Vous êtes fous !

Background and writing

No producer thought that Benny B could released a hit, except Olivier Verhaeghe, the director of the studio Vie Privée, which had "the audacity to believe in Benny B...". He convinced them to change their "too aggressive rhythm, "hip hop" as we call in the United States" for a techno sound easier to be aired on radio and in discothèques. At the time, they believed that they would not be able to sell more than 5 or 6,000 discs.

The song was written and the music composed by Vito Lucente, Alain Deproost, Amid Gharbaoui and R. Quyssens.

Several words ('Et qui l'accompagne ?', 'Mais vous êtes fous!', 'Oh oui!') are sampled from an episode of Captain Future, "The Adventures of Captain Future", released as a single in 1981. The introduction uses a guitar riff from the 1972 song, "Son of Shaft", recorded by The Bar-Kays.

"Vous êtes fous!" was the first hip-hop hit in France, succeeded by the following singles of Benny B and those of MC Solaar, from 1991. It was also recorded in Spanish-language, under the title "Estáis locos!". This version features as tenth track on L'Album. Several remixes, produced by R. Cue, Vito Lucente and DJ Daddy K, were available on the various formats.

There were also a cover version by Suzy D (Suzy Naguy), a female alter ego of Benny B. This version was released under the title "Mais vous êtes sottes! (zot)" with New Belgian Sound label and has different lyrics ; however, it remains much more confidential than Benny B's version.

Chart performances and awards

In France, the song debuted at the bottom of the chart (number 42) on 26 May 1990. However, it gained a few positions every week and reached the top ten in the sixth week on the chart. Although the song failed to reach number one (the two summer hits, "Maldòn (la musique dans la peau) by Zouk Machine and "Soca Dance" by Charles D. Lewis topped the chart then) and peaked only at number three, it remained for 18 consecutive weeks in the top ten and dropped very slowly, totaling 29 weeks on the chart (top 50).

The same year, the single was certified Gold disc by he SNEP for at least 500,000 sales. According to Infodisc website, about 439,000 copies of the single were sold. The song is the 725th best-selling single of all time in France.

In Belgium, on September 22, 1990, the group received a gold disc in the basement of the Galeries Louise for having sold more than 50,000 discs.

Track listings

1. "Vous êtes fous!" (techno version) (3:12)
2. "Vous êtes fous!" (hip hop mix) (3:08)

1. "Vous êtes fous!" (techno version) (4:48)
2. "Vous êtes fous!" (hip hop mix) (3:08)
3. "Vous êtes fous!" (radio edit) (3:00)
4. "Vous êtes fous!" (a cappella) (1:24)
5. "Vous êtes fous!" (wild mix) (4:48)

1. "Vous êtes fous!" (techno version) (4:48)
2. "Vous êtes fous!" (hip hop mix) (3:08)
3. "Vous êtes fous!" (radio edit) (3:00)
4. "Vous êtes fous!" (a cappella) (1:24)
5. "Vous êtes fous!" (wild mix) (4:48)

1. "Vous êtes fous!" (dance remix) (5:03)
2. "Vous êtes fous!" (a cappella) (1:24)
3. "Vous êtes fous!" (vito mix) (4:41)
4. "Vous êtes fous!" (Daddy K hip hop remix) (3:59)

1. "Vous êtes fous!" (vito mix) (4:41)
2. "Vous êtes fous!" (Daddy K hip hop remix) (3:59)
3. "Vous êtes fous!" (dance remix) (5:03)
4. "Vous êtes fous!" (a cappella) (1:24)