"Kolé séré"
Single by Philippe Lavil & Jocelyne Béroard
B-side"Fragile Sara"
Released1987
Recorded1986
GenreZouk
Length3:55
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Jean-Claude Naimro,
Jocelyne Béroard
Producer(s)Bob Socquet,
Claude Samard,
Philippe Lavil
Jocelyne Béroard singles chronology
"Kay manman"
(1986)		 "Kolé séré"
(1987)		 "Milans"
(1991)
Philippe Lavil singles chronology
"Elle préfère l'amour en mer"
(1985)		 "Kolé séré"
(1987)		 "De Bretagne ou d'ailleurs"
(1991)

"Kolé séré" is a 1986 zouk song recorded by Guadelupean band Kassav'. Written by Jocelyne Béroard with a music composed by Jean-Claude Naimro, it was covered the next year as a duet by Béroard with singer Philippe Lavil, and was released as a single in June 1987. This version was a successful hit in France, peaking at number four.

Background, lyrics and music

Written by Béroard with a music by Naimro, "Kolé séré" was first recorded in 1986 by Kassav', the band which Béroard and Naimro were members. Martinique singer Lavil, who liked the song, proposed to Béroard to re-record the song as a duet, which she accepted on the condition that she would sing only in the Creole language; "Kolé séré" is thus sung in the two languages spoken in Martinique (Creole for Béroard, French for Lavil), while the chorus is sung by both singers in Creole. The structure of the original song was reworked to alternate verses and choruses. Lyrically, it deals with a couple who is reuniting by phone after a long time separated. The music video reverses the roles of the two former lovers: Lavil is under the sun of the Antilles, surrounded by palms and the sea, while Béroard sings in the rainy Parisian streets (the Arc de Triomphe can be seen in the background).[1]

Cover versions

In the context of the 2020 lockdown in France, journalist Jean-Pierre Gauffre and wife Françoise proposed a parody of "Kolé séré" which includes many references to Covid-19 and that Nicolas Fauveau of France Bleu would have seen as a potential summer hit.[2]

Chart performance

In France, "Kolé séré" debuted at number 48 on the chart edition of 27 June 1987, performed the biggest jump of the chart in its fourth week with a gain of 23 positions, peaked at number four in its ninth week, and remained for 13 weeks in the top ten and 24 weeks in the top 50.[3] It earned a Silver disc, awarded by the Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique.[4] On the European Hot 100 Singles, it entered at number 54 on 1 August 1988, reached a peak of number 24 in its fifth week,[5] and fell off the chart after 19 weeks of presence. It was 74th on the year-end chart.[6]

Track listings

  1. "Kolé séré" — 3:55
  2. "Fragile Sara" — 4:00 (by Philippe Lavil)
  1. "Kolé séré" (remix) — 5:22
  2. "Fragile Sara" — 4:00 (by Philippe Lavil)
  3. "Kolé séré" (radio version) — 3:55

Personnel

  • Arrangement – Claude Samard
  • Photography – Jeff Manzetti
  • Production – Bob Socquet, Claude Samard, Philippe Lavil
  • Sleeve – Claude Caudron

Charts

Release history

Release dates for "Kolé séré"
Country Date Format Label
France 1987 7" single[7] RCA
12" maxi[9]
Canada 7" single[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dicale, Bertrand. "Les inattendues - Kolé séré – Kassav'" (in French). SACEM. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  2. ↑ Fauveau, Nicolas (22 May 2020). "Vu sur le web : les Bordelais sont sales, Jean-Pierre Gauffre détourne "Kolé Séré" et notre Facebook live !" (in French). France Bleu. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Philippe Lavil / Jocelyne Beroard – Kolé séré" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 "French single certifications – Philippe Lavil & Jocelyne Béroard – Kolé séré" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 24, 2021. Select PHILIPPE LAVIL & JOCELYNE BÉROARD and click OK. 
  5. 1 2 "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 34. 29 August 1987. p. 12-13. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 7 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  6. 1 2 "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 7 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  7. 1 2 "Kolé séré" at Discogs, 7" single France (Philippe Lavil & Jocelyne Béroard – "Kolé séré") (accessdate: 7 October 2021).
  8. 1 2 "Kolé séré" at Discogs, 7" single Canada (Philippe Lavil & Jocelyne Béroard – "Kolé séré") (accessdate: 7 October 2021).
  9. 1 2 "Kolé séré" at Discogs, 12" maxi France (Philippe Lavil & Jocelyne Béroard – "Kolé séré") (accessdate: 7 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. 436. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
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