Les Champs-Élysées (song)

{{Short description|1969 single by Joe Dassin}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = Les Champs-Elysées | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Joe Dassin]] | album = [[Joe Dassin (Les Champs-Élysées)]] | language = [[French Language|French]] | B-side = "Le Chemin de papa" | released = 11 May 1969 | recorded = | studio = | genre = | length = {{Duration|m=02|s=40}} | label = [[CBS Records International|CBS Records]] | writer = [[Pierre Delanoë]], Michael Wilshaw, Michael Deighan | producer = Jacques Plait | prev_title = Me que me que | prev_year = 1969 | title = Les Champs-Élysées | next_title = [[Marie (Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys song)|C'est la vie, Lily]] | next_year = 1970 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|bb-DKKRN4o8|"Les Champs-Elysées"}}}} }} {{Infobox song | name = Waterloo Road | cover = Waterloo Road by Jason Crest.png | caption = Digital reissue cover | type = single | artist = [[Jason Crest]] | album = | B-side = Education | released = 28 February 1968 | recorded = | studio = | genre = | length = | label = [[Philips Records|Phillips]] | writer = Michael Anthony Deighan, Michael Wilshaw | producer = | prev_title =Here We Go Round (The Lemon Tree) | prev_year =1967 | next_title =Place in the Sun | next_year =1969 }}

"'''Les Champs-Élysées'''" is a 1969 song by the American singer [[Joe Dassin]]. It is a French-language cover of "Waterloo Road", a single released the previous year by the English rock band [[Jason Crest]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hunter-Tilney |first=Ludovic |date=2019-04-29 |title=Waterloo Road — how an obscure English song from the 1960s became an anthem for the gilets jaunes protesters |url=https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/waterloo-road.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919030058/https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/waterloo-road.html |archive-date=2019-09-19 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=The Financial Times |language=en-gb}}</ref>

== Composition ==

"Les Champs-Élysées" is based on the English-language song "Waterloo Road", written by Michael Antony Deighan and Mike Wilsh, and released by English rock band [[Jason Crest]] in 1968.<ref name=":0" /> For Dassin's version of the song, [[Pierre Delanoë]] adapted the lyrics into French, and Jean Musy arranged the song.<ref name="billboard20061229">{{cite magazine|language=en|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/publishing/1328376/veteran-french-lyricist-pierre-delanoe-dies|title=Veteran French Lyricist Pierre Delanoe Dies|date=2006-12-29|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2016-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-28 |title="Les Champs Elysées", "Papy fait de la résistance"... Mort de Jean Musy, compositeur aux 200 musiques |url=https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/levallois-perret_92044/les-champs-elysees-papy-fait-de-la-resistance-mort-de-jean-musy-compositeur-aux-200-musiques_61006638.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Actu Paris |language=fr}}</ref>

== Release and reception == "Les Champs-Élysées" was released by [[CBS Records International|CBS Records]] as a [[Single (music)|7" single]] in 1969, with "Le Chemin de papa" as the B-side. The single was also included on Dassin's 1969 studio album ''[[Joe Dassin (Les Champs-Élysées)]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Dassin - Les Champs-Élysées |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/7b/Joe-Dassin-Les-Champs-Elysees |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Ultratop |language=fr}}</ref> Dassin later recorded versions of the song in English, German, Italian and Japanese.<ref name=":0" />

While Jason Crest's "Waterloo Road" had been unsuccessful,<ref name=":0" /> Dassin's "Les Champs-Élysées" was a success in multiple European countries, selling 600,000 copies in France.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boeuf |first=Thierry |date=2022-04-24 |title=Paris Collector : "Les Champs Elysées" de Joe Dassin |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/la-saga-de-paris-paris-collector/107-1/paris-collector-les-champs-elysees-de-joe-dassin |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=France Bleu |language=fr}}</ref> The song also earned Dassin the 1969 Grand Prix du Disque from the [[Académie Charles Cros|Académie Charles-Cros]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-20 |title=Le chanteur Joe Dassin disparaissait il y a 30 ans déjà |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/culture/le-chanteur-joe-dassin-disparaissait-il-y-a-30-ans-deja-20-08-2010-1226917_3.php |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}</ref>

