Cendres de Lune

Cendres de Lune is the debut album by the French singer/songwriter Mylène Farmer, released on April 1, 1986. The album was precedeed by the hit single "Libertine", and the album was rereleased in 1987 preceded by the song "Tristana". This album, which was Farmer's sole one written and composed by Laurent Boutonnat, achieved a moderate success in France in comparison with the next albums of the singer, but helped launch the career of this one.

Background

After the moderate success of the first four singles ("Maman a tort", "My Mum Is Wrong" [the English language version of "Maman a tort"], "On est tous des imbéciles" and "Plus grandir"), Farmer decided to release her first album. At the time, she had signed a contract for two albums with the recording company Polydor, which reserved the right to break the contract at any time. Fortunately, in 1986, the success of "Libertine" brought Farmer her first big hit and allowed her to produce Cendres de Lune.[1]

The vinyl release of the album contained only nine tracks, including "Maman a tort", "Plus grandir" and its B-side "Chloé", plus six other songs. Polydor did not procure the copyright for "My Mum Is Wrong", "On est tous des imbéciles" and its B-side "L'Annonciation" from RCA, the label Farmer released those tracks on. However, in 1987, with the increasingly prominence of the Compact Disc, the album was reissued with a total of 12 titles: "Tristana", the 1987 hit written by Farmer, and two remixes ("Libertine" [remix special club], "Tristana" [remix club]) were added to the track listing.

The album was also released in Canada and Germany. The cover, in black and white, was produced by Laurent Boutonnat and shows Farmer in profile, apparently sad, putting on a hat.

Lyrics and music

The lyrics were written by Laurent Boutonnat who claimed to have had difficulty in composing them.[2] However, "Plus grandir", "Tristana" and "Au Bout de la nuit" were written by Farmer herself (from "Tristana" onwards, she wrote all the lyrics of her songs), and "Maman a tort" by Jérôme Dahan. Generally, the lyrics deal with themes that would recur in Farmer's future albums, namely death, violence, suicide, sexuality, sadness and fear of aging.[3] Therefore, the bases of the singer's universe were laid with this first album whose darkness contrasted greatly with the optimistic songs of the time.[2]

Except for "Maman a tort" and "Libertine", the music was produced by Laurent Boutonnat who used mostly synthesizers and acoustic keyboards and was inspired by the New Wave.[2]

Singles from Cendres de Lune
"Maman a tort"
Released: March 1984
"Plus grandir"
Released: 25 September 1985
"Libertine"
Released: 1 April 1986
"Tristana"
Released: February 1987

Critical reception

Cendres de Lune was generally well-received by critics. It was considered as an "excellent" album (Gaipied),[4] a "success" (Podium),[5] "a first album rather masterly" (La Provence),[6] "in the area of the variety, one of the most beautiful things of the moment" (Les Gran).[7] "Full of little marvels" (Charente),[8] it contains "hits having an wholesome impertinence" (Télé Poche)[9] and "provides a real insight of [Farmer]'s talent"; [the singer] carries us with her crystalline voice and strange texts, out of time and out of the standards" (Le Républicain).[10] "The songs of Mylène fill the air with an atmosphere alternately naughty and sad but very engaging" (7 à Paris).[11] "Mylène's voice is exquisite and her accomplices made her sing little ordinary things" (La Dépêche).[12] "[Farmer] seduces with sensitive texts, almost surreal, tenderly erotic" (Le Télégramme).[13]

Chart performances

In 1986, the album reached #10 on the French Top Albums and was certified Double gold by the SNEP for a minimum of 200,000 copies sold. Three years later, it appeared again on the chart for four weeks, peaking at #39.

In 2005, the album was reissued in a digipack version at the same time of Avant que l'ombre... 's release. As a result, Cendres de Lune entered the Top Mid 'Price album chart on March 20, 2005, and reached #5. It remained on this chart for four weeks totaling 5,649 sales.

Year Title Date of release Physical sales
(France) Certification Peak position
FR BE (WA) FR BE (WA) SWI
1984 "Maman a tort"
"My Mum Is Wrong" March, 1984 100,000 — — — — —
1985 "Plus grandir" September 25, 1985 80,000 — — — — —
1986 "Libertine" April 1, 1986 400,000 Silver — 10 — —
1987 "Tristana" February, 1987 300,000 Silver — 7 — —

Releases

Date Label Country Format Catalog
April, 1986 Polydor France CD 831732-2
12" 829127-1
Cassette 831732-4
Polydor Canada 12" TFX8720
Cassette
Polydor Germany 12" 829127-2
April, 1987 Polydor France CD 831732-2
12" 831732-1
Cassette 831732-4
1995 Polygram France CD 8317322
1998 Polygram France France CD 8317322
2005 Polydor France Digital —
2006 Universal France CD - Digipack 9828263

Formats

12" (first version)1
12" (second version)
CD (first edition)1
CD (second edition)
Cassette (first edition)1
Cassette (second edition)
CD - Digipack (released in 2005)
1 9 songs, without "Tristana" and the two remixes

