 August 2019 }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |Venezuela Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardMay1964/> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Chart (1963) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |US ''Cash Box'' <ref name="tropicalglen.com">[http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1963YESP.html Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, 28 December 1963]</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|100 |} {| class="wikitable" |- !Chart (1964) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |South Africa (Springbok)<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1964|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1964.html|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref> |align="center"|5 |- |US ''Cash Box'' <ref name="tropicalglen.com"/> | style="text-align:center;"|11 |- |}
===All-time charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (1958–2018) ! Position |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|412 |} {{col-end}}
==Cover versions== * Sandler and Young revived the song in late 1966,<ref>[http://www.sandlerandyoung.com/cd.htm Sandler & Young CD Collection] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210161618/http://www.sandlerandyoung.com/cd.htm |date=2008-12-10 }}. Retrieved on 25 January 2009</ref> a version that appeared on the ''Billboard'' easy listening chart. The performance was a medley including other religious-themed songs including "Deep River" and "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen".
==See also== * List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/the_singing_nun/dominique-lyrics-425279.html "Dominique" lyrics in English and French] Allthelyrics.com * [http://www.frmusique.ru/texts/s/soeur_sourire/dominique.htm The lyrics in full] {{in lang|fr}} * {{YouTube|UgmerJpjNEw|Listen to "Dominique"}}
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Category:1963 singles Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Category:Cashbox number-one singles Category:Number-one singles in Argentina Category:Number-one singles in Australia Category:Number-one singles in Canada Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand Category:Number-one singles in South Africa Category:Number-one singles in Venezuela Category:Soeur Sourire songs Category:Songs written by Noël Regney Category:Songs in French Category:Philips Records singles Category:1963 songs Category:Number-one singles in Mexico Category:Cultural depictions of Saint Dominic Category:Songs about religious leaders Category:Songs about real people