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"Nuit de folie"
"Nuit de folie"
Single by Début de Soirée
from the album Jardins d'enfants
B-side	"Tout pour la danse"
Released	June 1988 ; January 2000 (remix)
Recorded	1988, France
Genre	Euro disco
Length	4:16
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	William Picard,; Claude Mainguy,; Sauveur Pichot
Producer(s)	Bel Air Studio
Début de Soirée singles chronology

"Nuit de folie" (French pronunciation: [nɥi də fɔli], literally "Night of madness") is a 1988 popular song recorded by French pop duet Début de Soirée. It was their debut single from their album Jardins d'enfants and was released in June 1988. In France, it became the summer hit of the year, topping the chart for over two months. It was re-released in 2000 in a remixed version, but it did not reach success.

Background

The song, written and composed by both members of the duet, was especially created to become a summer hit, although the song was actually released for the first time in 1984 as a B-side, but passed unnoticed at the time. It was very difficult to find a record company, because nobody believed in the potential of the song, but a contract was eventually signed with Sony. In 1988, the song was also much promoted by the band in many TV shows. According to Elia Habib, an expert of French charts, the song is characterized by a "rapid and lively rhythm, a very simple refrain therefore easy to remember, a tune that becomes embedded in the eardrums, lyrics referring to summer festive atmosphere". It also contains a brief bridge sung in a rap version, just before the last refrain.^[1] The song composed in 1984 had no success at first. The arrangements of the best known version of 1988 come from German singer Patty Ryan's song "You're My Love, You're My Life".

The duet's second single, "La Vie la nuit", released in December 1988, used around the end of the song a sample from the introduction of "Nuit de folie".

Music video

In the music video for "Nuit de folie", the two singers perform a choreography on "shimmering backgrounds", in an "astonishing variety of head to foot positions".^[1] They are accompanied by three women, each with a plain dress in a different colour. During the last refrain, two couples are formed, and the obese woman remains alone. The music video is now considered old-fashioned^[1] and in an interview, both singers admitted that they do not like to see it aired on TV because they find it antiquated.

Critical reception

A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Nuit de folie" as a production from the "French equivalent of Modern Talking" and "a typical good-time summer hit" with "an inescapable hook and a nice pop rap in the middle (no.1 in France). A massive European hit!"^[2] In another issue of the magazine, it is stated: "One cannot resist being infatuated when hearing [this] pop disco single", adding that it has "one of the most charming choruses to be heard for a long time" with an "unpretentious, but highly convincing production".^[3]

Chart performance

In France, "Nuit de folie" entered the singles chart at number 39 on 11 June 1988, climbed quickly and reached number one in its sixth and stayed atop for consecutive nine weeks. After being dislodged by Elsa and Glenn Medeiros's hit "Un Roman d'amitié (Friend You Give Me a Reason)", it stayed for other five weeks at number two, and totalled 22 weeks in the top ten and 30 weeks in the top 50.^[4] It was certified Platinum disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique for over one million units.^[5] In Belgium (Wallonia), it topped the chart for non consecutive seven weeks,^[6] in alternance with "Un Roman d'amitié (Friend You Give Me a Reason)", and remained in the top three for 14 weeks. In addition, it was a top ten hit in Flanders and a top 25 in the Netherlands.^[7]^[8] On the European Hot 100 Singles, it debuted at number 89 on 2 July 1988, reached a peak of number three in its 13th week,^[9] and fall of the chart after 26 weeks of presence, 11 of them in the top ten.

The song was later released in remixed versions for discothèques, first in 1995, then in 2000; however, both versions were commercial failures.

Uses in the media

The song was covered by a band in Fabien Onteniente's 2006 film Camping.

Track listings

7" single

"Nuit de folie" (euro remix) — 3:52
"Tout pour la danse" — 3:15

CD maxi

"Nuit de folie" — 4:16
"Tout pour la danse" — 3:14
"Nuit de folie" (extended version) — 6:23

12" maxi

"Nuit de folie" (crazy night remix) — 6:40
"Nuit de folie" (French mix club) — 6:40

12" maxi

"Nuit de folie" (extended version) — 6:25
"Tout pour la danse" — 3:15
"Nuit de folie" (a capella chœur) — 0:50
"Nuit de folie" (a capella vois rap) — 0:40

CD maxi - 1995 remixes

"Nuit de folie" (dance club remix) — 6:40
"Nuit de folie" (remix edit radio) — 3:42
"Nuit de folie" (hard version) — 5:20
"Nuit de folie" (space version) — 5:15

CD single - 2000 remixes

"Nuit de folie" (edit radio 2000) — 4:08
"Nuit de folie" (karaoke version) — 4:09

Credits

Original version

Lyrics : William Picard and Claude Mainguy
Music : Sauveur Pichot
Production : Bel Air Studio
Remixed by "Mixmaster" Pete Hammond

1995 remixes

Arranged and remixed by Rick Pier O'Neil and Yann Asting at Studio Sunday Light

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

1988 weekly chart performance for "Nuit de folie"
Chart (1988)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[6]	1
Europe (European Hot 100)^[9]	3
France (SNEP)^[4]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8]	24

2000 weekly chart performance for "Nuit de folie"
Chart (2000)	Peak position
France (SNEP)^[10]	72

Year-end charts

1988 year-end chart performance for "Nuit de folie"
Chart (1988)	Position
Belgian (Ultratop Flanders)^[11]	28
Europe (European Hot 100)^[12]	8
French (SNEP)	1

Certifications

Certifications for "Nuit de folie"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)^[5]	Platinum	1,000,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinéa Bis. p. 136. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
^ "Previews – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 35. 27 August 1988. p. 15. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 23 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
^ "L'esprit français - Actes de présence !" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 42. 15 October 1988. p. 23. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 15 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
^ ^a ^b "Début de Soirée – Nuit de folie" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b "French single certifications – Début de Soirée – Nuit de folie" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 26 November 2021. Select DÉBUT DE SOIRÉE and click OK.
^ ^a ^b "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 31. 30 July 1988. p. 20. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
^ ^a ^b "Début de Soirée – Nuit de folie" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Début de Soirée – Nuit de folie" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 39. 24 September 1988. p. 22-23. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
^ "Début de Soirée – Nuit de folie (remix 99)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
^ "1988 Belgian Flanders Singles Chart" (in Dutch). ultratop.be. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
^ "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 World Radio History.