Ella, elle l'a

"Ella, elle l'a"
Single by France Gall
from the album Babacar
B-side	"Dancing Brave"
Released	24 August 1987
Recorded	1987
Studio	Studio Gang, Paris
Genre	Pop, synthpop
Length	4:51
Label	WEA
Songwriter(s)	Michel Berger
Producer(s)	Michel Berger
France Gall singles chronology
"Babacar" (1987) "Ella, elle l'a" (1987) "Évidemment" (1988)
Music video
"Ella, elle l'a" on YouTube

"Ella, elle l'a" (French for "Ella, She's Got It") is a single released by French singer France Gall. It was released as a single from her album Babacar, on 24 August 1987, and became a hit across Europe, the Americas (especially in Quebec and the Southern Cone) and Asia (especially in Japan). It was covered live by French singer Alizée at a TV show in 2002 and by Belgian singer Kate Ryan in a dance version in 2008.

Background

Written by Michel Berger, the song is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, but also a protest against racism and an anthem to personal empowerment. Musically, "it swings between sheared rhythms of the bass and flashed brass".^[1] The song is also available on the CD maxi for "Évidemment", released in March 1988. In addition, a live version from her concert album Le Tour de France was released in November of that year.

Critical reception

"Ella, elle l'a" won two Victoires de la Musique in 1987 and in 1988. A 1987 review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media elected "Ella, elle l'a" single of the week and stated: "This moody and balanced, slowly rocking track, written by Michel Berger, deserves to be her next success outside France".^[2]

Chart performance

"Ella, elle l'a" enjoyed great success in 1987 and 1988, reaching number-one in Austria and Germany in the latter year; in addition, it reached the top ten in Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Argentina. In France, it was certified as silver disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, reached number two and charted for a total of 19 weeks, nine of them in the top ten.

Track listings

• 7" single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (4:49)
2. "Dancing Brave" (3:06)

• 12" maxi

1. "Ella, elle l'a"
2. "Papillon de nuit"
3. "Dancing Brave"

Charts

Weekly charts 1987-1988 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" Chart (1987–1988) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 1 Denmark (IFPI)[4] 2 Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[5] 9 Europe (European Hot 100)[6] 6 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] 19 France (SNEP)[8] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 38 Québec (Francophone chart)[10] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 5 West Germany (Media Control Charts)[13] 1

2012 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" Chart (2012) Peak position France (SNEP)[8] 130 2013 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" Chart (2013) Peak position France (SNEP)[8] 184 2018 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" Chart (2018) Peak position Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 27

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"

Chart (1988)	Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14]	19
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[15]	23
Europe (European Hot 100)[16]	32
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17]	17

Certifications

Certifications for "Ella, elle l'a"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[18]	Silver	250,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[19]	Gold	250,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Kate Ryan version

"Ella, elle l'a"
Single by Kate Ryan
from the album Free
B-side	"Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) "L.I.L.Y."
Released	25 April 2008 25 May 2009 (UK)
Genre	Europop Dance-pop
Length	3:05
Label	ARS/Universal
Songwriter(s)	Michel Berger
Producer(s)	2N
Kate Ryan singles chronology
"L.I.L.Y. (Like I Love You)" (2008) "Ella, elle l'a" (2008) "I Surrender" (2008)
Music video
"Ella, elle l'a" on YouTube

Kate Ryan's version of "Ella, elle l'a" is the third single of her album Free. It was released on 6 May 2008 in Belgium and on 9 May 2008 in the rest of Europe as a CD single. It had already topped number one on the Spanish Download Chart, and number seven on the Belgian Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in Germany. It had entered the Swedish Singles Chart at number twelve, peaking at number two. In the Netherlands, "Ella, elle l'a" also peaked at number two.