Track listing

# Title Length Writer(s) Composer(s) Comment, performances on tours and TV[14]
1 "Libertine" 3:49 Laurent Boutonnat Jean-Claude Déquéant
Main article: Libertine (song)
It has been performed during the 1989, 1996, 1999 and 2009 tours and 25 times on television
2 "Au Bout de la nuit" 4:21 Mylène Farmer Laurent Boutonnat
This ballad deals with suicide after a break-up. While the first two stanzas glorify the love, the two following refer to the split which leads to a heavy solitude. A sigh performed by a male voice punctuates the song. The song is the B-side of the vinyl for "Tristana".
It nas never been performed on tour, but four times on television: Béart 87 (14 January 1987, Antenne 2), Ligne directe (2 April 1987, Antenne 2), C'est encore mieux l'après-midi (9 April 1987, Antenne 2) and Sida: le grand rendez-vous (4 June 1987, Antenne 2)
3 "Vieux Bouc" 5:38 Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Boutonnat
The song is about a rite of witchcraft called the Sabbath, in which the goat symbolizes the Devil. Farmer addresses him and takes part in Satanic rites including baptism. A phrase of Jean-Paul Sartre's book Huis-clos ("L'enfer, c'est les autres") is cited in the lyrics. A choir of children, a goat's bleating and the singer's laughter are used in the background vocals.
It has never been performed on tour nor on television.
4 "Tristana" 1 4:35 Mylène Farmer Laurent Boutonnat
Main article: Tristana (song)
It has been performed during the 1989 tour and 26 times on television.
5 "Chloé" 2:35 Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Boutonnat
This rhyme, inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet, deals with the death of Chloé, the fictitious younger sister of the singer. Farmer sings in a high tone with a little girl's voice and a choir of children accompanies her on the second refrain. The song is the B-side of the vinyl for "Plus grandir".
It has never been performed on tour, but two times on television: Azimuts (June 1986, FR3 Lorraine) and Mon Zénith à moi (September 1989, Canal+)
6 "Maman a tort" 4:04 Jérôme Dahan Laurent Boutonnat
Main article: Maman a tort
It has been performed during the 1989 and 1999 tours and 24 times on television.
7 "We'll Never Die" 4:15 Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Boutonnat
This song (with lyrics in French language) may be understood as tackling the theme of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. It evokes a child who makes war for his homeland, which is futile because his death is inevitable. A musical bridge is sung in English by Carole Fredericks. In 1986, this song was released as a single in Canada.
It has never been performed on tour nor on television.
8 "Greta" 4:48 Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Boutonnat
This song is a tribute to Greta Garbo, called "Divine" in the lyrics. Several allusions to the actress' life - the death of her parents, her distance from her fans - are mentioned in the couplets and slogans accompanying the release of some of her films are used in the refrain. Original statements by Garbo from several films are sampled at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the song. The song is the B-side of the vinyl for "Libertine".
It has never been performed on tour, but one time on television: C'est encore mieux l'après-midi (22 January 1987, Antenne 2)
9 "Plus grandir" 4:04 Mylène Farmer Laurent Boutonnat
Main article: Plus grandir
It has been performed during the 1989 tour and seven times on television.
10 "Libertine" (remix special club) 1 5:53 Laurent Boutonnat Jean-Claude Déquéant
Main article: Libertine (song)
11 "Tristana" (remix club) 1 7:10 Mylène Farmer Laurent Boutonnat
Main article: Tristana (song)
12 "Cendres de Lune" 1:47 — Laurent Boutonnat
This instrumental song, in which Farmer hums the melody, is used in the opening and closing credits of the music video for "Plus grandir".
It has never been performed on tour nor on television.

Credits

Text:
"Au Bout de la nuit", "Tristana", "Plus grandir": Mylène Farmer
"Libertine", "Vieux Bouc", "Chloé", "We'll Never Die", "Greta": Laurent Boutonnat
"Maman a tort": Jérôme Dahan
Music: Laurent Boutonnat
Except "Libertine": Jean-Claude Déquéant; "Maman a tort": Jérôme Dahan & Laurent Boutonnat
Sound: Jean-Claude Déquéant
Mixed by Jean-Claude Déquéant
Except "Tristana": Thierry Rogen
Assistant: Philippe Laffont, Laurent Lazahie
Synthesizers and acoustic keyboards: Laurent Boutonnat
Guitars: Slim Pezin
Saxophone: Alain Matot
Drums: Gilles Chamard
Background vocals: Carole Frédéricks, Estella Samantha Radji, Anne-Marie Constant, Yvonne Jones, Les Moines Fous du Tibet
Mastering and engraving: André Perriat
Editions: Bertrand Le Page, Polygram Music
Except: "Maman a tort": Bertrand Le Page Cesanie; "Greta": Bertrand Le Page, Movie Box Music
Photo on the first side and in the booklet: Laurent Boutonnat, Christophe Mourthe
Photo on the back: Éric Caro
Management: Bertrand Le Page
Recorded at "Le Matin calme" studio
Mixed at studio of Palais des Congrès
Produced by Laurent Boutonnat

Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales
France 2 x Gold[15] 1989 600,000 700,000

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
French SNEP Albums Chart[16] 10
Chart (1989) Peak
position
French SNEP Albums Chart[16] 39
Chart (2005) Peak
position
French Top Mid'Price[16] 5