B-side Instrumental Format 7" single, 12" maxi Genre Pop, Funk | Released July 1989 Recorded France, 1989 Length 4:02 | |
"Joue pas" is a 1989 song recorded by French artist François Feldman, in duet with the American singer Joniece Jamison. It was released as a single from Feldman's album Une Présence in July 1989, and was his fifth single overall. The song achieved great success, becoming a number two hit and a popular song throughout the years.
Contents
Song information
Written and composed by François Feldman and Thierry Durbet, "Joue pas" has funky sonorities and starts with a brief guitar riff. It was "very well received by the public". It was the singer's first duet in his career, and he recorded other two ones with Joniece Jamison : "J'ai peur" in 1991 (#7 in France) and "Love platonique" in 1996.
In France, the single debuted at #47 on July 15, 1989, climbed quickly and finally entered the top ten in its fourth week. It hit number 2 for five non consecutive weeks, but was unable to dislodge Kaoma's smash hit "Lambada" which topped the chart then. Thereafter, it dropped and totaled 14 weeks in the top ten and 22 weeks on the chart (top 50). "Joue pas" is currently the 640th best-selling single of all time in France.
The song was included on many French compilations released in the 1990s and the 2000s, such as Les années tubes spécial 80, Tubes d'un jour tubes de toujours spécial années 80, Nostalgie Classiques 80 and La Discothèque du XXè siècle - 1989. It also features on Feldman's compilations Two Feldman and Gold.
Cover versions
The song was covered in 2000 by Karen Mulder, Roch Voisine and Ophélie Winter on Les Enfoirés' album Les Enfoirés en 2000. This 3:46 version is the 11th track. It was also covered in 2002 by Houcine and Anne-Laure Sibon, two contestants of Star Academy 2, on the album Fait sa boum. In 2008, French DJ Soma Riba, who covered many 1980s songs, made his own version of the song and, as for the original one, recorded it as a duet with Joniece Jamison.
Track listings
- "Joue pas" — 4:02
- "Joue pas" (instrumental) — 4:00
- "Joue pas" (maxi) — 6:45
- "Joue pas" (instrumental) — 6:10