Les Mots (album)

For other uses, see Les Mots.

Les mots is the first compilation by French singer Mylène Farmer, released on 26 November 2001. It contains most of the singer's hits and three new songs. It was certified diamond in France.

Les mots
Greatest hits album by Mylène Farmer
Released	26 November 2001
Genre	Pop, rock, dance
Length	139:59
Label	Polydor
Producer	Laurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer chronology
Mylenium Tour (2000) Les mots (2001) RemixeS (2003)
Alternative cover
Long box (limited edition)
Singles from Les mots
"L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..." Released: 27 February 2001 "Les mots" Released: 13 November 2001 "C'est une belle journée" Released: 16 April 2002 "Pardonne-moi" Released: 21 October 2002

Background and release

In 2001, rumours circulated that Farmer's next album would be another remix compilation, or acoustic reworkings of her hits. Instead, Les mots was announced as a typical best of, preceded by the release of the single of the same name, Farmer's first duet with an international artist. The album was released throughout Europe on 28 November 2001.

The album includes nearly all of Farmer's French-language studio singles from "Maman a tort" through "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", omitting "On est tous des imbéciles" (due to licensing issues). "My Mum Is Wrong", the English version of "Maman a tort", is also excluded, while "My Soul Is Slashed", the English version of "Que mon cœur lâche", appears only on the collector's edition. The live singles "Allan" and "La Poupée qui fait non" are likewise excluded. It also contains several B-sides (two on the standard edition, four on the deluxe; "L'Annonciation" and "Dernier sourire" were also omitted due to licensing issues) and three new songs. The standard 2CD edition totals 30 tracks, while the 3CD collector's edition totals 33, plus a DVD including the title track's music video.

The booklet includes photographs of Farmer in suggestive positions wearing pearly stockings, pink panties and a silk nightgown, taken from a photoshoot by Ellen von Unwerth on a budget of €67,000.^[1][2] Notably, Farmer is seen smiling and laughing in the photos, unlike in previous shoots.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Fnac	link
Amazon.fr	link

Les mots was generally well received by contemporary musical critics and media. According to La Libre Belgique, the Farmer's work is "synthesized in a superb way" in this album. This compilation also "gives an idea of the real musical evolution" of the artist.^[4] The Swiss newspaper Le Matin described this album as "a superb compilation" and "a 'must' in the matter", containing "many hits", with "provocative" images.^[5] The French magazine Flèches Cool said that this album is an "imposing best of with 27 tracks, all very well known and appreciated by a wide public".^[6] Télé Star praised the first CD, saying it contains hits with "unstoppable melody", "flights of strings", and "tortured or sexy words", while it criticized the second CD, that "testifies the frayed inspiration of the singer".^[7] As for Voici, "this double album stands out".^[8]

Commercial performance

The album reached the highest position in France and Belgium since its release.^{[clarification needed][9]} According to France Soir and La Lanterne, 670,000 copies of this album were sold in the first month in France,^[10][11] and 700,000 in the two first months, according to Jukebox.^[12]

In France, the best of debuted at #1 on Top Compilations on 1 December 2001 and remained there for 6 consecutive weeks. It appeared in the Top 10 for 39 weeks. It was ranked on this chart over one year, thanks to the release of the two new songs "C'est une belle journée" and "Pardonne-moi".^[13] It was the best-selling compilation in 2001^[14] and 2002.^[15]

In Belgium, the album went straight to #2 on 12 December 2001, and then became number 1 for four weeks. It remained in the Top 10 for 15 weeks and in the Top 40 for 43 weeks.^[16] The album featured at #28 and #14 on the 2001^[17] and 2002^[18] end of year chart.

In Switzerland, the album got its highest position when it entered at # 6, on 12 December 2001, and remained on the chart (Top 100) for 38 weeks.^[19]

The best of won the World Platinum Award. It was certified Diamond in France,^[20] 2×Platinum in Belgium, and Gold in Switzerland.

Track listing

All music is written by Laurent Boutonnat and all lyrics by Mylène Farmer, except where noted.

