Sextonik

"Sextonik" is a 2008 song recorded by French singer Mylène Farmer. It is the fifth single from her seventh studio album Point de suture and was released on 31 August 2009. Despite being less successful than Farmer's previous hit singles from the album, it allowed her to beat her own record for the artist with the most number one hits in France.

"Sextonik"
Single by Mylène Farmer
from the album Point de suture
B-side	"Instrumental"
Released	31 August 2009
Recorded	2008
Genre	Techno, house music, electropop
Length	4:35 (album version)
Label	Polydor, Universal Music
Songwriter(s)	Lyrics: Mylène Farmer Music: Laurent Boutonnat
Producer(s)	Laurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer singles chronology
"C'est dans l'air" (2009) "Sextonik" (2009) "C'est dans l'air" (2009)

Background and release

Since the release of the album Point de Suture, the song has been mentioned in media, and particularly Public, as its deals with a sexual issue.^[1]

From May 2008, Farmer sold at her concerts vibrators, first limited to 1,000 copies, and costing 100 euros. The object was presented in a black box-shaped coffin with the inscription "Sextonik"; however, the song was not performed on stage.^[2] Many websites, newspapers and radio broadcasts talked about the vibrator.^[3]

Then at the concerts in Douai (Gayant Expo), St. Petersburg and Moscow, a remix of "Sextonik" by DJ Tomer G was played. The DJ later stated on his own site that his remix was done for a single, thus revealing that "Sextonik" will be the fifth single from the album.^{[4][non-primary source needed]} On 2 July 2009, the song was officially announced as the next single and it was revealed that it would be released under three formats: CD single, CD maxi, 7" maxi.^[5] On 7 July 2009, a promotional digital version was sent to French stations radios.^[6] The first promotional CD was sent a few days later, then a second one on 17 July.^[3]

It was first announced that the CD single would be released on 24 August,^[7] then about one week later, and the other formats were eventually cancelled. The 'Tomer G sextonik radio edit' was available in full on the Internet from 24 July.^[3]

As for Farmer's other two singles — "On est tous des imbéciles" and "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." — there was no music video.^[8]

Lyrics and music

This is a very upbeat song talking about the science of sex and rejoice and is tribute to the sex toys.^[9] It contains several neologisms, including a noun turned in a verb ("J'extase").^[10] During the musical bridge, Farmer is heard moaning in a sexual manner.^[11]

Critical reception

The song was not generally well received by media and critics. "Sextonik" was deemed as a song whose "inspiration seems basic" (La Meuse),^[12] was ranked "three degrees under "Désenchantée"" (Télé Moustique),^[13] was considered as "an easy wink to the tecktonik" (Cité Gay).^[14]

Chart performance

With 4,533 units sold,^[15] the single entered at number-one in France on 5 September 2009, becoming Farmer's ninth number-one hit.^[16] Then it began to drop rather quickly, spending only three weeks in the top ten. It remained for 19 weeks in the top 50 and 37 weeks in the top 100.^[17] The song, however, was poorly played on radios in the country.^[8]

The single was a top 25 hit in Belgium (Wallonia) and charted in the top 40 for two weeks.^[18] It was unsuccessful in Switzerland where it was ranked in low positions for a sole week.^[19]

In Russia, the single went to number 39 on the airplay chart. It even peaked at number twenty on the Saint Petersburgh airplay chart.^{[citation needed]}

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "Sextonik":^[20]

• CD single^[21]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sextonik" (single version)	4:38
2.	"Sextonik" (instrumental version)	4:40

• CD single – Promo^[22]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sextonik" (radio edit)	3:37

• CD single – Promo – Remix^[23]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sextonik" (Tomer G sextonik reloaded club mix)	5:57
2.	"Sextonik" (Tomer G sextonik club mix)	6:10

Credits and personnel

These are the credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single:^[20][24]

• Mylène Farmer – lyrics
• Laurent Boutonnat – music
• Henry Neu – design
• Isiaka – editions
• Made in the E.U.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2009) Peak position Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart^[18] 25 CIS (TopHit)^[25] 39 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles^[26] 7 French SNEP Singles Chart^[17] 1 Swiss Singles Chart^[19] 77

Year-end charts Chart (2009) Position French Singles Chart^[27] 49 Sales Country Certification Physical sales France — 15,000^[8]

Release history

Region	Date	Format
France, Belgium, Switzerland	July 2009	Promo CD singles^[22]^[23]
	2 September 2009	CD single^[28]

References

• Chuberre, Erwan (18 June 2009). Mylène Farmer: Des mots sur nos désirs (in French). Alphée. ISBN 978-2-7538-0477-7.
• Rigal, Julien (September 2010). Mylène Farmer, la culture de l'inaccessibilité (in French). Premium. ISBN 978-2-35636-096-0.
• Royer, Hugues (2008). Mylène, biographie (in French). Spain: Flammarion. ISBN 978-2-35287-139-2.

Notes

1. "Mylène Farmer accro aux sex-toys!". Public (in French). Levallois-Perret: Lagardère Group. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
2. Cadet, Thierry (18 May 2009). "Mylène Farmer vend des godes sur sa tournée !" (in French). Charts in France. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
3. "Mylène Farmer – "Sextonik" – Histoire du single" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
4. "Tomer G, official site" (in French). Myspace. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
5. (in French). NRJ. Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
6. "Mylène Farmer: "Sextonik" en écoute gratuite" (in French). Musique Radio. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
7. Cadet, Thierry (2 July 2009). ""Sextonik": le nouveau single de Mylène Farmer" (in French). Charts in France. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
8. Rigal, 2010, p. 184.
9. "Les sextoys de Mylène Farmer". 20 Minutes (in French). Switzerland: Tamedia. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
10. Royer, 2008, p. 197.
11. Royer, 2008, p. 100.
12. Christophe, Sam (27 August 2008). "Du génie ou du toc? On a passé au scanner la nouvel album de Mylène Farmer..." La Meuse (in French). Sud Presse Group. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
13. "Point à la ligne". Télé Moustique (in French). 27 August 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
14. "Point de suture, Mylène Farmer – Sans surprise ..." (in French). Cité Gay. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
15. Decant, Charles (9 September 2009). (in French). Ozap. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
16. Cadet, Thierry (8 September 2009). "Tops: Mylène Farmer et Marc Lavoine n°1!" (in French). Charts in France. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
17. "Mylène Farmer — "Sextonik", French Singles Chart" (in French). Lescharts. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
18. "Mylène Farmer — "Sextonik", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
19. "Mylène Farmer — "Sextonik", Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Hitparade. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
20. "Mylène Farmer – "Sextonik" – Supports" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
21. Sextonik (CD-one Single liner notes) (in French). Mylène Farmer. Polydor. 2009. 532 082-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
22. Sextonik (Promo CD Single liner notes) (in French). Mylène Farmer. Polydor. 2009. 12 679.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
23. Sextonik (Promo CD Single (remix) liner notes) (in French). Mylène Farmer. Polydor. 2009. 12 717.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
24. "Mylène Farmer – "Sextonik" – Crédits" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
25. Mylene Farmer — Sextonik. TopHit. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
26. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, week of September 19, 2009". Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
27. "Classement des 100 premiers Singles par GfK Music" (PDF) (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. p. 20. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
28. ""Sextonik" [CD single]" (in French). Retrieved 10 June 2011.

External links

• Mylène Farmer — "Sextonik" All about the song, on Mylene.net