Fuck Them All

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"Fuck Them All"
Polydor
Songwriter(s)Lyrics: Mylène Farmer
Music: Laurent Boutonnat
Producer(s)Laurent Boutonnat
Mylène Farmer singles chronology
"Pardonne-moi"
(2002)
"Fuck Them All"
(2005)
"
Q.I
"
(2005)

"Fuck Them All" is a 2005 song recorded by French singer-songwriter

Madonna
's early 2000s songs. Using both crude and colorful lyrics, including sex and vulgarity, the song deals with the war between the sexes and was often considered a feminist plea in which women are presented as warriors.

The original music video to the song, filmed by Agustí Villaronga in Romania over two days, shows Farmer portraying two women in a warehouse, with scarecrows made by Swiss artist Martial Leiter. The video was generally praised for its aesthetic qualities but criticized for its lack of innovation.

Farmer sang "Fuck Them All" during her 2006 series of concert at Bercy and the performance was released on the Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy DVD.

The song received a mixed critical reception from fans and the general public, reviews ranging from "unconvincing" and "vulgar" to "bold" and "catchy". Despite this, the song was downloaded over 5,000 times from official download platforms during its first week of release. It met some success on the French and Belgian (Wallonia) charts, where it reached number two and eventually became the album's best-selling single. In France, it earned a

silver disc
for over 100,000 units sold.

Background and release

On 16 December 2004, Farmer gave a press conference to talk about her planned thirteen concerts at

Paris-Bercy in January 2006 and the release of her new album in March 2005, but said nothing about the lead single of her next album. When this new single was announced in the media, persistent rumors claimed that the title would be "Aime".[1] In January 2005, the exact title, "Fuck Them All", was eventually presented as a strong possibility by the French magazine Voici, which also provided the theme of the song – the war of the sexes.[2] As noted by author and expert of French charts Élia Habib, the song title was in "the language of Shakespeare, which the singer had not used since her 1992 single "Beyond My Control"".[3] At the time, many fans, however, believed that this title was a joke or a rumor as it sounded too much like a direct provocation, even a scathing insult, which was rather unusual in Farmer's career.[4] As with other singles from Avant que l'ombre..., the lyrics were written by Mylène Farmer with the music composed by Laurent Boutonnat
.

The single was played for the first time on 8 February 2005 on many radio stations, including

RemixeS. The photo for the cover was taken by Robin and shows Farmer sitting on the roof of a building near the Gare du Nord in Paris.[8] An international CD maxi version was also released but under the title "F**k Them All" to avoid censorship, with a sticker "Parental advisory – Explicit content" attached.[9]

Music and lyrics

This song is characterized by its music produced from synthetic keyboards, and has been criticized for its lack of innovation, its musical bridge containing vulgar lyrics (with rap) reminiscent of Madonna's song "American Life", and choirs of children on guitar riffs which are actually the singer's voice remixed.[10] According to journalist Alice Novak, the song begins with "trippy and mysterious" notes played on keyboards, then continues with "fast and nervous" sounds on the drum machine; the tone is "rather dark, hypnotic", with an "swaying and repetitive" end which uses "the machinery of the lyrics of some rap groups".[11] Author Erwan Chuberre deemed the lyrics "easy, but deep" and contain an allusion to Farmer's friend Marie Trintignant, who died in 2003.[6]

The song deals with a

martyrdom and self-sacrifice". She denounces "the hypocrisy and the chatter of men who think only about power and sex". In the refrain, she advises women to rebel by taking up arms.[14]

In the lyrics, Farmer "is angry with men and the song is a form of feminist anthem". According to Ouest-France, the combination of an acoustic guitar, electronic beats and synths in the second part of the song, evoke very strongly what Madonna had produced in previous years, and the ethereal song is typical of Farmer. A rap interlude sung in English launches a few insults sometimes thrown at women, before the final refrain.[15] To Marc Bitton of Public who wrote his article before the single release, "lyrics are both crude and colorful", including "sex and vulgarity", and said that the song was likely to be censored, which was, at his point of view, the real purpose of the singer.[16] According to the psychologist Hugues Royer, the song is "an artistic utopia" and a call to feminists, including the novelist Catherine Breillat, but is not a "political project".[17] Novak said that lyrics surprised many fans, as although Farmer has always been a feminist, she had never expressed so direct a message on the subject.[11]

Music video

A scarecrow whose eyes weep black blood, made by the Swiss artist Martial Leiter, in the music video for "Fuck Them All".