Standard edition

CD 1 / Cassette side A

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Maman a tort" (mix 2001)	Jean Dahan	Boutonnat Dahan
2.	"Plus grandir" (mix 2001)
3.	"Libertine" (mix 2001)	Boutonnat	Jean-Claude Dequéant [fr]
4.	"Tristana"
5.	"Sans contrefaçon" (mix 2001)
6.	"Ainsi soit-je..." (mix 2001)
7.	"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
8.	"Sans logique" (mix 2001)
9.	"À quoi je sers..."
10.	"La Veuve noire"
11.	"Désenchantée" (mix 2001)
12.	"Regrets" (duet with Jean-Louis Murat)
13.	"Je t'aime mélancolie" (mix 2001)
14.	"Beyond My Control"
15.	"Que mon cœur lâche"

CD 2 / Cassette side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Les mots" (duet with Seal)
2.	"California"
3.	"XXL"
4.	"L'Instant X"
5.	"Comme j'ai mal"
6.	"Rêver"
7.	"C'est une belle journée"
8.	"L'Âme-stram-gram"
9.	"Je te rends ton amour"
10.	"Effets secondaires"
11.	"Souviens-toi du jour"
12.	"Optimistique-moi"
13.	"Innamoramento"
14.	"L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."
15.	"Pardonne-moi"

Collector's edition

This edition moves the new recordings and B-sides to the third disc, along with two additional B-sides and an additional single.

CD 1

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Maman a tort" (mix 2001)	Dahan	Boutonnat Dahan
2.	"Plus grandir" (mix 2001)
3.	"Libertine" (mix 2001)	Boutonnat	Dequéant
4.	"Tristana"
5.	"Sans contrefaçon" (mix 2001)
6.	"Ainsi soit-je..." (mix 2001)
7.	"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
8.	"Sans logique" (mix 2001)
9.	"À quoi je sers..."
10.	"Désenchantée" (mix 2001)
11.	"Regrets" (duet with Jean-Louis Murat)
12.	"Je t'aime mélancolie" (mix 2001)
13.	"Beyond My Control"
14.	"Que mon cœur lâche"

CD 2

No.	Title	Length
1.	"California"
2.	"XXL"
3.	"L'Instant X"
4.	"Comme j'ai mal"
5.	"Rêver"
6.	"L'Âme-stram-gram"
7.	"Je te rends ton amour"
8.	"Souviens-toi du jour"
9.	"Optimistique-moi"
10.	"Innamoramento"
11.	"L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est..."

CD 3

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Les Mots" (duet with Seal)
2.	"C'est une belle journée"
3.	"Pardonne-moi"
4.	"La Veuve noire"
5.	"Mylène Is Calling"
6.	"Effets secondaires"
7.	"Puisque..."
8.	"My Soul Is Slashed"

DVD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Les Mots" (duet with Seal) (music video)

International edition

Les Mots international edition track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Les Mots"
2.	"Sans contrefaçon" (mix 2001)
3.	"Libertine" (mix 2001)	Boutonnat	Dequéant
4.	"Pourvu qu'elles soient douces"
5.	"Désenchantée" (mix 2001)
6.	"Je t'aime mélancolie" (mix 2001)
7.	"California"
8.	"XXL"
9.	"L'Instant X"
10.	"Rêver"
11.	"L'Âme-stram-gram"
12.	"Je te rends ton amour"
13.	"Souviens-toi du jour"
14.	"Innamoramento"
15.	"C'est une belle journée"
16.	"Pardonne-moi"

Personnel

• Produced by Laurent Boutonnat
• Mixed by Bertrand Châtenet
  • Except: "Maman a tort": Philippe Omnes; "Tristana", "Sans contrefaçon", "Ainsi soit je...", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces", "Sans logique", "À quoi je sers...", "La Veuve noire", "Désenchantée", "Regrets", "Je t'aime mélancolie", "Beyond My Control" and "Que mon cœur lâche"
• Programmation, keyboards and arrangement for "Les Mots", "C'est une belle journée", "Pardonne-moi": Laurent Boutonnat
• Sound: Bertrand Châtenet, Jérôme Devoise and Rik Pekkonen
• Strings arrangement: Jean-Jacques Charles
• Drum kit: Karim Ziad and Abraham Laboriel Jr
• Bass: Michel Alibo
• Guitar: Slim Pezin
• Recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell, Paris
• Management: Thierry Suc for TSM
• Executive production: Paul Van Parys for Stuffed Monkey
• Photographs: Ellen Von Unwerth / H&K
• Design: Henry Neu for Com'N.B
• Mastering: André Perriat, Top Master
• Lyrics: Mylène Farmer
  • Except: "Maman a tort": Jérôme Dahan; "Libertine": Laurent Boutonnat
• Music: Laurent Boutonnat
  • Except: "Maman a tort": Laurent Boutonnat and Jérôme Dahan; "Libertine": Jean-Claude Déquéant; "Optimistique-moi": Mylène Farmer
• Editions : Requiem Publishing
  • Except: "Maman a tort": Cezame / BMG Music Publishing France; "Plus grandir", "Libertine", "Tristana", "Sans contrefaçon", "Ainsi soit je...", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces", "Sans logique", "À quoi je sers...", "La Veuve noire" : Universal Music Publishing / BMG Music Publishing France

