Voyage, voyage

"Voyage, voyage" (French pronunciation: [vwajaʒ vwajaʒ]) is a song by French singer Desireless, released as the first single from her debut studio album, François (1989). It was written by Jean-Michel Rivat and Dominique Dubois, and produced by the former. Sung entirely in French, the song transcended the language barrier on the music charts and became a huge international success between 1986 and 1988, reaching the top position in more than ten countries across Europe.

"Voyage, voyage"
Single by Desireless
from the album François
Language	French
B-side	"Destin Fragile" (instrumental)
Released	1986
Studio	D'Aguesseau, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Genre	Synth-pop[1] Eurodisco[2]
Length	4:12
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	Jean-Michel Rivat Dominique Dubois
Producer(s)	Jean-Michel Rivat
Desireless singles chronology
"Qui peut savoir" (1986) "Voyage, voyage" (1986) "John" (1988)
Music video
"Voyage, voyage" on YouTube

Critical reception

A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Voyage, Voyage" as a song having a "high-pitched, dramatic vocals over a contagious electro-beat, in an Alphaville-type of setting. Very strong chart appeal outside France, especially in an English translation".^[3]

Chart performance

Since "Voyage, voyage" is sung exclusively in French, its chart success came as a surprise as it managed the rare feat of becoming a success in several nations usually closed to Francophone songs and artists, such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. In West Germany, the song topped the chart, and has the longest chart trajectory of 1987 in the top 20.^[4] It also reached number one in Austria, Norway, and Spain. The song missed the top spot in France, peaking at number two for four weeks, behind Elsa Lunghini's "T'en va pas".

The song initially reached number 53 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1987. After being remixed by Pete Hammond and Pete Waterman of PWL, the song was re-released in the United Kingdom in the spring of 1988, and climbed to number five in June of that year. The song's success continued in Ireland, where it reached number four twice, the original version in November 1987, followed by the PWL remix in June 1988.

Music video

The music video for "Voyage, voyage" was directed by Bettina Rheims, and premiered in France in December 1986.^[5] It depicts Desireless entering a manor where a number of people are listlessly lingering around, and enticing them with her song and a slideshow to see the world and make more out of their lives. The video features actor David Caruso.^[6]

Track listings

• 7-inch single

A. "Voyage, voyage" – 4:12

B. "Destin fragile" (instrumental) – 3:31

• 12-inch single

A. "Voyage, voyage" (extended remix) – 6:45

B. "Voyage, voyage" – 4:12

• 1988 UK 12-inch single and CD single (Britmix)

1. "Voyage voyage" (Britmix) – 7:06
2. "Voyage voyage" (Euro Remix Remix) – 6:12
3. "Destin fragile" (instrumental) – 3:31

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 7-inch single of "Voyage, voyage".^[7]

Recording

• Recorded at Studio D'Aguesseau, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
• Mixed at Studio Marcadet, Paris

Personnel

• Desireless – vocals
• Dominique Dubois – sampler
• Jean-Michel Rivat – synthesiser, programming, production
• Antoine Cambourakis – recording
• Gilbert Courtois – recording
• Dominique Blanc-Francard – mixing
• Daniel Glikmans – backing vocals
• Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts 1986–1987 weekly chart performance for "Voyage, voyage" Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[10] 2 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[11] 18 Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[12] 30 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] 11 France (SNEP)[14] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 4 Italy (Musica e dischi)[16] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 9 Norway (VG-lista)[19] 1 Portugal (UNEVA)[20] 3 Quebec (ADISQ)[21] 3 Spain (AFYVE)[22] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[25] 53 UK Dance (Music Week)[26] 25 Uruguay (CUD)[27] 1 West Germany (GfK)[28] 1 1988 weekly chart performance for "Voyage, voyage" (Britmix) Chart (1988) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[29] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 4 Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[30] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[31] 5 UK Dance (Music Week)[32] 8

Year-end charts 1986 year-end chart performance for "Voyage, voyage" Chart (1986) Position France (SNEP)[33] 6 1987 year-end chart performance for "Voyage, voyage" Chart (1987) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] 7 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[35] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 85 Spain (AFYVE)[37] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 1 West Germany (Media Control)[39] 1 1988 year-end chart performance for "Voyage, voyage" Chart (1988) Position UK Singles (OCC)[40] 90

