Voyage, voyage explained

Voyage, voyage
Cover:Voyage Voyage Desireless cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Desireless
Album:François
Language:French
B-Side:"Destin Fragile" (instrumental)
Released:1986
Studio:D'Aguesseau, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Genre:
Length:4:12
Label:CBS
Producer:Jean-Michel Rivat
Prev Title:Qui peut savoir
Prev Year:1986
Next Title:John
Next Year:1988

"Voyage, voyage" (in French pronounced as /vwajaʒ vwajaʒ/) is a song by French singer Desireless, released as the first single from her debut studio album, François (1989). It was written by Jean-Michel Rivat and Dominique Dubois, and produced by the former. Sung entirely in French, the song transcended the language barrier on the music charts and became a huge international success between 1986 and 1988, reaching the top position in more than ten countries across Europe.

Critical reception

A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Voyage, Voyage" as a song having a "high-pitched, dramatic vocals over a contagious electro-beat, in an Alphaville-type of setting. Very strong chart appeal outside France, especially in an English translation".[3]

Chart performance

Since "Voyage, voyage" is sung exclusively in French, its chart success came as a surprise as it managed the rare feat of becoming a success in several nations usually closed to Francophone songs and artists, such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. In West Germany, the song topped the chart, and has the longest chart trajectory of 1987 in the top 20.[4] It also reached number one in Austria, Norway, and Spain. The song missed the top spot in France, peaking at number two for four weeks, behind Elsa Lunghini's "T'en va pas".

The song initially reached number 53 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1987. After being remixed by Pete Hammond and Pete Waterman of PWL, the song was re-released in the United Kingdom in the spring of 1988, and climbed to number five in June of that year. The song's success continued in Ireland, where it reached number four twice, the original version in November 1987, followed by the PWL remix in June 1988.

Music video

The music video for "Voyage, voyage" was directed by Bettina Rheims, and premiered in France in December 1986.[5] It depicts Desireless entering a manor where a number of people are listlessly lingering around, and enticing them with her song and a slideshow to see the world and make more out of their lives. The video features actor David Caruso.

Track listings

A. "Voyage, voyage" – 4:12

B. "Destin fragile" (instrumental) – 3:31

A. "Voyage, voyage" (extended remix) – 6:45

B. "Voyage, voyage" – 4:12

  1. "Voyage voyage" (Britmix) – 7:06
  2. "Voyage voyage" (Euro Remix Remix) – 6:12
  3. "Destin fragile" (instrumental) – 3:31

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 7-inch single of "Voyage, voyage".[6]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

1986–1987 weekly chart performance for "Voyage, voyage"! Chart (1986–1987)! Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[7] 2
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[8] 18
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[9] 30
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 11
Italy (Musica e dischi)[11] 21
Portugal (UNEVA)[12] 3
Spain (AFYVE)[13] 1
UK Dance (Music Week)[14] 25
Uruguay (CUD)[15] 1
1988 weekly chart performance for "Voyage, voyage" (Britmix) ! Chart (1988)! Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[16] 17
UK Dance (Music Week)[17] 8

Year-end charts

1986 year-end chart performance for "Voyage, voyage"! Chart (1986)! Position
France (SNEP)[18] 6
1987 year-end chart performance for "Voyage, voyage"! Chart (1987)! Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 7
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[20] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 85
Spain (AFYVE)[22] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 1
West Germany (Media Control Charts)[24] 1
1988 year-end chart performance for "Voyage, voyage"! Chart (1988)! Position
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 90

Wink version

Eien no Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)
Cover:Wink - Eien no Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Wink
Album:Aphrodite
Language:Japanese
English Title:Eternal Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)
B-Side:Alone Again
Length:4:59
Label:Polystar
Composer:
  • Jean-Michel Rivat
  • Dominique Dubois
Lyricist:Neko Oikawa
Producer:Haruo Mizuhashi
Prev Title:Real na Yume no Jōken
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Kekkon Shiyoune
Next Year:1993

"Voyage, voyage" was covered in Japanese by the idol duo Wink as . Released on 24 February 1993 by Polystar Records,[26] it was their 17th single, with Japanese lyrics written by Neko Oikawa.

The single peaked at No. 19 on Oricon's singles chart and sold over 69,000 copies.[27]

Weekly charts

Kate Ryan version

Voyage Voyage
Cover:Voyage voyage (Kate Ryan version).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Kate Ryan
Album:Free
Language:French
B-Side:We All Belong
Released:2007
Studio:Cosmos, Stockholm
Genre:Eurodance[28]
Length:3:07
Label:
Producer:2N
Prev Title:All for You
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:L.I.L.Y. (Like I Love You)
Next Year:2008

Belgian singer Kate Ryan covered the song for her fourth studio album Free (2008). Slightly retitled "Voyage Voyage", her version as the album's lead single in 2007, featuring "We All Belong" on its B-side, which is the anthem of the event EuroGames 2007 that took place in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2007.

