Avant que l'ombre... (song)

Single infobox |
Name = Avant que l'ombre...


Artist = Mylène Farmer
from Album =
Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Released = November 26, 2006
Format = CD single
Digital download
Recorded = 2005, France
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:57 (live single version)
7:26 (live album version)
3:53 (single version)
5:55 (album version)
Label = Polydor
Writer = Text : Mylène Farmer
Music : Laurent Boutonnat
Producer = Laurent Boutonnat
Certification =
Chronology = Mylène Farmer singles
Last single = "Slipping Away (Crier la vie)
(2002)
This single = "Avant que l'ombre... (live)"
(2006)
Next single = "Déshabillez-moi (live)"
(2007)Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = CD single - Promo / MP3 - PromoExtra tracklisting
Album = Avant que l'ombre...
Type = studio
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Avant que l'ombre..."
track_no = 1
next_track = "Fuck Them All"
next_no = 2Extra tracklisting
Album = Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy
Type = live
prev_track = "Fuck Them All"
prev_no = 9
this_track = "Avant que l'ombre..."
track_no = 10
next_track =
next_no =

"Avant que l'ombre..." is a song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer in a studio version in 2005 and in a live version at the time of her 2006 concerts at Bercy (Paris). It was the first single from her fourth live album, "Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy", and was released on November 26, 2006. It achieved a moderate success in terms of sales, although it reached the top ten in France.

Background and writing

Some rumors had announced "Déshabillez-moi (live)" as the first single from the live album, but finally it was "Avant que l'ombre... (live)" which was chosen. On October 20, Jeune Reims was the first French radio to broadcast the single. Then, on November 14, the videoclip was seen for the first time on television. [Mylène Farmer's news in 2006 [http://www.mylene.net/modules/index.php?r=28 Mylene.net] (Retrieved December 20, 2007)]

Among the promotional media sent to radio stations, the MP3 had the particularity that contain an unreleased remix of the song "L'Amour n'est rien...", the fourth single from the album "Avant que l'ombre...".

The song is the tenth track of the second CD on the live album "Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy", and the first track on the studio album "Avant que l'ombre...".

Lyrics and music

"Avant que l'ombre..." is the most mystical song of the album of the same name, but also one in which the text is easier to understand. Speaking to Jesus Christ, the singer evokes her fear of death while affirming that the life has nevertheless allowed her to know love."Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 48-49] This slow ends with a long musical bridge "that looks like a final judgement". ["Mylène dans un fauteuil", JM-A, April 2005 [http://www.mfarmer.org/images/jpg/0013vo.jpgMfarmer] (Retrieved February 1, 2008)] The music is sweet and the vocals symbolize screams of pain. ["Mylène Farmer Influences", Benoît Cachin, 2006, Mascara Ed., p. 20,21 (ISBN 978-2351440261)]

Music video

The video was shot at one of her concerts in January 2006 and directed by François Hanss. "Avant que l'ombre... (live)" was sung as last at each performance. In it, Farmer wears a kimono that she removes at the end of the video while she climbs a staircase and left the scene.

Chart performances

In French SNEP Singles Chart, the single debuted to #10 on December 2, with 7,575 sales.2006 weely selling singles [http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?showtopic=15622 Chartinfrance.net] (Retrieved December 20, 2007)] As most previous Farmer's singles, it fell quickly and stayed a total of 8 weeks in the Top 50 and 21 weeks in the Top 100."Avant que l'ombre... (live)", French SNEP Singles Chart [http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Avant+que+l%27ombre%2E%2E%2E+%28Live%29&cat=s Lescharts.com] (Retrieved December 20, 2007)] It was the 32th top ten for Farmer in France. Among her other singles recorded in live, only "La Poupée qui fait non" (performed in duet with Khaled) and "Dessine-moi un mouton" had achieved a better debut.

The single running was extremely short in the Swiss Singles Chart : went to #54 on December 10, it dropped to #70 the following week and then already disappeared."Avant que l'ombre... (live)", Swiss Top 100 Singles Chart [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=Avant+que+l%27ombre%2E%2E%2E+%28Live%29&cat=s Hitparade.ch] (Retrieved December 20, 2007)]

In Belgium (Wallonia), the single started on December 16, at number 25, its peak position, before dropping the following weeks. The song remained on the chart for five weeks."Avant que l'ombre... (live)", Belgian (Wallonia) Ultratop 40 Singles Chart [http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?key=269833&cat=s Ultratop.be] (Retrieved January 3, 2007)]

Formats and track listings

; CD single
# "Avant que l'ombre... (live)" (live version) — 3:56
# "Avant que l'ombre..." (album version) — 3:53

; Digital download
# "Avant que l'ombre... (live)" (radio edit) — 3:56
# "Avant que l'ombre..." (album version) — 5:55
# "Avant que l'ombre... (live)" (album version) — 7:26

; MP3 - Promo
# "Avant que l'ombre... (live)" (live version) — 3:56
# "Avant que l'ombre..." (radio version) — 3:53
# "L'Amour n'est rien..." (Patrice Strike & Teo Moss remix)

; CD single - Promo
# "Avant que l'ombre... (live)" (live version) — 3:57
# "Avant que l'ombre..." (radio edit) — 3:53

Versions

; Official versions

References