Shot in

making-of were released as a DVD bonus available free with the second edition of the studio album.[24] In the making-of, Villaronga provides explanations about the video, while Farmer appears "distant and very professional", according to Télé 2 Semaines.[25]

The video starts showing a woman galloping through a snowy forest on horseback. She enters a warehouse where a cage surrounded by crows is suspended by chains. Nearby there is a trapped short-haired woman with a flayed face and crow-like eyes. The first woman stops under the cage and looks up at it. She casts a stone against a wall that reflects her like a mirror and the building collapses. In the snow, she finds a body—the second woman, inanimate and frozen—hidden under a blanket. She closes her eyes, plunges her hands into the body and pulls out a sword. Entering the forest, she sees numerous flying crows and ends up on a snowy plain on which there are erected many scarecrows. During the refrains, she uses her sword to destroy scarecrows, rip their sails and break the wooden crosses. Scarecrows' eyes weep black blood that turns to crows. Then, it is shown how the other woman was killed: the big peaks which covered the ceiling of her cage had gradually collapsed on her. Finally, the living woman plants her sword in the snow, then disappears into the air.[26] Farmer plays the role of both women.[27]

The video received a mixed reception among the singer's fans.

MCM on 25 February 2007.[34]

Live performances

Farmer performed the song in 2006 on a series of concerts at Bercy. According to a description by author Julien Rigal in his book on the artist, Farmer performed the song with the seven dancers of Los Vivancos and her female dancers dressed as Japanese. She asked the audience to shout the 'fuck them all' of the refrain. The bridge of the stage was then lowered and Farmer finished the song on the central cross. She then presented the dancers and said goodnight to the audience.[35][36] Farmer also sang "Fuck Them All" at the Stade de France in September 2009, in a performance available on the corresponding DVD.[37]

Critical reception

"Fuck Them All"'s music and lyrics received a mixed reception from fans and the general public. According to

Allmusic.[42]

Chart performance

In France, released only as a CD single on 14 March 2005, "Fuck Them All" entered the chart at number two five weeks later, after selling 26,688 units, being unable to dislodge

Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique on 25 May 2005,[45] "Fuck Them All" was the 70th best-selling single of 2005.[46]

In Belgium, the single entered the

Ultratop 50 Singles Chart on 24 March at number three, then moved up to peak at number two and spent a total of eight weeks in the top ten and 14 weeks on the chart.[47] "Fuck Them All" was the 26th best selling single in 2005.[48] In Switzerland, the single debuted at its peak of number 14 on 27 March 2005 and immediately dropped, although as in France previously, it climbed again on 1 May thanks to CD maxi and vinyl's sales, then began to drop again and remained on the chart for a total of 16 weeks, which was Farmer's longest single chart trajectory on the Swiss Singles Chart at that time.[49] The song began at a peak of number six on the chart edition of 2 April 2005 of the European Hot 100 Singles, then dropped.[50]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "Fuck Them All":[51]

No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Them All"4:30
2."Fuck Them All" (instrumental)4:32
  • CD maxi – Digipack[53]
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Them All" (single version)4:39
2."Fuck Them All" (mother f... vocal mix)8:34
3."Fuck Them All" (the martyr's remix)5:26
4."Fuck Them All" (mother f... dub mix)7:55
  • CD maxi – International[54]
No.TitleLength
1."F**k Them All" (single version)4:30
2."F**k Them All" (mother f... vocal club mix)8:30
3."F**k Them All" (the martyr's remix)5:20
4."F**k Them All" (mother f... dub mix)7:50
  • 7" maxi / 7" maxi – Promo – Limited edition (500)[55][56]
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Them All" (mother f... vocal club mix)8:30
2."Fuck Them All" (the martyr's remix)5:20
3."Fuck Them All" (mother f... dub mix)7:50
  • Digital download[57]
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Them All" (single version)4:30
2."Fuck Them All" (instrumental)4:34
  • 7" maxi – Monoface, promo – Limited edition (200)[58]
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Them All" (mother f... remix)7:50
  • CD single – Promo / CD single – Promo – Luxury envelope[59][60]
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Them All" (radio edit)3:55
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Them All" (video)5:02

