Summary
"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]
| "Wight Is Wight" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Michel Delpech | ||||
| B-side | "Wight Is Wight (instrumental)" | |||
| Released | 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1 October 1969[1] | |||
| Studio | Studio Davout, Paris, France | |||
| Genre | Chanson française, Pop | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | Barclay | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Michel Delpech, Roland Vincent | |||
| Producer(s) | Yves Roze | |||
| Michel Delpech singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 edit
| "Wight Is Wight" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sandie Shaw | ||||
| B-side | "That's The Way He's Made" | |||
| Released | 1970 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Pye | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Michel Delpech, Roland Vincent, Sandie Shaw | |||
| Sandie Shaw singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 edit
- "Wight Is Wight" (Delpech, Vincent) – 3:00
- "Wight Is Wight (instrumental)" (Delpech, Vincent) – 3:00
Chart performance edit
| 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 edit
- ^ "Michel Delpech – Wight is Wight (1969, Vinyl)". Discogs.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 278. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Stivell, Marco (2020-01-05). "Michel DELPECH : WIGHT IS WIGHT (1969)". fp.nightfall.fr. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ Pessis, Jacques; Leduc, Emilie (2003). Chronique de la chanson française. Trélissac, France: Editions Chronique. p. 66. ISBN 2-205-05521-6. OCLC 54003499.
- ^ "Discografia Nazionale della canzone italiana". Discografia.dds.it. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/master/1075158-Los-Campos-Mi-Reino-Bajo-El-Sol
- ^ "Billboard - Hits Of The World" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Billboard. 12 September 1970. p. 107.
- ^ "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres N° 1 des 70's". www.infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 2005-10-13.
- ^ "Michel Delpech - Wight Is Wight". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
- ^ "Michel Delpech - Wight Is Wight". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
External links edit
- Article about Michel Delpech at the French Wikipedia