"Sacré Charlemagne"
Single by France Gall et ses petits amis
from the album Sacré Charlemagne
B-side"Au Clair de la Lune"
Released1964 (1964)
Length2:50
LabelPhilips
Composer(s)Georges Liferman
Lyricist(s)Robert Gall
Music video
"Sacré Charlemagne" (live on French TV, 1972) on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Billboard"Spotlight" pick[1]

"Sacré Charlemagne" is a song by France Gall. It was released in 1964 as a single, on an EP, and on an album, credited to "France Gall et ses petits amis".[2]

According to the charts U.S. Billboard published in its "Hits of the World" section, the song reached no. 1 in France.[3]

Lyrics

The song's lyrics were written by Robert Gall, the singer's father. They are about medieval emperor Charlemagne, traditionally seen as the "inventor of school", since education became mandatory for all children during his reign. Because of this the narrator of the song blames Charlemagne for having to go to school.[4]

The song reflected contempt for studying among young people.[5]

Reception

The song was France Gall's first major success, selling over 2 million copies.[6][7][8] In addition to reaching #1 on the French music charts, the song enjoyed international success, becoming a hit in Japan.[9] Its popularity endures as a French schoolchildren's song. [4][10]

Charts

Chart (1964–65) Peak
position
France[11] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[12] 4

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (13 March 1965). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 75–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ↑ "ultratop.be - France Gall et ses petits amis - Sacré Charlemagne". Ultratop. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  3. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (23 January 1965). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 22–. ISSN 0006-2510. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. 1 2 Graham A. Loud; Martial Staub (2017). The Making of Medieval History. Boydell & Brewer. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-1-903153-70-3.
  5. ↑ Jacques Vassal (1976). Français, si vous chantiez: à la patrie, la chanson reconnaissante. A. Michel. ISBN 978-2-226-00335-5. Ici, les chansons évoquent le fameux conflit des générations (« Papa, t'es plus dans l'coup »), assorti d'un mépris de l'étude (« L'école est finie », « Sacré Charlemagne ») et d'un désir de s'amuser (« C'est ma première surprise-partie », « La ...
  6. ↑ Céline Fontana (2007). La chanson française. Hachette pratique. ISBN 9782012374140.
  7. ↑ Jean-Emmanuel Deluxe (18 November 2013). Yé-Yé Girls of '60s French Pop. Feral House. pp. 69–. ISBN 978-1-936239-72-6.
  8. ↑ Williams, Richard (8 January 2018). "France Gall obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Jean-Marie Thiébaud (2008). La présence française au Japon: du XVIe siècle à nos jours : histoire d'une séduction et d'une passion réciproques. Harmattan. ISBN 978-2-296-05142-3.
  10. ↑ Rehill, Anne (2009). The Apocalypse Is Everywhere: A Popular History of America's Favorite Nightmare. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313354397. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Tout les Titres N° 1 des 60's". InfoDisc. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010.
  12. ↑ "France Gall – Sacré Charlemagne" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
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