En concert is the first live album by Mylène Farmer, released on 4 December 1989. It retraces her two first albums, Cendres de lune and Ainsi soit je... and contains a cover, "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes", originally sung by Marie Laforêt.
Background From May 1989, Farmer began a series of concerts through all France, which was successful. After these performances, a live album, mixed by Thierry Rogen, was eventually recorded on 20 and 21 October 1989 in Brussels. The photos, made by Marianne Rosenstiehl, illustrate the booklet with images from various shows of the singer on stage. The album was released on 4 December 1989. It was the last album edited by Bertrand Le Page for Mylène Farmer, because he was later dismissed.
A video of the concert, released in May 1990, was directed by Laurent Boutonnat who added to the concert some rather morbid sequences, such as satanic monks and cemeteries, giving thus to the video the look of a film. The editing was produced over a period of one yearL'Intégrale Mylene Farmer, Erwan Chuberre, 2007, City Ed., p. 116-117 () and was criticized, because certain scenes were re-filmed without the audience.Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 210
Two singles were released to promote En concert - what was rather rare at the time for a live album: "Allan" and "Plus grandir", which had a minor success, but were much aired in nightclubs. The album also contains the live version of a song which didn't appear then on Farmer's albums, "À quoi je sers...", and a cover version of Marie Laforêt's song, "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes".
Critical reception
En concert was generally well received in media. For example, The Mag stated that this album is "a beautiful technical and musical performance".Le Mag, 1989, "Mylène Farmer en concert", Eric Joffo Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 31 March 2008) TV Hebdo considered that this album is "loan of emotion".TV Hebdo, 31 December 1989, "La libertine sur scène" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 30 March 2008) La Voix du Nord qualified it as "real present", containing "the most successful songs" of Farmer, with a "very class presentation" and a booklet of photos.La Voix du Nord, 24 December 1989, "Mylène Farmer : sorcière" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 30 March 2008) As for France Soir, it said that it is a very "beautiful object".France Soir, 23 December 1989, "Mylène Farmer En concert" Devant-soi.com (Retrieved 30 March 2008) However, according to French journalist Caroline Bee, "the production, a little bit smooth, does not pass on completely the emotion and the strength which emanated from the blazing show".Mylène Farmer - La part d'ombre, Caroline Bee, Antoine Bioy & Benjamin Thiry, 2005, Archipel Ed., p. 362
Commercial performance The album debuted at number 18 on 3 January 1990, on the French Album Chart. It was then number 15, then number nine, which was its peak position. It remained in the top ten for two months and in the top 20 for seven months. It fell off the top 40 after ten months.Albums trajectories on French SNEP Albums Chart Infodisc.fr (Retrieved 1 April 2008) and was certified Double Gold album by the SNEP for 200,000 units sold. On 18 March 2005, the album, then released in a digipack version, re-entered the chart for four weeks, peaking at number 106.En concert, 2005 version, French Albums Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved 1 April 2008)
Track listing CD/vinyl
French version
VHS "Prologue" (6:00) "L'Horloge" (4:30) "Sans logique" (5:00) "Maman a tort" (6:00) "Déshabillez-moi" (3:45) "Puisque..." (5:00) "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" (8:00) "À quoi je sers..." (5:00) "Sans contrefaçon" (6:00) "Jardin de Vienne" (5:30) "Tristana" (8:00) "Ainsi soit je..." (7:40) "Libertine" (12:00) "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes" (4:00) "Mouvements de Lune" (5:00)
Note Does not contain "Plus grandir and "Allan" (they are added on Les Clips Vol. III).
Personnel
Musicians: Keyboards: Bruno Fontaine Drums: Yves Sanna Percussion: Philippe Drai Guitars: Slim Pezin Bass: Christian Podovan Cello: Jean-Philippe Audin Background vocals: Carole Fredericks, Beckie Bell Sound: Thierry Rogen Mixed by Thierry Rogen Mastering and engraving: André Perriat / Top Master Photos: Marianne Rosenstiehl / Sygma Design: Jean-Paul Théodule
Editions: Requiem Publishing: "Prologue" Bertrand Le Page / Polygram Music: "L'Horloge", "Plus grandir", "Sans logique", "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces", "Allan", "Sans contrefaçon", "Jardin de Vienne", "Tristana", "Ainsi soit je...", "Libertine" Bertrand Le Page / Cézame: "Maman a tort" Intersong - Paris: "Déshabillez-moi" Requiem Publishing / Bertrand Le Page: "Puisque...", "À quoi je sers...", "Mouvements de lune" Métropolitaines: "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes" Recorded at Studio Mobile "Le Voyageur II" / Yves Jaget Mixed at Studio Mega Produced by Laurent Boutonnat
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1990)PeakpositionBelgian Albums (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)2European Albums (Top 100)46French Albums (SNEP)9Chart (2005)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1990)PositionFrench Albums (SNEP)42
Certifications and sales
Formats Audio Double 12" 1 Double CD Double CD (only one case) Cassette 1
Note:1 Does not contain "Déshabillez-moi" and "Mouvements de lune (Part I)"
Video VHS VHS - Limited edition (+ Best of live) VHS - Polygram edition 12" Laserdisc
References