Civilisation (album)

{{Infobox album | name = Civilisation | type = studio | artist = Orelsan | cover = Orelsan - Civilisation.png | alt = | language = French | released = {{start date|2021|11|19|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = | genre = *French hip hop *pop *electronic | length = 57:43 | label = * 7th Magnitude * 3e Bureau * Wagram | producer = * Skread * Phazz * The Neptunes | prev_title = La fête est finie | prev_year = 2017 | next_title = La fuite en avant | next_year = 2025 | misc = {{Singles | name = Civilisation | type = studio | single1 = L'odeur de l'essence | single1date = 17 November 2021 | single2 = Jour meilleur | single2date = 16 December 2021 | single3 = La quête | single3date = 3 March 2022 | single4 = Du propre | single4date = 16 June 2022 | single5 = Ensemble | single5date = 13 July 2022 | single6 = CP 009 Évidemment | single6date = 28 October 2022 }} }} '''''Civilisation''''' ({{IPA|fr|sivilizɑsjɔ̃|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Poslovitch-civilisation.wav}}) is the fourth studio album by French rapper Orelsan, released on 19 November 2021 through 7th Magnitude, 3e Bureau and Wagram. The album was largely produced by long-time collaborator Skread and features guest appearances by Gringe and The Neptunes. It marks his first album release in over four years.

The album made a record-breaking debut on the French Albums Chart, selling more units than any other album in 2021. The album topped at 1st on French and Belgian (Wallonia) charts, as well as 2nd on Swiss charts at its best week. It was certified diamond by the SNEP within five months in France, becoming the fastest album to be certified diamond in the history of French rap.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.konbini.com/popculture/orelsan-record-civilisation-disque-diamant-plus-rapide-rap-francais |title= Orelsan : Civilisation devient le disque de diamant le plus rapide du rap français |date=29 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.radiofrance.fr/mouv/orelsan-civilisation-est-disque-de-diamant-en-seulement-161-jours-4505518|title= Orelsan : "Civilisation" est disque de diamant en seulement 161 jours|date=29 April 2022}}</ref>

According to the SNEP, '''''Civilisation''''' was the No.1 selling album in France for two consecutive years of 2021 and 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.radiofrance.fr/mouv/orelsan-civilisation-est-l-album-le-plus-vendu-de-2021-en-france-4387272 |title= Orelsan : "Civilisation" est l'album le plus vendu de 2021 en France|date= 3 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.cnews.fr/culture/2023-01-06/orelsan-civilisation-est-lalbum-le-plus-vendu-en-france-en-2022-1308008?amp |title= ORELSAN : «CIVILISATION» EST L'ALBUM LE PLUS VENDU EN FRANCE EN 2022 |date=6 January 2023}}</ref>

==Background and reception== {{Music ratings |rev1 = ''Focus Vif'' |rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://focus.levif.be/culture/musique/l-album-de-la-semaine-orelsan-civilisation-gagne-d-avance/article-review-1494759.html|title = [l'album de la semaine] Orelsan - Civilisation: Gagné d'avance|date = 26 November 2021}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Le Devoir'' |rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/musique/649941/hip-hop-civilisation-orelsan|title=Civilisation, Orelsan}}</ref> |rev3 = ''Le Parisien'' |rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}} <ref name="leparisien">{{cite web|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/musique/pourquoi-civilisation-dorelsan-est-le-meilleur-album-de-rap-francais-de-lannee-19-11-2021-X7K4CHZMSBEZFKVLXASC3XFUN4.php|title=Pourquoi "Civilisation" d'Orelsan est le meilleur album de rap français de l'année|last=((Bureau))|first=Éric|website=Le Parisien|language=fr|date=19 November 2021|access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref> }} Prior to its release, Orelsan did not reveal much about the album.<ref name="lejsl"/> According to him, in his mind the record signifies a "deconstruction".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.franceinter.fr/emissions/titre-a-titre/titre-a-titre-du-vendredi-26-novembre-2021|title=Orelsan et Skread vous racontent l'histoire derrière chaque titre de "Civilisation"|website=France Inter|language=fr|date=26 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> In late October 2021, it was announced that physical copies of the album would arrive in 15 different designs.<ref name="lejsl">{{cite web|url=https://www.lejsl.com/culture-loisirs/2021/11/19/orelsan-ma-meuf-et-la-societe-ce-qu-on-trouve-dans-son-nouvel-album-civilisation1|title=Orelsan : "Ma meuf et la société", ce qu'on trouve dans son nouvel album "Civilisation"|website=Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire|language=fr|date=19 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> Two vinyl editions of the album were released on 10 December 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mouv.fr/musique/rap-fr/orelsan-les-vinyles-de-civilisation-epuises-et-deja-revendus|title=Orelsan : les vinyles de "Civilisation" épuisés et déjà revendus|website=Mouv'|language=fr|date=11 December 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>

