Ella, elle l'a explained

Ella, elle l'a
Cover:	Ella elle l'a.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	France Gall
Album:	Babacar
B-Side:	Dancing Brave
Released:	24 August 1987
Recorded:	1987
Studio:	Studio Gang, Paris
Genre:	Pop, synthpop
Length:	4:51
Label:	WEA
Producer:	Michel Berger
Prev Title:	Babacar
Prev Year:	1987
Next Title:	Évidemment
Next Year:	1988

"Ella, elle l'a" (French for "Ella, She Has It") is a single released by French singer France Gall. It was released as a single from her album Babacar, on 24 August 1987, and became a hit across Europe, the Americas (especially in Quebec and the Southern Cone) and Asia (especially in Japan). It was covered live by French singer Alizée at a TV show in 2002 and by Belgian singer Kate Ryan in a dance version in 2008.

Background

Written by Michel Berger, the song is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, but also a protest against racism and an anthem to personal empowerment. Musically, "it swings between sheared rhythms of the bass and flashed brass".^[1] The song is also available on the CD maxi for "Évidemment", released in March 1988. In addition, a live version from her concert album Le Tour de France was released in November of that year.

Critical reception

"Ella, elle l'a" won two Victoires de la Musique in 1987 and in 1988. A 1987 review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media elected "Ella, elle l'a" single of the week and stated: "This moody and balanced, slowly roking track, written by Michel Berger, deserves to be her next success outside France".^[2]

Chart performance

"Ella, elle l'a" enjoyed great success in 1987 and 1988, reaching number-one in Austria and Germany in the latter year; in addition, it reached the top ten in Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Argentina. In France, it was certified as silver disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, reached number two and charted for a total of 19 weeks, nine of them in the top ten.

Track listings

• 7" single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (4:49)
2. "Dancing Brave" (3:06)

• 12" maxi

1. "Ella, elle l'a"
2. "Papillon de nuit"
3. "Dancing Brave"

Charts

Weekly charts

1987-1988 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"!Chart (1987–1988) !Peak
position

Denmark (IFPI)^[3]	2
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)^[4]	9
Europe (European Hot 100)^[5]	6
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[6]	19
Québec (Francophone chart)^[7]	1
West Germany (Media Control Charts)^[8]	1

2012 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"!Chart (2012) !Peak
position

2013 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"!Chart (2013) !Peak
position

2018 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"!Chart (2018) !Peak
position

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"!Chart (1988)!Position

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[9]	19
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)^[10]	23
Europe (European Hot 100)^[11]	32
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[12]	17

Kate Ryan version

Ella, elle l'a
Cover:	Ella, elle l'a.jpg
Border:	yes
Type:	single
Artist:	Kate Ryan
Album:	Free
Released:	25 April 2008 25 May 2009 (UK)
Genre:	Europop Dance-pop
Length:	3:05
Label:	ARS/Universal
Producer:	2N
Prev Title:	L.I.L.Y. (Like I Love You)
Prev Year:	2008
Next Title:	I Surrender
Next Year:	2008

Kate Ryan's version of "Ella, elle l'a" is the third single of her album Free. It was released on 6 May 2008 in Belgium and on 9 May 2008 in the rest of Europe as a CD single. It had already topped number one on the Spanish Download Chart, and number seven on the Belgian Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in Germany. It had entered the Swedish Singles Chart at number twelve, peaking at number two. In the Netherlands, "Ella, elle l'a" also peaked at number two.

English version"Ella, elle l'a" was sung live by Ryan during her 2008 UK tour and it was released on 25 May 2009 as first single from the UK version of Free.^[13]

Track listing

German CD single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (radio version) - 3:06
2. "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07
3. "L.I.L.Y." (radio edit) - 3:15

Belgian CD single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (radio version) - 3:06
2. "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07

European 12" single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07
2. "Ella, elle l'a" (Bodybangers remix) - 6:05
3. "Ella, elle l'a" (club remix) - 4:50

Official versions

• Extended version - 6:08
• Bodybangers remix - 6:05
• Club remix - 4:50
• Club remix short - 3:12
• Fugitive's Elle La Tout Remix
• Jorg Schmid Remix

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008)! scope="col"

Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[14]	63
Europe (European Hot 100)^[15]	27
Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)^[16]	2
Russia Airplay (TopHit)^[17]	23

