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Je marche seul

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Wikipedia article




"'Je marche seul'" ("I Walk Alone") is the name of a 1985 song recorded by the French singer and songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman. It was released in June 1985 as the first single from his album 'Non homologu', as tenth track. Though the song failed to reach number one on the French Singles Chart, it remains one of Goldman's biggest hit singles as well as one of the more popular songs live.

Lyrics and music



The upbeat song begins with a long musical introduction highlighted by a sax solo.

When the song was released as a single, Goldman explained in various interviews that the song was very hard to compose. The lyrics describe someone walking alone along a road, annomyous and lost in thought, able to forget everything for the moment and the pleasure of being anonymous while observing the world. Goldman has said that "Je marche seul" is a bright song because "the loneliness is not a punishment".

The music video, produced by Bernard Schmitt in Brussels, began to be aired on television in May 1985. It was well received in the media at the time. It shows Goldman portraying a renegade from Eastern Europe who has an affair in a train which is crossing the border.

Jean-Jacques Goldman said in an interview that even before the release of the song in the media, he was sure to have a hit: "So, for "Je marche seul", I had no doubt!""Quand la musique est bonne", RTL, 5 July 2003

Live performances



On 13 October 1985, Goldman performed the song as duet with Daniel Balavoine during the charity concert of the 'Chanteurs sans frontires' in La Courneuve to raise funds for Ethiopia. The song was later included in Goldman's best of 'Intgrale' and 'Singulier'. It was performed during the singer's tours, and thus is available in the original version on 'Un tour ensemble', and in a medley version on 'En public', 'Traces' and 'Intgrale'.

On the television show 'Znith', presented by Michel Denisot in December 1986, Goldman performed several of his songs in China. The shooting of "Je marche seul" took place in the Nankin avenue, in Shanghai, and shows the singer walking among thousands of Chinese.

Cover versions



The song was covered by Jean-Flix Lalanne in 1990, by Eric Landman in 2000 for his album 'Eric Landman chante Jean-Jacques Goldman', and by Le Collge de l'Esterel in 2002. The most popular cover is that of Les Enfoirs, performed by Muriel Robin, Pierre Palmade, Grard Jugnot, Axel Bauer, Zazie, Hlne Sgara and Natasha St-Pier, from the 2004 concert, available on the album '2004: Les Enfoirs dans l'espace'.

The song was also recorded in Dutch-language by Bart Herman, under the title "Ik loop alleen".

In 2012, Christophe Willem covered the song on the number one album 'Gnration Goldman'.

Chart performances



The single had a long chart run on the French Singles Chart: it stayed in the top 50 for 30 weeks, from 22 June 1985 to 11 January 1986. It debuted at number 25, reached the top ten four weeks later, where it remained for 14 consecutive weeks, with a peak at number two in its 11th and 15th weeks; then it dropped slowly on the chart. The same year, it was certified Gold disc by the SNEP.

Track listings



* '7" single'

# "Je marche seul" 4:03

# "Elle attend" 3:17

* '12" maxi'

# "Je marche seul" (extended) 5:58

# "Elle attend" 3:15

Personnel



* Jean-Jacques Goldman singing, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and piano

* Guy Delacroix bass, programming

* Patrick Bourgoin saxophone

* P.A. Dahan drums

* Roland Romanelli synthesizers

* Patrice Mondon violin

Charts and certifications



References




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