She (Charles Aznavour song)

"She"
Single by Charles Aznavour
B-side"La barraka"
Released14 June 1974
GenrePop
Length2:50
LabelBarclay
Songwriter(s)Charles Aznavour, Herbert Kretzmer

"She" is a song written by Charles Aznavour and Herbert Kretzmer and released as a single sung by Aznavour in 1974. The song was written in English as a theme tune for the British TV series Seven Faces of Woman.[1]

Aznavour also recorded it in French, German, Italian and Spanish, under the titles "Tous les visages de l'amour" (English: All the Faces of Love), "Sie" (English: She) "Lei" (English: She) and "Es" (English: [She] is), respectively. He also recorded the song in a more uptempo French version with different lyrics, simply titled "Elle" (English: She).

The song peaked at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for four weeks; it was certified silver for shipments exceeding 300,000 units. It also reached number 1 in the Irish Charts, spending one week at the top. It was less popular outside the UK (where Seven Faces of Woman did not air); in France, the song narrowly missed the top 40, and in the United States, it failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted on the lower end of the easy listening charts.

Elvis Costello recorded a cover version of the song in 1999. This version, produced by Trevor Jones, was featured over the final sequence of the film Notting Hill (while Charles Aznavour's version was featured over the opening credits) and charted throughout Europe.

Track listing

"She" – 7" 45 rpm record[2]
  1. "She" – 2:50
  2. "La barraka" – 2:45
"Lei" – 7" 45 rpm record[3]
  1. "Lei"
  2. "La barraka"
"She" (1999 re-release) – CD single[4]
  1. "She (Tous les visages de l'amour)" – 2:52
  2. "I Didn't See the Time Go By (Je n'ai pas vu le temps passer)" – 3:31

Charts and certifications

Elvis Costello version

"She"
Single by Elvis Costello
from the album Notting Hill: Music from the Motion Picture
Released1999
GenrePop
Length3:10
LabelMercury Records, Island Records
Songwriter(s)Charles Aznavour, Herbert Kretzmer
Producer(s)Trevor Jones

Elvis Costello recorded a cover version of the song in 1999 for the soundtrack of the film Notting Hill. This version of the song peaked at number 19 in the United Kingdom, giving Costello his first top 20 hit in the United Kingdom in 16 years, and his last.[15][16]

In 2022, Costello's cover was used as the soundtrack for a J&B Whiskey advertisement in Spain. In the ad, a grandfather secretly learns how to apply makeup and when the family gathers for the holidays, applies a full face to his Trans grandchild and the family sees her for the first time. .

Track listing

2-track CD single – Europe (1999)[17]
  1. "She" – 3:10
  2. "Painted from Memory" – 4:12
3-track CD single – Europe (1999)[18][19]
  1. "She" – 3:08
  2. "This House Is Empty Now" – 5:11
  3. "What's Her Name Today?" – 4:11
CD single – United Kingdom (1999)[20]
  1. "She" – 3:08
  2. "Painted from Memory" – 4:14
  3. "The Sweetest Punch" – 4:09

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[21] 90
France (SNEP)[22] 50
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 49
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position
Brazil (Crowley)[25] 57

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Laura Pausini cover

"She (Uguale a lei)"
Single by Laura Pausini
Released8 March 2006
GenrePop
Length2:59
LabelWarner Music Italy
Songwriter(s)Charles Aznavour, Herbert Kretzmer, Laura Pausini
Laura Pausini singles chronology
"Il tuo nome in maiuscolo"
(2006) 		"She (Uguale a lei)"
(2006) 		"Io canto"
(2006)

Italian singer Laura Pausini also released an Italian language cover of the song, titled "She (Uguale a lei)". The song was recorded for a Barilla TV spot. The lyrics of the song were adapted by Pausini herself, and are therefore different from the lyrics of Aznavour's Italian-language version of his hit.[27] It was also released as a digital single on 8 March 2006, but was not featured on any of Pausini's studio albums.[28] However, she recorded a new version of the song, included in her greatest hits album 20 - The Greatest Hits.

Live performances

Pausini performed the song live for the first time during the final of Sanremo Music Festival 2006, when she was invited as a guest artist.[29][30] A live version of the song was included in a medley performed on 2 June 2007, during her concert at the San Siro stadium in Milan, later released as a video album titled San Siro 2007.[31]

Track listing

Digital download[32]
  1. "She (Uguale a lei)" – 2:59

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Italy Digital Download (FIMI)[33] 6

Other cover versions

In addition to the famous Elvis Costello version noted above, the song has been recorded by many different artists over the years. The most notable versions include:

