Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Je te veux

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Je te veux

"Je te veux" ("I want you") is a song composed by Erik Satie to a text by Henry Pacory. A sentimental waltz with erotic lyrics, it was written for Paulette Darty, whose accompanist Satie had been for a period of time. The text consists of two verses and a repeated chorus.

The song was registered with SACEM on 20 November 1902, but Roland-Manuel argued it had actually been composed in 1897. Satie composed various versions of the "Je te veux" waltz: for piano and voice, for an orchestra of brass instruments, and for full orchestra (including a trio). The piano and voice version was first published in 1903. The composer later arranged the work for solo piano, adding a middle section between the second chorus and the second verse.

The melody was performed to the public in 1903, at the La Scala music hall in Milan, Italy. In 1925, the song was recorded with Yvonne George as singer. "Je te veux" was also recorded by Mathé Altéry, Régine Crespin, Gigliola Negri, Nicolaï Gedda, and Davide Bassino, and later by sopranos Jessye Norman, Marie Devellereaum and Angela Gheorghiu. Other notable renditions include those by the Japanese group ALI PROJECT and the Japanese chip musician SAITONE.PP.

John Cage instructs the performer to do the piano and voice version as part of his "Sonnekus²".

  • The song appears as the background music for the NES game Binary Land (1984)
  • The song is on the 2nd CD of the soundtrack of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)
  • The game Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure (2012) uses the song as a theme for the fictional holiday "Fête de Paris"
  • The instrumental version is used in a 2015 commercial for Cesar dog food
  • References

    Je te veux Wikipedia