''Civilisation'' sees the rapper departing from his "crazed humour" trademark style, instead settling for more "committed and personal tracks",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/orelsan-se-cherche-dans-son-album-civilisation-sa-meuf-la-societe-et-le-sens-de-la-vie-20211123|title=Sa "meuf", la société et le sens de la vie… Orelsan se cherche dans son album Civilisation|last=Nuc|first=Olivier|website=Le Figaro Magazine|language=fr|date=23 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> in a soundscape between "drill" and "disco".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2021/11/19/civilisation-le-grand-cru-d-orelsan_6102682_3246.html|title=" Civilisation ", le grand cru d'Orelsan|last=Binet|first=Stéphanie|website=Le Monde|language=fr|date=19 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> French publication ''Le Parisien'' called ''Civilisation'' the best French rap album of 2021.<ref name="leparisien"/> However, the record was also criticised for containing too much singing while it was also noted that the rapper took himself too seriously at times.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/musique/civilisation-pas-encore-lalbum-de-la-maturite-pour-orelsan|title=Orelsan et Skread vous racontent l'histoire derrière chaque titre de "Civilisation"|last=Boucaud-Victoire|first=Kévin|website=Marianne|language=fr|date=22 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>

==Commercial performance== In its first three days, ''Civilisation'' sold 94,306 units, beating a record previously held by PNL's ''Deux frères'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.konbini.com/fr/musique/civilisation-orelsan-meilleur-demarrage-midweek-rap-francais/|title=Avec Civilisation, Orelsan réalise le meilleur démarrage de l'histoire du rap français|last=Delwasse|first=Samuel|website=Konbini|language=fr|date=22 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> The album arrived atop the French Albums Chart, moving 138,929 units in its first week, 96,615 of which were physical sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.booska-p.com/musique/ventes/orelsan-plus-fort-que-pnl-les-ventes-incroyables-de-son-album-civilisation/|title=Orelsan plus fort que PNL : les ventes incroyables de son album Civilisation|author=JeuneDauphine|website=booska-p.com|language=fr|date=26 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref> The sum reset the record for the largest opening week in France for an album in 2021, beating Adele's ''30'' which debuted at number two the same week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/culture-loisirs/musique/138-929-ventes-en-une-semaine-avec-civilisation-orelsan-bat-tous-les-records-26-11-2021-V3FMCY27JVFZLDOOWV3AEXLOAE.php|title=138 929 ventes en une semaine : avec "Civilisation", Orelsan bat tous les records et devance largement Adele|last=((Bureau))|first=Eric|website=Le Parisien|language=fr|date=26 November 2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>

The lead single "L'odeur de l'essence" reached number one on the French Singles Chart. The other lead single "Jour meilleur" reached number one the following week. All of the album tracks entered the French Singles Chart Top 20 in its first week, nine of which reached the Top 10.

