''Les mots'' is the first

greatest hits album A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

pop singer

Mylène Farmer Mylène Jeanne Gautier (; born 12 September 1961), known professionally as Mylène Farmer (), is a French singer and songwriter. Having sold more than 30 million records worldwide, she is among the most successful recording artists of all time ...

, released on 26 November 2001, released through the label

Polydor Polydor Limited, also known as Polydor Records, is a British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in ...

. It contains most of the singer's hits, along with 4 singles released from the album as new material. It was certified

diamond Diamond is a Allotropes of carbon, solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of e ...

in France. The recurring themes throughout the compilation album is emotional introspection—touching deeply on

love Love is a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment (psychology), attachment to a person, animal, or thing. It is expressed in many forms, encompassing a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most su ...

, loss, isolation, existential longing, and the fragility of the human condition. The compilation captures Mylène Farmer’s poetic and often melancholic worldview, using haunting melodies and symbolic lyricism to explore vulnerability,

desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of affa ...

, and

identity Identity may refer to: * Identity document * Identity (philosophy) * Identity (social science) * Identity (mathematics) Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Identity'' (1987 film), an Iranian film * ''Identity'' (2003 film), an ...

. Many songs reflect on the duality of light and darkness, sensuality and

sadness Sadness is an emotional pain associated with, or characterized by, feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, grief, helplessness, disappointment and sorrow. An individual experiencing sadness may become quiet or lethargic, and withdraw the ...

, which are central to her artistic persona. Upon release, ''Les mots'' was both a critical and commercial triumph, solidifying her status as one of France's most influential pop icons. The album brought together a comprehensive selection of her most iconic singles from 1984 to 2001, including hits like "

Sans contrefaçon Sans or SANS may refer to: Acronyms * SANS device (Stoller Afferent Nerve Stimulator), a medical instrument * SANS Institute (SysAdmin, Audit, Network and Security), an American internet security training company * Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and ...

," "

Désenchantée "Désenchantée" (; feminine of ''désenchanté'', which is French for "Disenchanted" or "Disappointed") is a song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. The first single from her third studio album '' L'autre...'', it was relea ...

," and the new duet title track " Les mots" with

Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, also called "true seal" ** Fur seal ** Eared seal * Seal ( ...

. Critics praised the compilation for showcasing the evolution of her sound and lyrical themes, blending synth-pop, dark romanticism, and poetic melancholy into a cohesive anthology. Commercially, ''Les mots'' debuted at number one on the

French Albums Chart SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in 1 ...

and was certified

by SNEP (

Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

), with over 1.5 million copies sold in France alone. The album also saw success in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

, and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, making it one of the best-selling French compilation albums of all time. The title track "Les mots" became a top-5 hit and was lauded for its emotional depth and the unique pairing of Farmer's ethereal voice with Seal's soulful tone. The compilation album ''Les mots'' by Mylène Farmer produced several commercially successful singles in addition to the titular duet with Seal. “Les mots” peaked at number two in France, received a

platinum Platinum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a density, dense, malleable, ductility, ductile, highly unreactive, precious metal, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name origina ...

certification from

SNEP SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

for over 300,000 units sold, and charted across

, and other

Francophone The Francophonie or Francophone world is the whole body of people and organisations around the world who use the French language regularly for private or public purposes. The term was coined by Onésime Reclus in 1880 and became important a ...

countries. Another standout was “ C’est une belle journée,” a catchy electro-pop track that reached number three in France and became a radio staple, earning

Gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...

certification. “ Pardonne-moi,” a haunting

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

with emotional depth, was released as the third single and performed well commercially, peaking within the

top 20 and receiving favorable reviews for its raw vulnerability. “ L’histoire d’une fée, c’est…” was released as a

promotional single A promotional recording, promo, or plug copy is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as mu ...

, originally tied to the animated film ''

Rugrats in Paris ''Rugrats in Paris: The Movie'' is a 2000 American animated comedy film based on the Nickelodeon animated television series ''Rugrats''. It is the second installment in the Rugrats (film series), ''Rugrats'' film series and the sequel to ''The ...

'' in its French edition, and though it had a more playful and whimsical tone, it still resonated with her fanbase and demonstrated her versatility.

Background and release

In 2001, rumours circulated that Farmer's next album would be another remix compilation, or acoustic reworkings of her hits. Instead, ''Les mots'' was announced as a typical

best of A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...

, preceded by the release of the single of the same name, Farmer's first duet with an international artist. The album was released throughout Europe on 28 November 2001. The album includes nearly all of Farmer's French-language studio singles from "

Maman a tort "Maman a tort" is a 1984 song recorded by French artist Mylène Farmer. It was the debut single from Farmer's first studio album '' Cendres de Lune'', and marked the beginning of her collaboration with her long-time composer, Laurent Boutonnat ...