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "Voyage, voyage"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[41]	Gold	756,000[42]
Germany (BVMI)[43]	Gold	500,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44]	2× Platinum	100,000^
Summaries
Worldwide	—	2,000,000[45]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Wink version

"Eien no Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)"
Single by Wink
from the album Aphrodite
Language	Japanese
English title	Eternal Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)
B-side	"Alone Again"
Released	24 February 1993 (1993-02-24)
Length	4:59
Label	Polystar
Composer(s)	Jean-Michel Rivat Dominique Dubois
Lyricist(s)	Neko Oikawa
Producer(s)	Haruo Mizuhashi
Wink singles chronology
"Real na Yume no Jōken" (1992) "Eien no Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)" (1993) "Kekkon Shiyoune" (1993)
Music video
"Eien no Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)" on YouTube

"Voyage, voyage" was covered in Japanese by the idol duo Wink as "Eien no Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)" (永遠のレディードール 〜Voyage Voyage〜, Eien no Redīdōru ~Voyage Voyage~, lit. "Eternal Ladydoll ~Voyage, Voyage~). Released on 24 February 1993 by Polystar Records,^[46] it was their 17th single, with Japanese lyrics written by Neko Oikawa.

The single peaked at No. 19 on Oricon's singles chart and sold over 69,000 copies.^[47]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Eien no Ladydoll (Voyage, Voyage)" (Eien no Redīdōru ~Voyage Voyage~ (永遠のレディードール 〜Voyage Voyage〜, "Eternal Ladydoll ~Voyage, Voyage~))	Neko Oikawa	Jean-Michel Rivat Dominique Dubois	Motoki Funayama	4:59
2.	"Alone Again"	Rui Serizawa	Jamey Jaz Ren Toppano Viqui Denman	Satoshi Kadokura	4:40

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Japan Oricon Singles Chart[47]	19

Kate Ryan version

"Voyage Voyage"
Single by Kate Ryan
from the album Free
Language	French
B-side	"We All Belong"
Released	2007
Studio	Cosmos, Stockholm
Genre	Eurodance[48]
Length	3:07
Label	ARS Entertainment Universal Music
Songwriter(s)	Jean-Michel Rivat Dominique Dubois
Producer(s)	2N
Kate Ryan singles chronology
"All for You" (2007) "Voyage Voyage" (2007) "L.I.L.Y. (Like I Love You)" (2008)
Music video
"Voyage, voyage" on YouTube

Belgian singer Kate Ryan covered the song for her fourth studio album Free (2008). Released as the album's lead single in 2007, with "We All Belong" on its B-side, was the anthem of the event EuroGames 2007 that took place in Antwerp, Belgium, in 2007.

It was Ryan's first single released under ARS Entertainment, following her departure from EMI Belgium. Commercially, "Voyage Voyage" reached number two in Belgium, as well as the top 10 in Finland, the Netherlands and Spain.

Track listing

• CD single

1. "Voyage Voyage"
2. "Voyage Voyage" (extended version)
3. "We All Belong"
4. "We All Belong" (extended version)

Charts

Chart (2007–2008)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[49]	26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[50]	2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[51]	28
CIS Airplay (TopHit)[52]	65
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[53]	10
Germany (GfK)[54]	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[55]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56]	11
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[57]	6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[58]	26

Year-end charts

Chart (2007)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[59]	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[60]	76
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[61]	60

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[62]	Gold	10,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[63] Ringtone	Platinum	20,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Other covers

"Voyage, voyage" was also covered by the Mexican band Magneto in 1991, with a version in Spanish titled "Vuela Vuela" (English: Fly, fly). Mikel Herzog was credited with the translation. This version peaked at number three on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart.^[64] The gothic metal band Sirenia released their cover of "Voyage, voyage" on 10 February 2021 as a single and music video to their album Riddles, Ruins & Revelations which also is included as a bonus track on the album.^[65]

See also

• List of number-one hits of 1987 (Germany)
• List of number-one singles of 1987 (Spain)
• VG-lista 1964 to 1994