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001) Peak position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[21] 1 European Albums (Music & Media)[22] 98 French Compilations (SNEP)[23] 1 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 6

Year-end charts Chart (2001) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 28 Belgian Francophone Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[26] 15 French Compilations (SNEP)[27] 1 Chart (2002) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 14 Belgian Francophone Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] 10 French Compilations (SNEP)[30] 1 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 55 Chart (2003) Position French Compilations (SNEP)[32] 4

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[33]	2× Platinum	100,000*
France (SNEP)[34]	Diamond	1,500,000[35]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[36]	Gold	20,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[37]	Platinum	1,000,000*
Worldwide	—	2,000,000[38]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Formats

• Double CD – Crystal case
• Double CD – Digipack – Limited edition (100,000)
• Cassette 1 – Double length
• Cassette 2 – Double length
• Quadruple LP
• Collector edition – Long Box 3 CD + 1 DVD – Limited edition (30,000) (1)
• CD – European version (2)
• Double CD – Digipack – Promo
• Cassette 1 – Double length – Promo
• Cassette 2 – Double length – Promo
• Collector edition – Long Box 3 CD + 1 DVD – Promo (1)

(1) Contains also a third CD
(2) Only one CD with 16 songs

References

1. Virgin Mega Press, February 2002 Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
2. Mylène Farmer, le culte – L'envers du décor, Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 58
3. Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 167-168
4. La Libre Belgique, 12 December 2001 Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
5. Le Matin, 17 December 2001, "Les bas de Mylène", Ch. F. Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
6. Flèches Cool, 2 March 2002, "Les Mots" Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
7. Télé Star, No. 1323, 9–15 February 2002 Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
8. Voici, February 2002 Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
9. La Dernière Heure, 4 December 2001, "Farmer mène la bal...", L.L. Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
10. France Soir, 15 January 2002, "Ces chansons qui valent des millions", C.P. Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
11. La Lanterne, 16 January 2002, "Farmer, 10,4 millions d'€" Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
12. Jukebox, No. 179, June 2002 Devant-soi.com^{[permanent dead link]} (Retrieved 22 March 2008)
13. "Les Mots", French SNEP Compilations Chart Ifop.com Archived 13 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
14. 2001 French Compilations Chart Ifop.com Archived 27 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
15. 2002 French Compilations Chart Ifop.com Archived 16 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
16. "Les Mots", Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
17. 2001 Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
18. 2002 Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
19. "Les Mots", Swiss Albums Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
20. Mylène Farmer certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved 17 February 2008)
21. "Ultratop.be – Mylène Farmer – Les Mots" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
22. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 51. 15 December 2001. p. 12. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
23. "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
24. "Swisscharts.com – Mylène Farmer – Les Mots". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
25. "Rapports annueles 2001" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
26. "Rapports annueles 2001 - albums francophones" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
27. "Classement Compilations - année 2001" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
28. "Rapports annueles 2002" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
29. "Rapports annueles 2002 - albums francophones" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
30. "Classement Compilations - année 2002" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
31. "Swiss Year-end Charts 2002". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
32. "Classement Compilations - année 2003" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
33. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
34. "French compilation certifications – Mylène Farmer – Best Of" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
35. Jonathan Hamard (3 January 2016). "Mylène Farmer : quel est son album le mieux vendu ?" (in French). Webedia. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
36. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Les Mots')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
37. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2002". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
38. "Mylène Farmer: Interview". Gael (in French). 15 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.