== Music video == An animated music video for "Les Champs-Élysées" was released on YouTube on 15 June 2024 and was also premiered at the [[2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival]]. The music video was directed by Florent Grattery and with animation created with Caribara Animation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Billington|first=Alex|title=Watch: Wonderful Animated Music Video for 'Les Champs-Elysées'|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2024/watch-wonderful-animated-music-video-for-les-champs-elysees/|work=First Showing|date=18 June 2024}}</ref>

== Track listing == '''7" single''' (CBS 4281) # "Les Champs-Élysées" (2:40) # "Le chemin de papa" (2:22)

== Charts == {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" ! Chart (1969) ! Peak<br />position |- {{singlechart|Wallonia|4|song=Les Champs-Élysées|artist=Joe Dassin|access-date=2017-11-28|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|France ([[SNEP|CIDD]])<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 28, 1970 |title=Hits of the World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22joe+dassin%22&pg=PA64 |access-date=June 18, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |page=64 |volume=82 |issue=9}}</ref> |10 |- {{singlechart|Dutch40|11|song=Les Champs-Élysées|artist=Joe Dassin|access-date=2024-06-19|rowheader=true}} |- {{singlechart|Dutch100|16|song=Les Champs-Élysées|artist=Joe Dassin|access-date=2017-11-28|rowheader=true}} |- {{singlechart|Switzerland|5|song=Les Champs-Élysées|artist=Joe Dassin|access-date=2017-11-28|rowheader=true}} |- {{singlechart|West Germany|31|song=Les Champs-Élysées|artist=Joe Dassin|songid=123|year=1970|access-date=2020-02-28|rowheader=true}} |- |}

==Other versions== In 1969, Yugoslav singer [[Majda Sepe]] recorded a [[Slovenian language]] version, titled "Šuštarski most" ("Shoemakers Bridge", referring to [[Ljubljana]]'s [[Cobblers' Bridge|Shoemakers Bridge]]). In 1983, Yugoslav [[avant-garde rock]] band Buldožer recorded a cover, entitled "Garçon De Yougoslavie", featuring actress [[Mira Furlan]] on vocals.<ref name="janjatović53">{{cite book|last=Janjatović|first=Petar|title=Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2023|year=2024|publisher=self-released / Makart|location=Belgrade|page=53}}</ref> In 1986, Yugoslav [[pop rock]] band [[Poslednja Igra Leptira]] recorded a [[Serbo-Croatian]] cover entitled "Šanzelize" (transliteration for "Champs-Élysées").<ref name="janjatović240">{{cite book|last=Janjatović|first=Petar|title=Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2023|year=2024|publisher=self-released / Makart|location=Belgrade|page=240}}</ref>

A Dutch version of the song, ''Oh, Waterlooplein'', was released by [[John Kraaijkamp Sr.|Johnny Kraaijkamp]] and [[Rijk de Gooyer]] in 1969.

The song was covered by the American punk band [[NOFX]] on their 1997 album [[So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes]].

In 2018, the song was remade by [[Paul Pogba]] and [[Benjamin Mendy]] to honor [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[France national football team|French]] star [[N'Golo Kante]], known as "he is small, he is kind, he stopped [[Leo Messi]]". The adaptation achieved great popularity in France during the French team's title run in the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]], and also among Kante's teammates.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rachmanda |first1=Kenchal |title=N'golo Kante song |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS-KgO2mH2o |website=YouTube |date=18 July 2018 |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Whole Nation of France Singing N'Golo Kante Song! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvV2yoHt8Vw |website=YouTube | date=10 September 2018 |access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=So Foot |title=N'« Il est petit, il est gentil » : la véritable histoire de notre chanson sur N'Golo Kanté |url=https://www.sofoot.com/articles/il-est-petit-gentil-la-veritable-histoire-de-notre-chanson-sur-ngolo-kante-mondial-2022-finale-france-argentine |website=[[So Foot]] |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=fr |date=December 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Par Pierre |first1=Maturana|title=Le seul homme sur Terre qui n'aime pas N'Golo Kanté |url=https://www.sofoot.com/articles/le-seul-homme-sur-terre-qui-naime-pas-ngolo-kante-rencontre-exclusive |website=So Foot |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=fr |date=November 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rueil |first1=Malmaison |title=N'Golo Kante, the quiet and unassuming superstar |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210526-n-golo-kante-the-quiet-and-unassuming-superstar |website=[[France24]] |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=en |date=May 26, 2021}}</ref>