==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Civilisation'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 57:43 | title1 = Shonen | writer1 = {{hlist|Aurélien Cotentin|Matthieu Le Carpentier}} | extra1 = Skread | length1 = 2:33 | title2 = La quête | writer2 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier|Phazz}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Phazz|Skread}} | length2 = 4:04 | title3 = Du propre | writer3 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra3 = Skread | length3 = 3:47 | title4 = Bébéboa | writer4 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Eddie Purple}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Cotentin}} | length4 = 3:02 | title5 = Rêve mieux | writer5 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Phazz}} | extra5 = Phazz | length5 = 3:44 | title6 = Seul avec du monde autour | writer6 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra6 = Skread | length6 = 3:28 | title7 = Manifeste | writer7 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra7 = Skread | length7 = 7:22 | title8 = L'odeur de l'essence | writer8 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier|Phazz}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Skread|Phazz}} | length8 = 4:42 | title9 = Jour meilleur | writer9 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra9 = Skread | length9 = 3:01 | title10 = Baise le monde | writer10 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra10 = Skread | length10 = 3:45 | title11 = Casseurs Flowters Infinity | note11 = with Gringe | writer11 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier|Guillaume Tranchant}} | extra11 = Skread | length11 = 3:08 | title12 = Dernier verre | note12 = featuring The Neptunes | writer12 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier|Chad Hugo|Pharrell Williams}} | extra12 = {{hlist|The Neptunes|Skread}} | length12 = 3:23 | title13 = Ensemble | note13 = featuring Skread | writer13 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra13 = Skread | length13 = 4:43 | title14 = Athéna | writer14 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Phazz}} | extra14 = Phazz | length14 = 2:52 | title15 = Civilisation | writer15 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra15 = Skread | length15 = 4:05 }} {{Track listing | headline = ''Civilisation Perdue'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 32:47 | title1 = CP_001_ Intro Civilisation Perdue | writer1 = {{hlist|Aurélien Cotentin|Matthieu Le Carpentier}} | extra1 = Skread | length1 = 2:41 | title2 = CP_002_ Les aventures de MiniSan | writer2 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra2 = Skread | length2 = 4:46 | title3 = CP_003_ Toujours perdu quand même | writer3 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra3 = Skread | length3 = 3:38 | title4 = CP_004_ Juste un dernier | writer4 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra4 = Skread | length4 = 3:09 | title5 = CP_005_ Ok... Super... | writer5 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra5 = Skread | length5 = 2:22 | title6 = CP_006_ Ah la France | writer6 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra6 = Skread | length6 = 2:31 | title7 = CP_007_ Point de rupture | writer7 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra7 = Skread | length7 = 3:42 | title8 = CP_008_ Nous contre le monde | writer8 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Skread}} | length8 = 2:47 | title9 = CP_009_ Évidemment | note9 = with Angèle | writer9 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier|Angèle Van Laeken}} | extra9 = Skread | length9 = 3:26 | title10 = CP_010_ On a gagné | writer10 = {{hlist|Cotentin|Le Carpentier}} | extra10 = Skread | length10 = 3:45 }}

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Civilisation'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- {{album chart|Flanders|11|artist=Orelsan|album=Civilisation|rowheader=true|access-date=13 December 2021}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|1|artist=Orelsan|album=Civilisation|rowheader=true|access-date=13 December 2021}} |- {{album chart|France|1|artist=Orelsan|album=Civilisation|rowheader=true|access-date=13 December 2021}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Orelsan|album=Civilisation|rowheader=true|access-date=13 December 2021}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2021 year-end chart performance for ''Civilisation'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2021|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=5 January 2022}}</ref> | 2 |- ! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2021|title=Top de l'année Top Albums 2021|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2021/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2021|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=26 December 2021|language=de}}</ref> | 23 |}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2022 year-end chart performance for ''Civilisation'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2022&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2022|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> | 2 |- ! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-chiffres/2022-la-production-musicale-francaise-toujours-au-top/|title=2022: La production musicale française toujours au top|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=fr|date=6 January 2023|access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/2022/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2022|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref> | 12 |}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2023 year-end chart performance for ''Civilisation'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2023&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2023|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref> | 16 |- ! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/actualites-du-snep/2023-la-dynamique-de-la-production-et-de-la-consommation-musicales-en-france/|title=2023: La dynamique de la production et de la consommation musicales en France|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|date=8 January 2024|access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> | 13 |}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2024 year-end chart performance for ''Civilisation'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2024&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2024|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref> | 74 |- ! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2024|title=Tops de l'année – Top Albums 2024|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref> | 53 |}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2025 year-end chart performance for ''Civilisation'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2025&cat=a|title=Rapports annuels 2025|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=13 January 2026}}</ref> | 124 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Civilisation''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Orelsan|title=Civilisation|award=Diamond|number=2|type=album|relyear=2021|certyear=2026|access-date=10 February 2026}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:2021 albums Category:7th Magnitude albums Category:Albums produced by Skread Category:2020s French-language albums Category:Orelsan albums Category:Wagram Music albums