Vous êtes fous ! explained

Vous êtes fous
Cover:Vous_êtes_fous!.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Benny B feat. DJ Daddy K
Album:L'Album
B-Side:Remix
Released:May 1990
Recorded:Belgium
Genre:Hip hop, hip house
Length:3:12
Label:Vie Privée, On the Beach
Chronology:Benny B
Next Title:Qu'est-ce qu'on fait maintenant ?
Next Year:1991

"Vous êtes fous!" is the debut single by Belgian hip-hop act Benny B, with DJ Daddy K also credited on the single's cover. Released in May 1990, the song is from Benny B's first album, L'Album. It became a summer hit in France and Belgium (Wallonia), where it was a top three hit.

Background and writing

No producer thought that Benny B could release a hit, except Olivier Verhaeghe, the director of the studio Vie Privée, which had "the audacity to believe in Benny B...". He convinced them to change their "too aggressive rhythm, "hip hop" as we call in the United States" for a techno sound easier to be aired on radio and in discothèques. At the time, they believed that they would not be able to sell more than 5,000 or 6,000 discs.[1]

The song was written and the music composed by Vito Lucente, Alain Deproost, Amid Gharbaoui and R. Quyssens.

Several words ("Et qui l'accompagne ?", "Mais vous êtes fous !", "Oh oui !") are sampled from an episode of Captain Future, "The Adventures of Captain Future", released as a single in 1981. The introduction uses a guitar riff from the 1972 song, "Son of Shaft", recorded by The Bar-Kays.[2]

"Vous êtes fous!" was the first hip-hop hit in France, succeeded by the following singles of Benny B and those of MC Solaar, particularly "Bouge de là", from 1991.[3] It was also recorded in Spanish-language, under the title "Estáis locos!". This version features as tenth track on L'Album. Several remixes, produced by R. Cue, Vito Lucente and DJ Daddy K, were available on the various formats.

There were also a cover version by Suzy D (Suzy Naguy), a female alter ego of Benny B. This version was released under the title "Mais vous êtes sottes! (zot)" with New Belgian Sound label and has different lyrics; however, it remains much more confidential than Benny B's version.[4]

Chart performances and awards

In France, "Vous êtes fous !" debuted at number 42 on the chart edition of 26 May 1990, gained a few positions every week and reached the top ten in the sixth week, and peaked at number three in its 20th week. It remained for 18 consecutive weeks in the top ten, then dropped slowly, and totalled 29 weeks in top 50.

On the European Hot 100 Singles, it entered the chart at number 95 on 23 June 1990, reached a peak of number 17 in its 18th week and dropped off the chart after 24 weeks of presence.

The same year, the single was certified Gold disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique for 500,000 units.[5] Similarly, in Belgium, the group received a gold disc, on 22 September 1990, in the basement of the Galeries Louise for having sold more than 50,000 discs.[6]

Track listings

  1. "Vous êtes fous !" (techno version) - 3:12
  2. "Vous êtes fous !" (hip hop mix) - 3:08
  1. "Vous êtes fous !" (techno version) - 4:48
  2. "Vous êtes fous !" (hip hop mix) - 3:08
  3. "Vous êtes fous !" (radio edit) - 3:00
  4. "Vous êtes fous !" (a cappella) - 1:24
  5. "Vous êtes fous !" (wild mix) - 4:48
  1. "Vous êtes fous !" (techno version) - 4:48
  2. "Vous êtes fous !" (hip hop mix) - 3:08
  3. "Vous êtes fous !" (radio edit) - 3:00
  4. "Vous êtes fous !" (a cappella) - 1:24
  5. "Vous êtes fous !" (wild mix) - 4:48
  1. "Vous êtes fous !" (dance remix) - 5:03
  2. "Vous êtes fous !" (a cappella) - 1:24
  3. "Vous êtes fous !" (Vito mix) - 4:41
  4. "Vous êtes fous !" (Daddy K hip hop remix) - 3:59
  1. "Vous êtes fous !" (Vito mix) - 4:41
  2. "Vous êtes fous !" (Daddy K hip hop remix) - 3:59
  3. "Vous êtes fous !" (dance remix) - 5:03
  4. "Vous êtes fous !" (a cappella) - 1:24
  1. "Vous êtes fous !" (Vito mix) - 4:45
  2. "Vous êtes fous !" (techno version) - 4:48
  3. "Vous êtes fous !" (R. Cue mix) - 5:03
  4. "Vous êtes fous !" (a cappella) - 1:22
  5. "Vous êtes fous !" (Daddy K mix) - 4:01
  6. "Vous êtes fous !" (a cappella) - 1:24

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 50
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 2
Europe (European Hot 100)[19] 17
scope="row"

Certifications

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
France1990CD maxiOn the Beach
7" single
12" maxi
CD maxi - remixes
12" maxi - remixes
BelgiumCD maxiVie privée
7" single
12" maxi
12" maxi - remixes
SpainPromotional 12" maxiCBS

External links

Notes and References

  1. Le Soir . Bruxelles rappe gentiment . Daniel . Couvreur . 28 August 1990 . French.
  2. Web site: Benny B, "Mais vous êtes fous !" . samples.fr . fr . 6 April 2008.
  3. Book: Habib, Elia . Muz hit.tubes . Alinéa Bis . 2002 . 194 . French . 2-9518832-0-X.
  4. Web site: Mais vous êtes sottes! (zot) . bide-et-musique.com . French . 2 July 2008.
  5. Web site: InfoDisc : Les Certifications Officielles d'un Artiste (Depuis 1973) . infodisc.fr . fr . 2 September 2021. . Select "Benny B & DJ Daddy K" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
  6. Le Soir . Le Rap rapporte de l'or . N. . C. . 25 September 1990 . French.
  7. , 7" single Belgium (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  8. , 7" single France (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  9. , 12" maxi Belgium (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  10. , 12" maxi France (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  11. , CD maxi Belgium (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  12. , CD maxi France (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  13. , 12" maxi remixes Belgium (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  14. , 12" maxi remixes France (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  15. , CD maxi remixes France (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  16. , 12" maxi promo Spain (Benny B feat. Daddy K – "Vous êtes fous !") (accessdate: 3 September 2021).
  17. Web site: Benny B feat. DJ Daddy K - Vous êtes fous!, Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart . Ultratop . Dutch . 18 July 2013.
  18. Top 3 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 7. 31. 4 August 1990. VII. 29800226. World Radio History . 3 September 2021.
  19. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 7. 42. 20 October 1990. IV-V. 29800226. World Radio History . 3 September 2021.
  20. Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990. Music & Media. 7. 51. 22 December 1990. 60. 29800226. 15 January 2020. American Radio History.