Wight Is Wight Explained

Wight Is Wight
Cover:Michel_Delpech_-_Wight_Is_Wight.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Michel Delpech
B-Side:Wight Is Wight (instrumental)
Released:1969
Recorded:1 October 1969[1]
Studio:Studio Davout, Paris, France
Genre:Chanson française, Pop
Length:3:00
Label:Barclay
Producer:Yves Roze
Prev Title:Le Mauvais Jardinier
Prev Year:1969
Next Title:Chère Lise
Next Year:1970

"Wight Is Wight" is a French song by Michel Delpech. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[2] Released in 1969 it became a big hit in France and internationally. This hippy-influenced song was inspired by the first editions of the Isle of Wight Festival, mentioning Bob Dylan who played there in 1969. Donovan is also named in the chorus, even though he wouldn't appear at the festival before 1970, a few months after the song was released.[3]

The title is a pun based on Los Bravos' 1966 hit single Black Is Black, covered by Johnny Hallyday in the same year, as "Noir c'est noir".[4]

Other versions

Wight Is Wight
Cover:Wight_Is_Wight.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Sandie Shaw
B-Side:That's The Way He's Made
Released:1970
Genre:Pop
Label:Pye
Prev Title:By Tomorrow
Prev Year:1970
Next Title:Rose Garden
Next Year:1971

The following year, it was recorded with lyrics in English by the British singer Sandie Shaw. It was released by Pye as her second single of the 1970s, with "That's the Way He's Made" as a B-side, written by Chris Andrews.

The same year, the italian group Dik Dik had made a version in Italian language, with the lyrics of Claudio Daiano and Alberto Salerno, which was released as "L'isola di Wight".[5]

It was also recorded in 1970 by the Belgian singer John Terra in Flemish.

In 1971 the Uruguayan pop group Los Campos record a version in Spanish, titled "Isla de Wight", and include it in their album "Mi Reino Bajo el Sol".[6]

Track listing

  1. "Wight Is Wight" (Delpech, Vincent) – 3:00
  2. "Wight Is Wight (instrumental)" (Delpech, Vincent) – 3:00

Chart performance

Chart (1969-1970)Peakposition
Argentina[7] 5
France (IFOP)[8] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Singles (Flemish chart))[9] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Singles (Walloon chart))[10] 2

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michel Delpech – Wight is Wight (1969, Vinyl). Discogs.
  2. Book: Murrells , Joseph . 1978. The Book of Golden Discs. 2nd. Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. London. 278. 0-214-20512-6. registration.
  3. Web site: Stivell. Marco. 2020-01-05. Michel DELPECH : WIGHT IS WIGHT (1969). 2020-06-18. fp.nightfall.fr.
  4. Book: Pessis. Jacques. Chronique de la chanson française. Leduc. Emilie. 2003. Editions Chronique. 2-205-05521-6. Trélissac, France. 66. 54003499.
  5. Web site: Discografia Nazionale della canzone italiana. Discografia.dds.it. 9 November 2018.
  6. https://www.discogs.com/master/1075158-Los-Campos-Mi-Reino-Bajo-El-Sol
  7. Web site: Billboard - Hits Of The World. worldradiohistory.com. Billboard. 12 September 1970. p. 107..
  8. Web site: InfoDisc : Tout les Titres N° 1 des 70's . www.infodisc.fr . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051013002811/http://www.infodisc.fr/Number1_70.php . 2005-10-13.
  9. Web site: Michel Delpech - Wight Is Wight. 2020-06-18. ultratop.be.
  10. Web site: Michel Delpech - Wight Is Wight. 2020-06-18. ultratop.be.