Sexe fort (Eng: Stronger Gender) is the name of the seventh studio album recorded by the French artist Patricia Kaas. It was released in 2003 and achieved success in many countries, including Belgium, Switzerland and France, but its sales were less than Kaas' previous albums.

Background

This seventh studio album was released on December 1, 2003.

As for the previous albums, Kaas was surrounded by famous songwriters who had already worked with her. For example, Jean-Jacques Goldman participated with the song "C'est la faute à la vie" (Eng: "That's the Problem with Life") and "On pourrait" (Eng: "We Could"), which he also produced himself; by the way, this last song was recorded as a duet with the Swiss artist Stephan Eicher. Pascal Obispo, who was particularly involved in the composing of Le Mot de passe, wrote the song "L'Abbé Caillou" (Eng: "The Abbot Caillou"), whose title is a play with and a tribute to the Abbé Pierre. French singers and songwriters Patrick Fiori, Louis Bertignac and Renaud also participated in the writing of at least one song.

This album was followed by a tour performed by the singer around the world, the seventh one.

Chart performances and critical reception

In France, the album was not as successful as Kaas' first five studio albums. It went to #9 on November 30, 2003, then dropped almost every week. It managed to stabilize in the low positions and totaled only 12 weeks in the top 50, 15 weeks in the top 100 and 39 weeks on the chart (top 200).Sexe fort, French Albums Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved June 4, 2008) It was certified double goldKaas's certifications in France Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved June 4, 2008) and appeared respectively at #70 and #150 on 2003 and 2004 End of the Year Charts.2003 French Albums Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved June 2, 2008)2004 French Albums Chart Ifop.com (Retrieved June 4, 2008)

In Belgium (Wallonia), the album started at #35 on December 6, 2003, before climbing to #5 and finally reached #3. However, it fell off the top ten after its fourth week and dropped slowly on the chart, until its 16th week.Sexe fort, Belgian (Wallonia) Albums Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved June 4, 2008)

In Switzerland, the album was charted for 14 weeks, from December 14, 2003, to March 21, 2004. It peaked at #6 in it second week and remained for three weeks in the top ten, and ten weeks in the top 50.Sexe fort, Swiss Albums Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved June 4, 2008) It achieved gold status.2003 certifications in Switzerland Swisscharts.com (Retrieved June 4, 2008)

The album met a moderate success in Finland, peaking at #31 with only two weeks on the chart,Sexe fort, Finnish Albums Chart Finnishcharts.com (Retrieved June 4, 2008) and #55 in Germany.

Following the release of Sexe fort, Kaas received a particular distinction on December 8, 2003, when she received the First Class Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her contribution to friendship between France and Germany, an honour that until then had been awarded to only a few international artists.

Track listing

# TitleSexe fort, track listing [ allmusic.com] (Retrieved June 4, 2008) Length 1. "Où sont les hommes" (L.Ivanne / B.Ghigilone) 2. "L'Abbé Caillou" (P.Y.Lebert / P.Obispo) 3. "Je ne veux plus pardonner" (D.Manet / S.Campanile) 4. "La nuit est mauve" (Renaud / F.Bernheim) 5. "C'est les Femmes qui mènent la danse" (D.Manet) 6. "On pourrait" (duet with Stephan Eicher)(J.J.Goldman) 7. "J'en tremblerai encore" (D.Manet) 8. "Je t'aime, je ne t'aime plus" (E.Roda Gil / D.Manet) 9. "C'est la faute à la vie" (J.J.Goldman) 10. "Je le garde pour toi" (E.Andreu - J.Kapler / J.Kapler) 11. "La Blessure" (S.Campanile / S.Moraillon / P.M.Dupont) 12. "Des regrets" (P.B.Carmen) 13. "Tu pourras dire" (M.J.Zarb - P.Fiori / N.Kamiel - P.Fiori) 14. "Peut-être que peut-être" (F.Cabrel - O.Dodone / B.Le Roux) 15. "Une question de temps" (D.Manet / L.Bertignac)

Credits

Recording

Arranged by Frédéric Helbert Except : Jean-Jacques Goldman and Erick Benzi (6, 9), Pierre Jaconelli (2), Frédéric Helbert and Louis Bertignac (15), Frédéric Helbert and Pascal B.Carmen (12), Thierry "Tyty" Blanchard and J.Kapler (10) Executive producer and vocal direction : Richard Walter Engineer, mixing : Bruno Fourrier Assistant : Matthieu Dallaporta Additional engineers : Erick Benzi and Phil Delire Except mixing : Erick Benzi and le Triangle (6, 9), Bruno Fourrier and Pierre Jaconelli (2), Thierry Blanchard "Tyty" (12) Assistants Capri : Manuel Farolfi, Riccardo Durante Artistic direction : Michel Boulanger In charge of production : Richard Walter Productions (Martine Trendel, Ghislaine Real) Recorded and mixed at Studios ICP (Brussels, Belgium), Capri Digital Studio (Capri, Italy) Mastering : JC Beaudon à Translab Artwork : peggy.m / Malo Photos : peggy.m Light conception : Hamoudi Laggoune from C4 Productions Make up : Aurélia Jugenet Hairdresser : Jean-Paul Ealet Management : ITC (Richard Walter, Cyril Prieur), Zurich, Switzerland

Musicians and vocalists

Keyboards, syncs and proclamations : Frédéric Helbert (1, 3-5, 7, 8, 11-15), Matthieu Vaughan (2), Pancho, Erick Benzi and Charly Valora (6, 9), Thierry "Tyty" Blanchard (10) Guitars : Frédéric Helbert, Milton Mc Donald, Pierre Jaconelli, Pascal B.Carmen, Louis Bertignac, Jeff Bourassin, André Hampartzoumian, Bruno Le Roux Bass : Nicolas Fiszman, Bernard Viguié Drum kit : Roy Martin, Ian Thomas, Amaury Blanchard Harmonica : "Diabolo" (3, 4, 7, 13) Piano : Jean-Jacques Goldman (9) First violins : Mark Steylaerts, Marian Taché, Vadin Tsiboulevsky, Eric Baeten, Gudrun Vercampt, Karel Ingelaere, Maurits Goosens, Eva Zylka Second violins : Véronique Gilis, Bart Lammens, Carol Minor, Alissa Vaitsner, Eva Vermeeren, Dirk Uten Violas : Marc Tooten, Philippe Allard, Jeroen Robbrecht, Liesbeth De Lombaert, Katrien Smedts Cellos : Karel Steylaerts, Lode Vercampt, Herwig Coryn, Sigrid Van Den Bogaerde Double bass : Koenraad Hofman, Charice Adriaansen Background vocals : Dominique "Doudou" Greffier (1, 3, 12, 15), Dark Vador (1,3), Pascal Obispo (2), Jean-Jacques Goldman and Erick Benzi (6), Louis Bertignac (15)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003–04)PeakpositionEuropean Albums (Top 100)41

Monthly charts Chart (2003)Peakposition Russian Albums (NFPF) 10

Year-end charts Chart (2003)PositionFrench Albums (SNEP)70Chart (2004)PositionBelgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)90French Albums (SNEP)150Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)74

Certifications and sales

References