Madame Helga Explained

Madame Helga
Cover:	Madame Helga.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Stereophonics
Album:	You Gotta Go There to Come Back
B-Side:	"High as the Ceiling" "Royal Flush" (demo)
Released:	^[1]
Written:	2 May 2002 (Sri Lanka)
Recorded:	September–December 2002
Studio:	Hook End Manor (Checkendon, England)
Length:	3:55
Label:	V2
Producer:	Kelly Jones
Prev Title:	Vegas Two Times
Prev Year:	2002
Next Title:	Maybe Tomorrow
Next Year:	2003

"Madame Helga" is a song by Welsh rock band Stereophonics from their fourth studio album, You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003). It was inspired by the band's stay at Helga's Folly while they were on tour in Sri Lanka in 2002. The folly is owned by Helga Desilva Blow Perera, from whom the title "Madame Helga" originated. Released as a single on 19 May 2003, the song reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number 15 on the Irish Singles Chart the same month.

"Madame Helga" is track three on You Gotta Go There to Come Back. There is also a live version of the track on the Live from Dakota album. The music video was directed by Robert Hales. Despite being one of the band's highest-charting singles, it is not included on the standard edition of the band's 2008 greatest hits album, .

Track listings

UK CD single^[2]

1. "Madame Helga" – 3:56
2. "High as the Ceiling" – 3:18
3. "Royal Flush" (mono demo) – 3:29

UK DVD single^[3]

1. "Madame Helga" (audio) – 3:56
2. "Madame Helga" (live video)

UK 7-inch single^[4]

A. "Madame Helga" – 3:56

B. "High as the Ceiling" – 3:18

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the You Gotta Go There to Come Back album booklet.^[5]

Recording

• Written on 2 May 2002 in Sri Lanka
• Recorded between September and December 2002 at Hook End Manor (Checkendon, England)
• Mixed at Ocean Way (Hollywood, California)
• Mastered at Abbey Road Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Kelly Jones – writing, vocals, guitars, production
• Richard Jones – bass, harmonica
• Stuart Cable – drums, percussion
• Andy Davies – recording assistant
• Jack Joseph Puig – mixing
• Jim Lowe – engineering
• Steve McNichol – Pro Tools engineering
• Chris Blair – mastering

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

1. Stereophonics Snuggle Up Closer to Radio. Thomas. Gareth. Music & Media. 21. 25. 6. 14 June 2003. 16 September 2020.
2. Madame Helga. Stereophonics. 2003. UK CD single liner notes. V2 Records. VVR5021743.
3. Madame Helga. Stereophonics. 2003. UK DVD single liner notes. V2 Records. VVR8021749.
4. Madame Helga. Stereophonics. 2003. UK 7-inch single sleeve. V2 Records. VVR5021747.
5. You Gotta Go There to Come Back. You Gotta Go There to Come Back. Stereophonics. 2003. UK CD album booklet. V2 Records. VVR1021902.
6. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 21. 24. 13. 7 June 2003. 16 September 2020.
7. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2003. UKChartsPlus. 5 December 2018.