Official versions

Version[62] Length Album Remixed by Year Comment
Album/Single version 4:30 Avant que l'ombre... 2005
Radio edit 3:55 2005 The musical introduction is almost fully deleted, as well as the last refrain, and the musical bridge is shortened.[63]
Instrumental 4:32 Laurent Boutonnat 2005 This instrumental version is identical to the album version, but piano and guitars are added.[63]
The martyr's remix 5:20 Y-Front 2005 This version contains all the lyrics of the album version and has hard rock sonorities with many guitar riffs in the refrains. The rap bridge from the original version is sampled at the beginning of the remix.[64]
Mother f... dub mix 7:50 Joachim Garraud 2005 All the lyrics from the original version are deleted, and only the refrain 'fuck them all' is included. The musical introduction lasts four minutes.[64]
Mother f... vocal club mix 8:30 Joachim Garraud 2005 Intended for nightclub distribution, this techno version has a musical introduction which lasts about four minutes, then Farmer almost sings a cappella.[63]
Music video 5:02 Music Videos IV 2005
Live version
(recorded in 2006)
6:42 (audio)
8:18 (video)
Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy 2006 This version is similar to the album one, with more rhythm. The DVD version is longer as it also contains the presentation of the musicians and dancers.[64] (see Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (tour))

Credits and personnel

These are the credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single:[51][65]