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)! scope="col"

Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[18]	38
CIS (TopHit)^[19]	76
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)^[20]	45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[21]	20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[22]	22
Russia Airplay (TopHit)^[23]	94
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[24]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[25]	14

Certifications

Other cover versions

• In 1988, the song was also covered in Greek as "Έλα ξανά" (Come back again) by Bessy Argyraki^[26] who had represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977.
• In 2002, the song was covered by Emma Daumas, Eva Chemouni, Aurélie Konaté, Nolwenn Leroy and Anne-Laure Sibon, five contestants of the French Star Academy 2, and in 2003, has been sung once by French singer Alizée. The Star Academy version features on the album Star Academy chante Michel Berger.^[27]
• It was also covered by the French singer Pauline at the Bastille Day concert on the Champ de Mars in Paris in 2008.
• On 29 December 2023, German producers Ely Oaks and Neptunica alongside fellow German singer Ambre Vallet released another version of the song.^[28]

Notes and References

1. Book: Habib, Elia . Muz hit.tubes . Alinea Bis . 2002 . 117 . fr . 2-9518832-0-X. .
2. French talent - Singles. Music & Media. 4. 47. 23 March 1991. 17. 29800226. World Radio History . 14 October 2021.
3. Top 3 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 5. 34. 20 August 1988. 16. 29800226. World Radio History . 14 October 2021.
4. European Airplay Top 50. Music & Media. 5. 22. 28 May 1988. 27. 29800226. World Radio History. 14 October 2021.
5. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 5. 23. 4 June 1988. 16-17. 29800226. World Radio History . 6 October 2021.
6. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 . 2021 . France Gall. 86. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava . Helsinki. 22 June 2022.
7. Web site: Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes . . Michel Gignac . banq.qc.ca . 306 . French . 7 October 2021.
8. "Ella, elle l'a", German singles chart Lescharts.com (retrieved 11 March 2008).
9. 1988 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (retrieved 29 July 2008).
10. 1988 Year-End Eurocharts - Ariplay Top 50. Music & Media. 6. 52/1. 29. 1 January 1989. 16 October 2021. World Radio History.
11. 1988 Year-End Eurocharts - Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 6. 52/1. 30. 1 January 1989. 8 October 2021. American Radio History.
12. 1988 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (retrieved 29 July 2008).
13. Web site: Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles ::: Charts, DJ Promos, Dance, Lyrics, Free Mp3 Samples Downloads . 2010-12-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020105600/http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm . 2012-10-20 . UK release date.
14. Web site: Kate Ryan - Ella Elle L'A . αCharts . 25 February 2013.
15. https://web.archive.org/web/20090125234816/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=349&cfgn=Singles&cfn=European+Hot+100+Singles&ci=3096645&cdi=9797512&cid=06%2F07%2F2008 Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales
16. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20080715113751/http://www.nielsenmusiccontrol.com/index_pol. Nielsen Music Control. 2019-08-24. 2008-07-15.
17. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Jul 10, 2008. TopHit. 27 April 2024.
18. Web site: JAAROVERZICHTEN 2008 . . nl . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140125154811/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2008 . 2014-01-25 .
19. Web site: CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2008). . 11 August 2019.
20. Web site: MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2008 . hu . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120511135554/http://mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=eves_osszesitett_listak&id=radios&ev=2008 . 2012-05-11 .
21. Web site: TOP 100 2008. nl.
22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2008. Single Top 100. 27 April 2024. nl.
23. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2008. TopHit. 27 April 2024. 27 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240427112021/https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/annual/2008. live.
24. Web site: Top 50 CANCIONES ANUAL 2008 . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130621061430/http://promusicae.es/files/listasanuales/canciones/Top%2050%20CANCIONES%20%20ANUAL%202008.pdf . 2013-06-21 .
25. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2008 . . sv . 5 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719010101/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20080001&newi=0&height=420&platform=Win32&browser=MSIE&navi=no&subframe=Mainframe . 19 July 2011 .
26. Web site: Bessy Argyraki - Στίχοι Έλα Ξανά (Εla ksana) + Μεταγραφή . 2023-12-21 . lyricstranslate.com . el.
27. Star Academy chante Michel Berger, track listing Lescharts.com (retrieved 7 May 2008).
28. Web site: Ella Elle l'A . 2023-12-29 . open.spotify.com . en .