Madame Helga
"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.[5] 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" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Stereophonics | ||||
| from the album You Gotta Go There to Come Back | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Written | 2 May 2002 (Sri Lanka) | |||
| Released | 19 May 2003[1] | |||
| Recorded | September–December 2002 | |||
| Studio | Hook End Manor (Checkendon, England) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:55 | |||
| Label | V2 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Kelly Jones | |||
| Producer(s) | Kelly Jones | |||
| Stereophonics singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Madame Helga" on YouTube | ||||
"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, Decade in the Sun: Best of Stereophonics.
Track listings
UK CD single[6]
- "Madame Helga" – 3:56
- "High as the Ceiling" – 3:18
- "Royal Flush" (mono demo) – 3:29
UK DVD single[7]
- "Madame Helga" (audio) – 3:56
- "Madame Helga" (live video)
UK 7-inch single[8]
- 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
References
- ^ Thomas, Gareth (14 June 2003). "Stereophonics Snuggle Up Closer to Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 25. p. 6. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Dalton, Stephen (7 June 2003). "Stereophonics : You Gotta Go There To Come Back". NME. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ McCormick, Neil (17 April 2003). "Let's be nice to the Stereophonics". Telegraph. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Wilson, MacKenzie. Madame Helga at AllMusic
- ^ a b You Gotta Go There to Come Back (UK CD album booklet). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2003. VVR1021902.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Madame Helga (UK CD single liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2003. VVR5021743.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Madame Helga (UK DVD single liner notes). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2003. VVR8021749.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Madame Helga (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Stereophonics. V2 Records. 2003. VVR5021747.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 24. 7 June 2003. p. 13. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Madame Helga". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 5 December 2018.