"John" is a synthpop song recorded by French singer Desireless. It was the second single from the album François on which it is the tenth track. Following the huge success of "Voyage Voyage", it was released in May 1988. Written and produced by Jean-Michel Rivat, the song was Desireless' last hit single in France.[1]
"John" deals with a man named John, apparently a soldier, who died during a mission. The lyrics mention several locations referring to conflicts in the 20th century : Hanoi and Haiphong (Vietnam War, 1945-54 / 1964-1975), Madrid (Spanish Civil War, 1936–39), Port Said (second Israeli-Arab war, 1956), Baghdad (Iran-Iraq, 1980–88), Berlin (Second World War, Cold War). Several Gods worshiped in various religions are also cited in the lyrics, such as God, Jehovah (Christianity, Judaism), Allah (Islam), Brahma and Vishnu (Hinduism). The narrator questions whether it matters who the symbolic "John" fought for (On his flag/there are stars, crowns/there are sickles, hammers/What does it matter?"), where he came from (He lives on a farm/in Loir-et-Cher/a tent on the edge of the desert/what does it matter?"), or what religion he was ("He says Bramah/he says Jehovah"), and she says that he "died in mid-flight" over Hanoi or Madrid or "died in flames" south of Baghdad or Port Said.
Critical receptionedit
A review from Music & Media stated: "Although less accessible than "Voyage, Voyage", the single is another driving electro-pop single sporting a passionate, subtle chorus. Production by Michel Rivat is excellent and carries that special, spatial atmosphere, so suitable for the pan-European market".[2]
Chart performanceedit
Released in several European countries, notably in France, where it became a top five hit in July 1988 and remained for 18 weeks on the chart (top 50), nine of them in the top ten.[3] It was released in UK in a remixed version produced by Les Adams, but was a relative failure (a sole week on the chart, at number 92),[4] while it failed the chart in the Netherlands. Yet, the song was a big hit - as its predecessor - in Spain, reaching n°8.
Versionsedit
An acoustic version of "John" was recorded by Desireless on her 2004 album Un brin de paille, on her 2007 double album More Love and Good Vibrations and on her 2003 best of Ses plus grands succès. The image on the single cover is a screenshot from the music video. A new arrangement of the song was produced with Desireless' new musical partner, Antoine Aureche (AKA Operation of the Sun) for the 2013 album L'Oeuf de Dragon.
Track listingsedit
7" single
"John" – 3:58
"John" (tempo 120) – 4:12
12" maxi
"John" (remix) – 6:28
"John" – 4:21
CD maxi
"John" – 4:19
"John" (remix) – 6:27
"Voyage Voyage" (extended remix) – 6:45
7" single - Remix
"John" (London remix) – 4:14
"John" (London re-remix) – 4:14
12" maxi - Remix
"John" (London remix) – 6:17
"John" (London remix - single version) – 4:11
"Voyage Voyage" (britmix) – 7:06
Creditsedit
Chorus by Desireless and Michel Laurent
Mixed by Dominique Blanc-Francard and S.Prestage, at Digital Services
Recorded at Studio Colour by Antoine Cambourakis and Steve Prestage
Photography by François De La Noisette
Written, arranged and produced by Jean-Michel Rivat
^The exact peak position in Belgium (Wallonia) is unknown. The single reached at least number 9, as Music & Media provided the single's ranking only for that week, but it did not reach the top three, given every week by the magazine.
Referencesedit
^Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinéa Bis. p. 135. ISBN2-9518832-0-X.
^"Previews - Single of the week" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 15. 9 April 1988. p. 25. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 6 October 2021 – via American Radio History.
^""John", French Single Chart" (in French). Lescharts. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
^Muus, Diana (2 July 1988). "Weekly Update on the European Charts - Highlights" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 27. p. 11. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 7 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
^"European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 30. 23 July 1988. p. 17. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 18 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
^"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 30. 23 July 1988. p. 14-15. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 18 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
^Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Desireless". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021(PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 62. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
^Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN84-8048-639-2.
^"1988 Year-End Eurocharts - Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 30. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via American Radio History.
^"French single certifications – Desireless – John" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 24, 2021. Select DESIRELESS and click OK.