Charts and sales

Release history

Region Date Format
France, Belgium, Switzerland February 2005 Digital download[70]
9 February 2005 Promo CD single[71]
14 March 2005 CD single[72]
Early April 2005 Promo vinyl[56]
18 April 2005 CD maxi,[73] vinyl[74]
Europe, Canada 3 May 2005 CD maxi[75]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All" — Histoire du single" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 18 December 2007.
  2. Prisma Presse
    . January 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b Habib, Elia (March 2005). "Chartoscopie: Mylène et Ilona mènent la danse" (in French). Charts in France. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  4. ^ Novak, 2011, p. 236.
  5. ^ Chuberre, 2009, p. 189.
  6. ^ a b Chuberre, 2008, pp. 256–59.
  7. ^ Rajon, 2005, p. 48.
  8. ^ a b Lagrange, Clément (February 2008). "Mylène Farmer, l'icône". Jukebox (in French). 253. Paris: 7, 8. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  9. ^ "Mylène Farmer — "F**k Them All", Allemagne" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  10. ^ Rigal, 2010, pp. 143,144.
  11. ^ a b c Novak, 2011, p. 237.
  12. ^ Besnier, Frédéric (30 April 2005). "Mylène Farmer, provocante et pudique". Télé Magazine (in French). 2582: 10, 11. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  13. ^ Cachin, 2006 (2), pp. 38,39.
  14. ^ Cachin, 2006, pp. 107,108.
  15. ^ a b Richard, Philippe (24 February 2005). "Le tube? – Mylène Farmer: "Fuck Them All"". Ouest-France (in French). Rennes: Groupe SIPA – Ouest-France.
  16. ^ Bitton, Marc (February 2005). "Mylène Farmer: Fuck them all, sa dernière provoc". Public (in French). Levallois-Perret: Groupe Lagardère. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  17. ^ a b Royer, 2008, pp. 212,213.
  18. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All" — Clip" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  19. ^ Khairallah, 2007, p. 44.
  20. ^ Vouillamoz, Karine (March 2005). "Mylène Farmer a trouvé ses épouvantails en Suisse". Le Matin (in French). Lausanne: Edipresse: 81. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  21. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 29.
  22. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 181.
  23. ^ Royer, 2008, p. 182.
  24. ^ "Mylène Farmer, la belle rousse revient". Star Look (in French): 54. May 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  25. ^ S., M. (25 April 2005). "Mylène Farmer sort de l'ombre". Télé 2 Semaines (in French). Paris: Prisma Presse. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  26. ^ Bee, 2006, pp. 142–43.
  27. ^ Chuberre, 2009, p. 190.
  28. ^ Rigal, 2010, pp. 145,146.
  29. ^ Gaudin-Bridet, Jean-Rémy (9 April 2005). "Les secrets d'un retour au top". Télé Star (in French). Paris: Mondadori France: 19. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  30. ^ Chuberre, 2007, p. 140.
  31. ^ Roussel, Romain; Cluzel, Édouard B. (9 April 2005). "Le mystère Mylène". Télé 7 Jours (in French). 2341. Levallois-Perret: Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  32. ^ Frau-Meigs, Divina (18 April 2005). "Mylène Farmer, son clip décrypté". Elle (in French). Levallois-Perret: Hachette Filipacchi Médias.
  33. France Soir
    (in French). Paris.
  34. ^ "Mylène Farmer, rétrospective 2007" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
  35. ^ Rigal, Julien. "Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (2006) — Description du live" (in French). Sans-logique. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  36. ^ Rigal, 2010, p. 154.
  37. ^ "Mylène Farmer — Stade de France — DVD & Blu-Ray" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  38. ^ Mayfair, Rowan (April 2005). "Mylène Farmer — Son grand retour". Fan de (in French): 14. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  39. ^ Troadec, Michel (5 April 2005). "Dans le monde sensuel de Mylène Farmer". Ouest-France (in French). Rennes: Groupe SIPA – Ouest-France. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  40. ^ Chuc, Nathalie (19 March 2005). "Mylène Farmer: un single surprenant". TV Magazine (in French). 18378. Paris: Socpresse.
  41. ^ "Mylène Farmer sort de l'ombre". L'Hebdo (in French). Lausanne: Ringier: 84. 14 April 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  42. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  43. ^
    Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique
    ), the official chart providers in France.
  44. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All", French Singles Chart" (in French). Lescharts. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
  45. ^
    Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original
    on 24 September 2012.
  46. ^ on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  47. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
  48. ^ a b "Rapports annuels 2005 — 2005" (in French). Ultratop. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  49. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All", Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Hitparade. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
  50. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, week of 2 April 2005". Billboard. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  51. ^ a b "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All" — Supports" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  52. Polydor. 2005. 982 832-8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  53. Polydor. 2005. 982 868-5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  54. Polydor. 2005. 982 82-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  55. Polydor. 2005. 982 868-6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  56. ^
    Polydor. 2005. 10 656.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  57. ^ "Musique MP3 — "Fuck Them All", Mylène Farmer, Album (2 titres) – Durée totale : 09:08" (in French). Fnac. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  58. Polydor. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  59. Polydor. 2005. 10 580.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  60. Polydor. 2005. 10 580.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  61. Polydor. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  62. ^ "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All" — Versions" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  63. ^ a b c Cachin, 2006, p. 110.
  64. ^ a b c Cachin, 2006, p. 111.
  65. ^ "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All" — Crédits" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  66. ^ "Mylène Farmer — "Fuck Them All", Belgian (Flanders) Ultratip Chart" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  67. ^ Mylene Farmer — Fuck Them All. TopHit. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  68. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original
    on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  69. Tophit
    . Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  70. ^ "Musique MP3 — "Fuck Them All", Mylène Farmer, Album (1 titre) – Durée totale : 04:30" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  71. ^ "Mylène Farmer, "Fuck Them All" — Bon de précommande France" (in French). Mylene.net. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  72. ^ ""Fuck Them All" (CD single)" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  73. ^ ""Fuck Them All" – Remixes (CD single, Édition limitée, Single Maxi)" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  74. ^ "Fuck Them All (EP, Edition limitée)" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  75. ^ ""Fuck Them All" (CD single, EP, Single Maxi, Import)" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved 3 June 2011.

External links