" through " L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...", omitting "

On est tous des imbéciles "On est tous des imbéciles" (English: "We Are All Fools") is a 1984 song recorded by France, French artist Mylène Farmer. It was released in February 1985 as her second Single (music), single after "Maman a tort" and its English-translated vers ...

" (due to licensing issues). "My Mum Is Wrong", the English version of "Maman a tort", is also excluded, while "My Soul Is Slashed", the English version of " Que mon cœur lâche", appears only on the collector's edition. The live singles " Allan" and "

La Poupée qui fait non "La Poupée qui fait non" ("The Doll Who Says No") is a 1966 song written by Franck Gérald (lyrics) and French singer/songwriter Michel Polnareff (music). It was recorded by Polnareff, becoming an immediate success in France and one of Polnareff ...

" are likewise excluded. It also contains several B-sides (two on the standard edition, four on the deluxe; "L'Annonciation" and "Dernier sourire" were also omitted due to licensing issues) and three new songs. The standard 2CD edition totals 30 tracks, while the 3CD collector's edition totals 33, plus a DVD including the title track's music video. The booklet includes photographs of Farmer in suggestive positions wearing pearly

stocking Stockings (also known as hose, especially in a historical context) are close-fitting, variously elastic garments covering the leg from the foot up to the knee or possibly part or all of the thigh. Stockings vary in color, design, and transpar ...

s, pink

panties Panties are women's form-fitting underpants. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genitalia (usually lined with absorbent material such as cotton), and a pair of leg openings that, like the waistband, ...

and a silk

nightgown A nightgown, nightie or nightdress is a loosely hanging item of nightwear, and is commonly worn by women and girls. A nightgown is made from cotton, silk, satin, or nylon and may be decorated with lace appliqués or embroidery at the breast, bus ...

, taken from a photoshoot by

Ellen von Unwerth Ellen von Unwerth (born 1954) is a German photographer. She began her career as a fashion model, before becoming a fashion, editorial, and advertising photographer. Early life and education Unwerth was born in Frankfurt, West Germany. As an or ...

on a budget of €67,000.''Mylène Farmer, le culte – L'envers du décor'', Sophie Khairallah, 2007, Why Not Ed., p. 58 Notably, Farmer is seen smiling and laughing in the photos, unlike in previous shoots.Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer, Benoît Cachin, 2006, Tournon Ed., p. 167-168

Critical reception

''Les mots'' was generally well received by contemporary musical critics and media. According to ''La Libre Belgique'', the Farmer's work is "synthesized in a superb way" in this album. This compilation also "gives an idea of the real musical evolution" of the artist. The Swiss newspaper ''Le Matin'' described this album as "a superb compilation" and "a 'must' in the matter", containing "many hits", with "provocative" images. The French magazine ''Flèches Cool'' said that this album is an "imposing best of with 27 tracks, all very well known and appreciated by a wide public". ''Télé Star'' praised the first CD, saying it contains hits with "unstoppable melody", "flights of strings", and "tortured or sexy words", while it criticized the second CD, that "testifies the frayed inspiration of the singer". As for ''

Voici ''Voici'' is a French language weekly celebrity and gossip magazine published in Paris, France. History and profile ''Voici'' was founded in 1987. The magazine is published on a weekly basis and is based in Paris. The weekly was formerly owned b ...

'', "this double album stands out".

Commercial performance

The album reached the highest position in France and Belgium since its release. According to ''France Soir'' and ''La Lanterne'', 670,000 copies of this album were sold in the first month in France,''La Lanterne'', 16 January 2002, "Farmer, 10,4 millions d'€
Devant-soi.com
(Retrieved 22 March 2008) and 700,000 in the two first months, according to ''Jukebox''.''Jukebox'', No. 179, June 200
Devant-soi.com
(Retrieved 22 March 2008) In France, the best of debuted at #1 on Top Compilations on 1 December 2001 and remained there for 6 consecutive weeks. It appeared in the Top 10 for 39 weeks. It was ranked on this chart over one year, thanks to the release of the two new songs "

C'est une belle journée "C'est une belle journée" (English: "It's a Beautiful Day") is a 2001 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was the second single from her best of ''Les Mots (album), Les Mots'' and was released on 16 April 2002. The song ...

" and " Pardonne-moi"."Les Mots",

Compilations Char
Ifop.com
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) It was the best-selling compilation in 20012001 French Compilations Char
Ifop.com
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) and 2002.2002 French Compilations Char
Ifop.com
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) In Belgium, the album went straight to #2 on 12 December 2001, and then became number 1 for four weeks. It remained in the Top 10 for 15 weeks and in the Top 40 for 43 weeks."Les Mots", Belgian (

Wallonia Wallonia ( ; ; or ), officially the Walloon Region ( ; ), is one of the three communities, regions and language areas of Belgium, regions of Belgium—along with Flemish Region, Flanders and Brussels. Covering the southern portion of the c ...