  • American singer Jack Jones recorded a cover of the song for his 1975 album What I Did for Love. It was released as a single, becoming a big hit in the Philippines.[34]
  • Péter Máté created a Hungarian cover of the song. The first record containing this was only released after his death.
  • British Comedian and music Hall legend Ken Dodd recorded a version for his 1976 album love together
  • Dave Stewart and Terry Hall's short-lived project Vegas had a minor UK hit with the song in 1992, peaking at number 43 on the UK Singles Chart.[35] Aznavour starred in the music video, standing at a fountain while being secretly observed by Hall and Stewart.
  • The British Pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck recorded the song on his 2003 CD Definition of Love. He included a duet of She with Charles Aznavour on his 2014 duets album Engelbert Calling.
  • French singer Jason Kouchak recorded the song for his 2008 album Midnight Classics.
  • Irish singing group Celtic Thunder made a cover version on their second show Celtic Thunder: Act Two (2008) where Paul Byrom performed the song.
  • A version by the composer and record producer Jason Hill, featuring Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs, was used in the trailer for David Fincher's movie, Gone Girl, in 2014.[36]
  • Israeli singer Matti Caspi released a Hebrew cover of the song in 2005.
  • Paul Byrom recorded a cover of the song while a member of Celtic Thunder; the song was released on the self-titled debut album and their concert DVD "The Show."
  • Former E.L.O. frontman Jeff Lynne released a cover version of the song on his 2012 album Long Wave.
  • The duo She & Him released a cover of the song on their 2014 album, Classics.
  • Daniel Boaventura recorded for Morde & Assopra (Dinosaurs & Robots) soundtrack and a performance on his live album, "Daniel Boaventura: Ao Vivo" in 2011.
  • Jay-R, the R&B prince, covered it for Philippine soap opera Beauty Queen.
  • CBBC used the song for a reflective montage at the end of the memorial retrospective My Sarah Jane, celebrating the long-running Whoniverse character Sarah Jane Smith following the death of actress Elisabeth Sladen.
  • Bryan Ferry covered it at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival with Aznavour joining him on stage at the end of the performance.
  • Leeteuk (이특) Korean singer and member of the group Super Junior sang it as his solo part in their concert Super Show 4 in 2011/2012 and is recorded on their live album released in July 2013

References

  1. ^ "People's Quiz" (PDF). BBC. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Charles Aznavour – She". Discogs. 1974. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Lei/La baraka - Charles Aznavour" (in Italian). Discografia Nazionale della Canzone Italiana. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Charles Aznavour – She". Discogs. 1999. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Charles Aznavour – She" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  6. ^ "Charles Aznavour – She" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. ^ "Adult Contemporary - Volume 21, No. 26, August 17, 1974". RPM / Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Charles Aznavour – She" (in French). Les classement single.
  9. ^ "Search the Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association / Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 12 August 2012. Insert Charles Aznavour in the field Artist, then press Search.
  10. ^ "Charles Aznavour – She" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ^ "Charles Aznavour: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  12. ^ "Chart Search Results - Adult Contemporary 1974-08-31". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Charles Aznavour – She" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 March 2019. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Charles Aznavour"
  14. ^ "British single certifications – Charles Aznavour – She". British Phonographic Industry.
  15. ^ "Elvis Costello | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. 5 November 1977. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  16. ^ "It's Ricky, Ricky, Ricky On U.K. Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Elvis Costello – She". Discogs. 1999. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Elvis Costello – She". Discogs. 1999. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  19. ^ "She[CD #2] - Elvis Costello". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  20. ^ "She[CD #1] - Elvis Costello". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary - Volume 69, No. 23, September 27, 1999". RPM / Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Elvis Costello – She" (in French). Les classement single.
  23. ^ "Elvis Costello – She" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1999". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  26. ^ "British single certifications – Elvis Costello – She". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Laura Pausini duetta con Charles Aznavour". La Stampa (in Italian). 10 November 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ Andrea Prevignano (1 February 2006). "Pausini: farò vincere anche la nostra musica". la Repubblica (in Italian). p. 44. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  29. ^ Alessandra Vitali (4 March 2006). "Povia a sorpresa brucia tutti e i piccioni conquistano il Festival". la Repubblica (in Italian).
  30. ^ Marinella Venegoni (5 March 2006). "Le glorie canore nazionali alla finale del Festival. Povia sbanca con gli sms dei bambini". La Stampa (in Italian). p. 27. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  31. ^ "Laura Pausini - San Siro 2007". Rockol.it. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  32. ^ "She (Uguale a lei) - Single di Laura Pausini" (in Italian). iTunes Store (Italy). Apple Inc. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  33. ^ "Gianna Nannini in testa alla hit della prima classifica del web". la Repubblica (in Italian). 10 April 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  34. ^ "Jack Jones - What I Did for Love album". Discogs. Retrieved 29 Dec 2015.
  35. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Vegas - She". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  36. ^ Garcia, Catherine (15 April 2014). "The first trailer for Gone Girl features Ben Affleck, eerie cover song". The Week. Retrieved 6 October 2018.