L'Aziza

{{Other uses|Aziz|Aziza (disambiguation){{!}}Aziza}} {{Infobox song | name = L'Aziza | cover = L'aziza.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Daniel Balavoine | album = Sauver l'amour | B-side = Tous les cris les S.O.S | released = 14 October 1985 | studio = Highland (Inverness, Scotland) | recorded = July 1985 | venue = | genre = Pop | length = 4:21 | label = Barclay | writer = Daniel Balavoine | producer = Andy Scott | prev_title = Dieu que c'est beau | prev_year = 1984 | next_title = Sauver l'amour | next_year = 1986 }}

"'''L'Aziza'''" is the name of a 1985 song recorded by French singer Daniel Balavoine and released as a single from his album ''Sauver l'amour'' in October 1985. The song was very successful, particularly after the singer's death, topping the chart in France for two months. This song was played at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

==Lyrics== Composed by Balavoine and produced by Léo Missir, "L'Aziza" has a title which means 'My dear' in Arabic, although it is sung in French-language. Lyrically, Balavoine pays tribute to his Jewish Moroccan wife Corinne and denounces racism. In France, "L'Aziza" became a standard song throughout the years.<ref>{{cite book |first=Elia |last=Habib |title=Muz hit.tubes |year=2002 |publisher=Alinea Bis |language=fr |page=65 |isbn=2-9518832-0-X}}</ref> The song was remixed the same year of the album release and came out as a 7". It features on Balavoine's best of ''Balavoine sans frontières'', released about twenty years after the singer's death. The music video was directed by Oliver Chavarot.

==Cover versions== "L'Aziza" was also recorded in 2000 by Khaled for the compilation album ''Balavoine: Hommages...'' on which various artists covered Balavoine's songs.<ref>''Balavoine: Hommages...'', track listing [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?titel=Balavoine%3A+Hommages%2E%2E%2E&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved July 10, 2008)</ref> The song was also covered in France by Star Academy 5 for its album ''Chante Daniel Balavoine'', on which it features as fifth track.<ref>''Chante Daniel Balavoine'', track listing and charts [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Star+Academy+5&titel=Chante+Daniel+Balavoine&cat=a Lescharts.com] (Retrieved July 10, 2008)</ref> The song L'aziza was also covered by hip-hop/rap artist Féfé in 2016.

The B-side, "Tous les cris, les S.O.S.", was covered by many artists, including Jeanne Mas in 1987, Marie-Denise Pelletier, Lena Kann in 1998 (number 14 in France, Silver disc) and Les Enfoirés in 2008.

==Chart performance== "L'Aziza" entered the French Singles Chart at number 40 on 23 November 1985, gained a few places every week, and when the singer's death was announced in the media, jumped straight to number where it stayed for eight consecutive weeks. It cumulated 14 weeks in the top ten and for 26 weeks in the top 50.<ref name="France"/> It was certified Platinum disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique in 1985 for selling 1 million copies in France.<ref name="infodisc"/> On the overall Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 20 in its 14th week of presence, and appeared on the chart for a total of 24 weeks.<ref name="Europe"/>

==Track listings== ; 7" single # "L'Aziza" — 4:21 # "Tous les cris, les S.O.S." — 5:04

==Certifications and sales== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Daniel Balavoine|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=1985|source=infodisc|refname=infodisc|title=L'Aziza}} {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1985–1986) !Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Hot 100)<ref name="Europe">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-03-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Eurotipsheet|volume=3|issue=11|date=22 March 1986|page=12-13|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History |accessdate=12 September 2023}}</ref> |align="center"|20 |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Airplay Top 50)<ref name="Airplay">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-02-22.pdf|title=European Airplay Top 50|magazine=Eurotipsheet|volume=3|issue=7|date=22 February 1986|page=8|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History|access-date=12 September 2023}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|16 |- {{singlechart|France|1|artist=Daniel Balavoine|song=L'Aziza|refname=France|rowheader=true|accessdate=15 September 2023}} |- !scope="row"|Quebec (ADISQ)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Franco/Franco-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf |title=Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes |publisher=Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec |author=Michel Gignac |website=banq.qc.ca |page=35 |language=French |accessdate=14 April 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|16 |- |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" !Chart (1986) !align="center"|Position |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-12-27.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 of the Year 1986|journal=Music & Media|page=28-29 |oclc=29800226|date=27 December 1986|accessdate=4 October 2021|volume=3|issue=51–52|via=American Radio History}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|79 |- |} {{col-end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aziza}} Category:1985 singles Category:Daniel Balavoine songs Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles Category:Songs written by Daniel Balavoine Category:Barclay (record label) singles Category:1985 songs Category:Songs about racism and xenophobia Category:French protest songs