Alane (song)

"Alane"
French CD single
Single by Wes
from the album Welenga
B-side"Remix"
Released13 May 1997
Recorded1996
GenreWorld music
Length3:40
Label
Songwriter(s)Wes Madiko
Producer(s)Michel Sanchez
Wes singles chronology
"Alane"
(1997) 		"Awa Awa"
(1997)
Music video
"Alane" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Remixes

"Alane" is a song recorded by Cameroonian artist Wes. It was released in May 1997 via various labels as the debut single from the artist's first album, Welenga (1996). The song became a hit across Europe, topping the charts in Austria, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. It is sung in the Duala language of Cameroon[1] though the Tony Moran remix includes English lyrics ("Alane flows like a fountain, running gently to your heart. Alane dances inside me, like a flame in to your arms").

Critical reception

[edit]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "African chants meet state-of-the-art dance beats on this sizzling hot dance track, which has already been firmly entrenched atop the French charts for a couple of weeks."[2] Alan Jones from Music Week declared it a "haunting" single[3] and "likely to be the next Afro-European hit to make the grade here. Wes's expressive but slightly weak vocals are bolstered considerably by a pop/dance arrangement that fits like a glove, while some ethnic-sounding support bolsters the chorus."[4] Chris Finan from Record Mirror Dance Update gave "Alane" five out of five, stating, "With over 2m copies already sold in France, this is certain to cause more than a stir here [in the UK]".[5] A reviewer from Sunday Mirror gave it seven out of ten, adding, "This Euro-stomper with lots of wailing and chanting Afro-vocals is sure to be a huge hit in the nightclubs - and on the Terry Wogan show."[6]

Chart performance

[edit]

In France, the song was sponsored by TF1,[7] Fun Radio, RTL and the Malongo Coffees. The single spent ten weeks at number-one and remained in the top 50 for 25 weeks, ten of them at the top (and a further 9 weeks in the Top 10.[8])

The song also reached number-one in Belgium (9 weeks at number-one and a further 8 weeks in the top 10[9]), Austria (8 weeks at number-one and a further 9 weeks in the top 10[10]) and The Netherlands (8 weeks at number-one and a further 8 weeks in the top 10[11]) as well as reaching the top 10 in Germany (where it spent 18 weeks in the Top 10[12]), Hungary, Ireland, Israel and Switzerland (10 weeks in the top 10[13]) and number 11 in the UK.

Music video

[edit]

The accompanying music video for "Alane" was directed by Philippe Gautier. The choreography was created by American-French singer Mia Frye, who had previously created the choreography for Los del Rio's "Macarena". Frye appears in both videos.

Track listings

[edit]

Credits

[edit]
  • Written by Wes
  • Composed, arranged and produced by Michel Sanchez
  • Artwork by Design, Bronx (Paris)
  • Photography (photo remix) by Laurent Edeline
  • Photography (photo) by Yan Leuvrey
  • Trouser enthusiasts orgasmic apparition mix: programmed by Torsten Gascoigne, produced by Trouser Enthusiasts
  • Trouser enthusiasts spectrophiliac mix: remixed and produced by Trouser Enthusiasts
  • Todd Terry's club remix: remixed by Todd Terry
  • Tony Moran's club mix: remixed by Tony Moran

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[43] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[44] 3× Platinum 150,000*
France (SNEP)[46] Diamond 1,400,000[45]
Germany (BVMI)[47] 3× Gold 750,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[48] 2× Platinum 150,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[49] Gold 25,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Robin Schulz and Wes version

[edit]
"Alane"
Single by Robin Schulz and Wes
from the album IIII
Released19 June 2020
Recorded2020
GenreFuture house, deep house
Length2:55
LabelWarner Music Central Europe
Songwriter(s)Wes Madiko
Producer(s)
  • Michel Sanchez
  • Robin Schulz
Robin Schulz singles chronology
"Oxygen"
(2020) 		"Alane"
(2020) 		"All We Got"
(2020)

German DJ and record producer Robin Schulz released a remake of the song on 19 June 2020 which is included on the album IIII (2021). Schulz had been a fan of the original 1997 song since he was 10 years old and got in touch with Wes via Warner Music. The two musicians met in Paris and then re-recorded the track in a studio in Germany.[50] Its music video was directed by Robert Wunsch and features appearances by Schulz and Wes, along with footage of 30 dancers in 12 countries across the world, including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea, Turkey, Tunisia, Vietnam, and the United States.[51][52][53]

Track listings

[edit]
Digital download[54]
No.TitleLength
1."Alane"2:55
Digital download – Don Diablo remix[55]
No.TitleLength
1."Alane" (Don Diablo remix)3:20
Digital download – Yves V remix[56]
No.TitleLength
1."Alane" (Yves V remix)2:26