) Albums Char
Ultratop.be
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) The album featured at #28 and #14 on the 20012001 Belgian Albums Char
Ultratop.be
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) and 20022002 Belgian Albums Char
Ultratop.be
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) end of year chart. In Switzerland, the album got its highest position when it entered at # 6, on 12 December 2001, and remained on the chart (Top 100) for 38 weeks."Les Mots",

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

Albums Char
Hitparade.ch
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) The best of won the World Platinum Award. It was certified

Diamond Diamond is a Allotropes of carbon, solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Diamond is tasteless, odourless, strong, brittle solid, colourless in pure form, a poor conductor of e ...

in France,Mylène Farmer certification
Chartsinfrance.net
(Retrieved 17 February 2008) 2×Platinum in Belgium, and

in Switzerland.

Track listing

All music is written by

Laurent Boutonnat Laurent Boutonnat (born 14 June 1961) is a French film score composer and music video director, best known as the songwriting partner of Mylène Farmer and the director of several music videos. Career Early career and collaboration with Mylèn ...

and all lyrics by Mylène Farmer, except where noted.

Standard edition

Collector's edition

This edition moves the new recordings and B-sides to the third disc, along with two additional B-sides and an additional single.

International edition

Personnel

* Produced by

* Mixed by Bertrand Châtenet **Except: "

": Philippe Omnes; " Tristana", "

", " Ainsi soit je...", "

Pourvu qu'elles soient douces "" (English: "As Long as They're Soft/Gentle/or Sweet") is a 1988 synthpop song by the Canadian artist Mylène Farmer. Third single from her second studio album '' Ainsi soit je...'', it was released on 12 September 1988. The long music video v ...

", "

Sans logique "Sans logique" (English: "Without Logic") is a 1988 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer. It was released on 20 February 1989 as the fourth and last single from her second studio album ''Ainsi soit je...''. The song deals with ...

", " À quoi je sers...", "La Veuve noire", "

", " Regrets", "

Je t'aime mélancolie "Je t'aime mélancolie" (English: "I Love You Melancholy") is a 1991 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The song was released as the third single from her third studio album '' L'autre...,'' in December 1991. Characterized by its ...

", " Beyond My Control" and " Que mon cœur lâche" * Programmation,

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Mus ...

s and arrangement for " Les Mots", "

", " Pardonne-moi": Laurent Boutonnat * Sound: Bertrand Châtenet, Jérôme Devoise and Rik Pekkonen * Strings arrangement: Jean-Jacques Charles *

Drum kit A drum kit or drum set (also known as a trap set, or simply drums in popular music and jazz contexts) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and sometimes other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one p ...

: Karim Ziad and Abraham Laboriel Jr * Bass: Michel Alibo * Guitar: Slim Pezin * Recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell, Paris * Management: Thierry Suc for TSM * Executive production: Paul Van Parys for Stuffed Monkey * Photographs: Ellen Von Unwerth / H&K * Design: Henry Neu for Com'N.B * Mastering: André Perriat, Top Master * Lyrics:

**Except: "

": Jérôme Dahan; "

Libertine A libertine is a person questioning and challenging most moral principles, such as responsibility or Human sexual activity, sexual restraints, and will often declare these traits as unnecessary, undesirable or evil. A libertine is especially som ...

": Laurent Boutonnat * Music: Laurent Boutonnat **Except: "

": Laurent Boutonnat and Jérôme Dahan; "

": Jean-Claude Déquéant; "

Optimistique-moi "Optimistique-moi" (English: "Optimistic Me") is a 1999 song recorded by the French artist Mylène Farmer. The fourth single from her fifth studio album, ''Innamoramento'', it was released on 22 February 2000. Dealing with parental relationships ...

": Mylène Farmer * Editions : Requiem Publishing **Except: "

": Cezame / BMG Music Publishing France; "

Plus grandir "Plus grandir" (English: "Not Growing Anymore") is a 1985 song recorded by French singer-songwriter Mylène Farmer and is the first song written by the singer. It was released twice: first, on 25 September 1985 in a studio version as second sing ...

", "

", " Tristana", "

", " Ainsi soit je...", "

", "

", " À quoi je sers...", "La Veuve noire" : Universal Music Publishing / BMG Music Publishing France

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Formats

* Double CD – Crystal case * Double CD – Digipack – Limited edition (100,000) * Cassette 1 – Double length * Cassette 2 – Double length * Quadruple LP * Collector edition – Long Box 3 CD + 1 DVD – Limited edition (30,000) (1) * CD – European version (2) * Double CD – Digipack – Promo * Cassette 1 – Double length – Promo * Cassette 2 – Double length – Promo * Collector edition – Long Box 3 CD + 1 DVD – Promo (1) (1) Contains also a third CD
(2) Only one CD with 16 songs

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mots, Les 2001 greatest hits albums Mylène Farmer albums 2001 video albums Music video compilation albums Polydor Records compilation albums Polydor Records video albums