It was Ryan's first single released under ARS Entertainment, following her departure from EMI Belgium. Commercially, "Voyage Voyage" reached number two in Belgium, as well as the top 10 in Finland, the Netherlands and Spain.

Track listing

  1. "Voyage Voyage"
  2. "Voyage Voyage" (extended version)
  3. "We All Belong"
  4. "We All Belong" (extended version)

Year-end charts

Chart (2007)Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[29] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 76
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 60

Certifications and sales

Other covers

"Voyage, voyage" was also covered by the Mexican band Magneto in 1991, with a version in Spanish titled "Vuela Vuela" (English: Fly, fly). Mikel Herzog was credited with the translation. This version peaked at number three on Billboards Hot Latin Songs chart.[32] The gothic metal band Sirenia released their cover of "Voyage, voyage" on 10 February 2021 as a single and music video to their album Riddles, Ruins & Revelations which also is included as a bonus track on the album.[33]

See also

External links

Desireless version
Wink version
Kate Ryan version

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yuri . German . Desireless – Artist Biography . . 3 May 2014 .
  2. News: David. Mac Dougall. Touts les hits! French songs that made it big in Britain. Euronews. 20 April 2022. 3 January 2023.
  3. M&M – New Talent . . 4 . 3 . 24 January 1987 . 10. 29800226. World Radio History . 27 September 2023.
  4. Book: Habib, Elia . 2002 . Muz hit. tubes . Alinéa Bis . 93 . 2-9518832-0-X.
  5. Web site: Desireless – "Voyage voyage" . Mvdbase.com . 3 May 2014 .
  6. "Voyage, voyage" . . 1986 . 7-inch single . . CBS 650175 7.
  7. Top 3 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 4. 5. 7 February 1987. 13. 29800226. World Radio History . 5 January 2024.
  8. European Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 4. 10. 14 March 1987. 19. 29800226.
  9. European Airplay Top 50. Music & Media. 4. 7. 21 February 1987. 4. 29800226.
  10. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Desireless . Sisältää hitin – Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 . fi . 2nd . Helsinki . . 2021 . 62 . 978-952-7460-01-6.
  11. Classifiche . . it . 4 January 2023. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Voyage voyage" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
  12. Top 3 in Europe . Music & Media . 4 . 45 . 16 . 29800226 . 14 November 1987.
  13. Book: Salaverri, Fernando . September 2005 . Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 . 1st . . Madrid . 84-8048-639-2 . es.
  14. Top Dance Singles . . 14 November 1987 . 26 . 0265-1548.
  15. News: Canciones más populares en Latinoamérica. La Opinión. es. Los Angeles. 25 March 1988. 11. Google Books.
  16. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles . Music & Media . 5 . 25 . 18 . 18 June 1988 . 29800226.
  17. Top Dance Singles . . 18 June 1988 . 12 . 0265-1548.
  18. Web site: Top – 1986 . Top-france.fr . 3 May 2014 . 19 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140619003229/http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1986.htm . fr.
  19. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1987 . austriancharts.at . 4 January 2023 . de.
  20. European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles . Music & Media . 4 . 51/52 . 34 . 26 December 1987 . 29800226.
  21. Web site: 3 May 2014 . Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985 . . nl.
  22. Top Sellers 1987 . Music & Media . 5 . 11 . 25 . 29800226 . 12 March 1988.
  23. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987 . hitparade.ch . 4 January 2023 . de.
  24. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1987 . GfK Entertainment . 4 January 2023 . de.
  25. Top 100 Singles: Year-End Chart 1988 . Music Week . 4 March 1989 . 12 . 0265-1548.
  26. Web site: 永遠のレディードール . . 22 July 2021 . ja.
  27. Web site: Wink . Yamachan Land . 24 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524095747/http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/single/wink.html . ja.
  28. News: J. . González . A. . Santos . La cantante belga Kate Ryan ofrecerá el concierto estrella de San Agustín . . Avilés . 1 June 2009 . 3 May 2014 . es.
  29. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2007 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 12 April 2020 . nl.
  30. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2007 . . 12 April 2020 . nl.
  31. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2007 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 12 April 2020 . nl.
  32. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=magneto|chart=HTL}} Magneto Chart History (Hot Latin Songs) ]. . 22 November 2019.
  33. Web site: Sirenia Release Cover of Desireless' '80s Hit "Voyage Voyage"; Music Video . . 10 February 2021 . 20 February 2021 .