A Hebrew parody version of the song, titled ''Oh, Ibn Gvirol'', and referring to [[Tel Aviv]]'s [[Ibn Gabirol Street]] was released by Uri Falk and [[Ariel Zilber]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=אבן גבירול - שיר בונוס 2, אדפטציה ל- "ווטרלו רואוד", מוכר כ- "שאנז אליזה" |url=http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kxJsa6K-u3HYE_vzttM-pX1UsiXFcp4JA |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>

==In popular culture== The entire song plays under the closing credits of [[Wes Anderson]]'s film ''[[The Darjeeling Limited]]'' (2007).

The melody of ''Les Champs-Élysées'' was later used for the [[television commercial]] of [[CJ CheilJedang]]'s dessert brand ''Petitzel Eclair'' in 2016, with lyrics sung by [[I.O.I]].

The [[refrain]] of the song, accompanied by a yellow bouncing ball over the lyrics, was played during breaks in NBCSN's coverage of the 2018 Tour de France.

The song is performed in the ninth episode (titled "Evil Patrol") of the third season of the [[DC Comics]] television show ''[[Doom Patrol (TV series)|Doom Patrol]]'' in 2021 by Riley Shanahan ([[Brain (DC Comics)|Ultimax the Brain]]) and Jonathan Lipow ([[Monsieur Mallah]]).

Les Champs-Élysées was also played in the [[Ariake Arena]] at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in Tokyo after the upcoming host nation [[France at the 2020 Summer Olympics|France]] beat the [[Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2020 Summer Olympics|Russian Olympic Committee]] in the [[Volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|gold medal game]]. The song, accompanied by a yellow bouncing ball over the lyrics, was played during breaks in events held at the [[Stade de France]] during the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in Paris. The song was also played during the [[2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|closing ceremony]] as well.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/paris-2024-olympics-closing-ceremony-music/ | title=What music is at the Paris 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony and who are the musicians? }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/paris-olympics-closing-ceremony-moments-performances-1236103083/ | title=Olympics Closing Ceremony: All the Highlights as Paris Hands over Games to L.A., from Phoenix Rocking Out to Tom Cruise's Epic Stunts | date=11 August 2024 }}</ref> During the [[2024 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[2024 Summer Paralympics]] at the Place de la Concorde, the song was also played as the host nation, France, was introduced in the [[2024 Summer Paralympics Parade of Nations|Parade of Nations]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lena|first=Smirnova|title=Vibrant Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony calls for "inclusion revolution" through sport under lights of historical French square|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/paris-2024-paralympic-games-opening-ceremony-concorde-flame-cauldron|website=Olympics.com|publisher=International Olympic Committee|date=28 August 2024}}</ref>

A cover version by [[Pomplamoose]] was used in an Airbnb commercial campaign in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2024-02-28 |title=Pomplamoose's "Les Champs-Elysées" Featured in an Airbnb Campaign |url=https://www.secretroad.com/latest/pomplamooses-les-champs-elysees-featured-in-an-airbnb-campaign |access-date=2026-04-10 |website=Secret Road |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFM_3D8GdXs |title=Bedtime |date=2024-07-23 |last=Airbnb |access-date=2026-04-10 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Champs-Elysees, Les}} [[Category:Songs about streets]] [[Category:Songs about Paris]] [[Category:1968 songs]] [[Category:1968 singles]] [[Category:Songs written by Pierre Delanoë]] [[Category:Association football songs and chants]] [[Category:CBS Records singles]] [[Category:Philips Records singles]]