English version "Ella, elle l'a" was sung live by Ryan during her 2008 UK tour and it was released on 25 May 2009 as first single from the UK version of Free.^[20]

Track listing

German CD single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (radio version) - 3:06
2. "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07
3. "L.I.L.Y." (radio edit) - 3:15

Belgian CD single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (radio version) - 3:06
2. "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07

European 12" single

1. "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07
2. "Ella, elle l'a" (Bodybangers remix) - 6:05
3. "Ella, elle l'a" (club remix) - 4:50

Official versions

• Extended version - 6:08
• Bodybangers remix - 6:05
• Club remix - 4:50
• Club remix short - 3:12
• Fugitive's Elle La Tout Remix
• Jorg Schmid Remix

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" by Kate Ryan Chart (2008) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 23 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[23] 34 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 63 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[25] 20 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[26] 28 Denmark (Tracklisten)[27] 29 Europe (European Hot 100)[28] 27 Germany (GfK)[29] 10 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[30] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 9 Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)[34] 2 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[35] 23 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[36] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 50

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" by Kate Ryan Chart (2008) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[39] 38 CIS (TopHit)[40] 76 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[41] 45 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 22 Russia Airplay (TopHit)[44] 94 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[47]	5× Platinum	100,000^*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[48] Ringtone	5× Platinum	100,000^*
Sweden (GLF)[49]	Platinum	20,000^^
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

• In 1988, the song was also covered in Greek as "Έλα ξανά" (Come back again) by Bessy Argyraki^[50] who had represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977.
• In 2002, the song was covered by Emma Daumas, Eva Chemouni, Aurélie Konaté, Nolwenn Leroy and Anne-Laure Sibon, five contestants of the French Star Academy 2, and in 2003, has been sung once by French singer Alizée. The Star Academy version features on the album Star Academy chante Michel Berger.^[51]
• It was also covered by the French singer Pauline at the Bastille Day concert on the Champ de Mars in Paris in 2008.
• On 29 December 2023, German producers Ely Oaks and Neptunica alongside fellow German singer Ambre Vallet released another version of the song.^[52]

References

1. Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinea Bis. p. 117. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X..
2. "French talent - Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 47. 23 March 1991. p. 17. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
3. "France Gall – Ella elle l'a" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
4. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 34. 20 August 1988. p. 16. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
5. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 22. 28 May 1988. p. 27. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 14 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
6. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 23. 4 June 1988. p. 16-17. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 6 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
7. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "France Gall". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 86. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
8. "France Gall – Ella elle l'a" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
9. "France Gall – Ella elle l'a" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
10. Michel Gignac. "Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes" (PDF). banq.qc.ca (in French). Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. p. 306. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
11. "France Gall – Ella elle l'a". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
12. "France Gall – Ella elle l'a". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
13. "Ella, elle l'a", German singles chart Lescharts.com (retrieved 11 March 2008).
14. 1988 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at Archived May 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 29 July 2008).
15. "1988 Year-End Eurocharts - Ariplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 29. Retrieved 16 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
16. "1988 Year-End Eurocharts - Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 52/1. 1 January 1989. p. 30. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via American Radio History.
17. 1988 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 29 July 2008).
18. French certifications Chartsinfrance.net (retrieved 29 July 2008).
19. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (France Gall; 'Ella Elle L'a')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
20. "Radio1 Rodos Greece ::: UK Forthcoming Singles ::: Charts, DJ Promos, Dance, Lyrics, Free Mp3 Samples Downloads". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2010-12-03. UK release date.
21. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
22. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
23. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
24. "Kate Ryan - Ella Elle L'A". αCharts. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
25. Kate Ryan — Ella Ella. TopHit. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
26. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 37. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
27. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a". Tracklisten. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
28. Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales
29. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
30. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kate Ryan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
32. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
33. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a". VG-lista. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
34. "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
35. "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Jul 10, 2008". TopHit. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
36. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
37. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
38. "Kate Ryan – Ella elle l'a". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
39. "JAAROVERZICHTEN 2008". Ultratop (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2014-01-25.
40. "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2008)". TopHit. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
41. "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 2008" (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 2012-05-11.
42. "TOP 100 2008" (PDF) (in Dutch).
43. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2008" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
44. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2008". TopHit. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
45. "Top 50 CANCIONES ANUAL 2008" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-21.
46. "Årslista Singlar – År 2008" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
47. "Spanish digital single certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved August 30, 2022. Select Canciones under "Categoría", select 2008 under "Año". Select 44 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
48. "Spanish ringtone certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 17 June 2022. Select Canciones under "Categoría", select 2008 under "Año". Select 46 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
49. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2008" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
50. "Bessy Argyraki - Στίχοι Έλα Ξανά (Εla ksana) + Μεταγραφή". lyricstranslate.com (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-12-21.
51. Star Academy chante Michel Berger, track listing Lescharts.com (retrieved 7 May 2008).
52. "Ella Elle l'A". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.