"Wight Is Wight"
Single by Michel Delpech
B-side"Wight Is Wight (instrumental)"
Released1969
Recorded1 October 1969[1]
StudioStudio Davout, Paris, France
GenreChanson française, Pop
Length3:00
LabelBarclay
Songwriter(s)Michel Delpech, Roland Vincent
Producer(s)Yves Roze
Michel Delpech singles chronology
"Le Mauvais Jardinier"
(1969)		 "Wight Is Wight"
(1969)		 "Chère Lise"
(1970)

"Wight Is Wight" is a French song by Michel Delpech. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[2] Released in 1969 it became a big hit in France and internationally. This hippy-influenced song was inspired by the first editions of the Isle of Wight Festival, mentioning Bob Dylan who played there in 1969. Donovan is also named in the chorus, even though he wouldn't appear at the festival before 1970, a few months after the song was released.[3]

The title is a pun based on Los Bravos' 1966 hit single Black Is Black, covered by Johnny Hallyday on the same year, as "Noir c'est noir".[4]

Other versions

"Wight Is Wight"
Single by Sandie Shaw
B-side"That's The Way He's Made"
Released1970
GenrePop
LabelPye
Songwriter(s)Michel Delpech, Roland Vincent, Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw singles chronology
"By Tomorrow"
(1970)		 "Wight Is Wight"
(1970)		 "Rose Garden"
(1971)

The following year, it was recorded with lyrics in English by the British singer Sandie Shaw. It was released by Pye as her second single of the 1970s, with "That's the Way He's Made" as a B-side, written by Chris Andrews.

The same year, the italian group Dik Dik had made a version in Italian language, with the lyrics of Claudio Daiano and Alberto Salerno, which was released as the single, "L'isola di Wight/Innamorato".[5]

It was also recorded in 1970 by the Belgian singer John Terra in Flemish.

In 1971 the Uruguayan pop group Los Campos record a version in Spanish, titled "Isla de Wight", and include it in their album "Mi Reino Bajo el Sol".[6]

Track listing

  1. "Wight Is Wight" (Delpech, Vincent) – 3:00
  2. "Wight Is Wight (instrumental)" (Delpech, Vincent) – 3:00

Chart performance

Chart (1969-1970) Peak

position

Argentina[7] 5
France (IFOP)[8] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Singles (Flemish chart))[9] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Singles (Walloon chart))[10] 2

References

  1. ↑ "Michel Delpech – Wight is Wight (1969, Vinyl)". Discogs.
  2. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 278. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ↑ Stivell, Marco (2020-01-05). "Michel DELPECH : WIGHT IS WIGHT (1969)". fp.nightfall.fr. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  4. ↑ Pessis, Jacques; Leduc, Emilie (2003). Chronique de la chanson française. Trélissac, France: Editions Chronique. p. 66. ISBN 2-205-05521-6. OCLC 54003499.
  5. ↑ "Discografia Nazionale della canzone italiana". Discografia.dds.it. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  6. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/master/1075158-Los-Campos-Mi-Reino-Bajo-El-Sol
  7. ↑ "Billboard - Hits Of The World" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Billboard. 12 September 1970. p. 107.
  8. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres N° 1 des 70's". www.infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 2005-10-13.
  9. ↑ "Michel Delpech - Wight Is Wight". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  10. ↑ "Michel Delpech - Wight Is Wight". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
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