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[82] Platinum 30,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[83] Gold 20,000‡
France (SNEP)[84] Gold 100,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[85] Gold 200,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[86] Gold 25,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ""Cameroun: L'artiste Wes Madiko est à Douala", Journal du Cameroun, 31 March 2010". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. July 19, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  3. ^ Jones, Alan (January 24, 1998). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 27. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Jones, Alan (January 17, 1998). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 25. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Finan, Chris (January 31, 1998). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 4. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "Best singles". Sunday Mirror. January 11, 1998.
  7. ^ Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 386 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  8. ^ Lescharts.com [1] (Retrieved December 30, 2017)
  9. ^ Ultratop [2] (Retrieved December 30, 2017)
  10. ^ Austrian Charts [3] (Retrieved December 30, 2017)
  11. ^ Dutchcharts.nl [4] (Retrieved December 30, 2017)
  12. ^ Musicline.de [5] Archived December 31, 2017, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved December 30, 2017)
  13. ^ Hitparade.ch [6] (Retrieved December 30, 2107)
  14. ^ "Wes – Alane" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ^ "Wes – Alane" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. ^ "Wes – Alane" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  17. ^ "Ultratop Dance 06/09/1997". ultratop.be. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  18. ^ "Wes – Alane" (in French). Les classement single.
  19. ^ "Wes – Alane" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  20. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. May 2, 1998. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  21. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (26.03.1998 - 02.04.1998)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  22. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved September 25, 2008)
  23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Wes" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  24. ^ "Wes – Alane" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  25. ^ "Wes – Alane". VG-lista.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 08 February 1998 - 14 February 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  27. ^ "Wes – Alane". Singles Top 100.
  28. ^ "Wes – Alane". Swiss Singles Chart.
  29. ^ UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved September 25, 2008)
  30. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 08 February 1998 - 14 February 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  31. ^ 1997 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved September 25, 2008)
  32. ^ 1998 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved September 25, 2008)
  33. ^ "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 27, 1997. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  34. ^ 1997 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Archived June 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved September 25, 2008)
  35. ^ "Single top 100 over 1997" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  36. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  37. ^ 1998 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at Archived July 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved September 25, 2008)
  38. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  39. ^ "Single top 100 over 1998" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  40. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  41. ^ 1998 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived October 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved September 25, 2008)
  42. ^ "Ultratop Nineties 500: 1-50" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  43. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Wes – Alane" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  44. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  45. ^ Pure Charts, ed. (November 13, 2024). "Zoom sur les tubes de l'été des années 90 : "Macarena", "Alane", "Yakalelo"... (VIDEOS)" (in French). Charts in France. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  46. ^ "French single certifications – Wes – Alane" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  47. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Wes; 'Alane')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  48. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Wes – Alane" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved July 18, 2022. Enter Alane in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  49. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Alane')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  50. ^ "Wes, le chanteur légendaire d'Alane lance une nouvelle tournée mondiale à... Alençon !". L'Orne Hebdo (in French). July 20, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  51. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes Make the World Dance with "Alane"". Warner Music Australia. June 22, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  52. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes - Alane (Official Music Video)". June 19, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021 – via YouTube.
  53. ^ "[Video] Watch Saigon Shine in New MV 'Alane' by German DJ Robin Schulz". Saigoneer. June 25, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  54. ^ "Alane - Single by Robin Schulz & Wes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  55. ^ "Alane (Don Diablo Remix) - Single by Robin Schulz & Wes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  56. ^ "Alane (Yves V Remix) - Single by Robin Schulz & Wes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  57. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes – Alane" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  58. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes – Alane" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  59. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes – Alane" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  60. ^ Robin Schulz & Wes — Alane. TopHit. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  61. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  62. ^ "Top Singles (Week 34, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  63. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes – Alane" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  64. ^ "Airplay Charts Deutschland Woche 33/2020" [Airplay Charts Germany Week 33, 2020]. Germancharts.de (in German). Hung Medien & MusicTrace on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  65. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  66. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  67. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  68. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  69. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes – Alane" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  70. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  71. ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  72. ^ "Robin Schulz & Wes – Alane". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  73. ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2020-07-17." TopHit. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  74. ^ "Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2020". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  75. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  76. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  77. ^ "Top 100 Jahrescharts 2020". GfK Entertainment (in German). mtv.de. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  78. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2020". Mahasz. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  79. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  80. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2020" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  81. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2020". hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  82. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Robin Schulz & Wes – Alane" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  83. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2020". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  84. ^ "French single certifications" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  85. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Robin Schulz & Wes; 'Alane')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  86. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 10, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Alane in the search box.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alane_(song)&oldid=1257152690"