External linksedit
(official site)
December 25, 2023
john, desireless, song, john, synthpop, song, recorded, french, singer, desireless, second, single, from, album, françois, which, tenth, track, following, huge, success, voyage, voyage, released, 1988, written, produced, jean, michel, rivat, song, desireless, . John is a synthpop song recorded by French singer Desireless It was the second single from the album Francois on which it is the tenth track Following the huge success of Voyage Voyage it was released in May 1988 Written and produced by Jean Michel Rivat the song was Desireless last hit single in France 1 John Single by Desirelessfrom the album FrancoisB side John tempo 120 Released1988Recorded1988GenreSynthpopLength3 58LabelCBS RecordsSongwriter s Jean Michel RivatProducer s Jean Michel RivatDesireless singles chronology Voyage voyage 1986 John 1988 Qui sommes nous 1989 Contents 1 Lyrics 2 Critical reception 3 Chart performance 4 Versions 5 Track listings 6 Credits 7 Charts and certifications 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 7 3 Certifications 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksLyrics edit John deals with a man named John apparently a soldier who died during a mission The lyrics mention several locations referring to conflicts in the 20th century Hanoi and Haiphong Vietnam War 1945 54 1964 1975 Madrid Spanish Civil War 1936 39 Port Said second Israeli Arab war 1956 Baghdad Iran Iraq 1980 88 Berlin Second World War Cold War Several Gods worshiped in various religions are also cited in the lyrics such as God Jehovah Christianity Judaism Allah Islam Brahma and Vishnu Hinduism The narrator questions whether it matters who the symbolic John fought for On his flag there are stars crowns there are sickles hammers What does it matter where he came from He lives on a farm in Loir et Cher a tent on the edge of the desert what does it matter or what religion he was He says Bramah he says Jehovah and she says that he died in mid flight over Hanoi or Madrid or died in flames south of Baghdad or Port Said Critical reception editA review from Music amp Media stated Although less accessible than Voyage Voyage the single is another driving electro pop single sporting a passionate subtle chorus Production by Michel Rivat is excellent and carries that special spatial atmosphere so suitable for the pan European market 2 Chart performance editReleased in several European countries notably in France where it became a top five hit in July 1988 and remained for 18 weeks on the chart top 50 nine of them in the top ten 3 It was released in UK in a remixed version produced by Les Adams but was a relative failure a sole week on the chart at number 92 4 while it failed the chart in the Netherlands Yet the song was a big hit as its predecessor in Spain reaching n 8 Versions editAn acoustic version of John was recorded by Desireless on her 2004 album Un brin de paille on her 2007 double album More Love and Good Vibrations and on her 2003 best of Ses plus grands succes The image on the single cover is a screenshot from the music video A new arrangement of the song was produced with Desireless new musical partner Antoine Aureche AKA Operation of the Sun for the 2013 album L Oeuf de Dragon Track listings edit7 single John 3 58 John tempo 120 4 1212 maxi John remix 6 28 John 4 21CD maxi John 4 19 John remix 6 27 Voyage Voyage extended remix 6 457 single Remix John London remix 4 14 John London re remix 4 1412 maxi Remix John London remix 6 17 John London remix single version 4 11 Voyage Voyage britmix 7 06Credits editChorus by Desireless and Michel Laurent Mixed by Dominique Blanc Francard and S Prestage at Digital Services Recorded at Studio Colour by Antoine Cambourakis and Steve Prestage Photography by Francois De La Noisette Written arranged and produced by Jean Michel Rivat Editions Rivat MusicCharts and certifications editWeekly charts edit 1988 weekly chart performance for John Chart 1988 PeakpositionBelgium Ultratop 50 Wallonia 5 9 a Europe European Airplay Top 50 6 32Europe European Hot 100 7 17Finland Suomen virallinen lista 8 20France SNEP 9 5Spain AFYVE 10 8UK OCC 4 92Year end charts edit 1988 year end chart performance for John Chart 1988 PositionEurope Eurochart Hot 100 11 81 Certifications edit Certifications for John Region Certification Certified units salesFrance SNEP 12 Silver 250 000 Sales figures based on certification alone Notes edit The exact peak position in Belgium Wallonia is unknown The single reached at least number 9 as Music amp Media provided the single s ranking only for that week but it did not reach the top three given every week by the magazine References edit Habib Elia 2002 Muz hit tubes in French Alinea Bis p 135 ISBN 2 9518832 0 X Previews Single of the week PDF Music amp Media Vol 5 no 15 9 April 1988 p 25 OCLC 29800226 Retrieved 6 October 2021 via American Radio History John French Single Chart in French Lescharts Retrieved 23 April 2009 a b Desireless Official Charts Company Official Charts Company Retrieved 23 April 2009 Muus Diana 2 July 1988 Weekly Update on the European Charts Highlights PDF Music amp Media Vol 5 no 27 p 11 OCLC 29800226 Retrieved 7 August 2023 via World Radio History European Airplay Top 50 PDF Music amp Media Vol 5 no 30 23 July 1988 p 17 OCLC 29800226 Retrieved 18 October 2021 via World Radio History Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 5 no 30 23 July 1988 p 14 15 OCLC 29800226 Retrieved 18 October 2021 via World Radio History Pennanen Timo 2021 Desireless Sisaltaa hitin 2 laitos Levyt ja esittajat Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1 1 1960 30 6 2021 PDF Helsinki Kustannusosakeyhtio Otava p 62 Retrieved 22 June 2022 Desireless John in French Les classement single Retrieved 18 October 2021 Salaverri Fernando September 2005 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 1st ed Spain Fundacion Autor SGAE ISBN 84 8048 639 2 1988 Year End Eurocharts Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 6 no 52 1 1 January 1989 p 30 Retrieved 8 October 2021 via American Radio History French single certifications Desireless John in French InfoDisc Retrieved November 24 2021 SelectDESIRELESSand clickOK External links edit John music video official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Desireless song amp oldid 1185130423, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
