"Cash City" is a 1990 song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Luc De Larochellière. Written De Larochellière, this pop song was released in 1991 as the first single from his second album Sauvez mon âme which won the Félix Award for best album of the year. In Quebec, it was a hit, as the other singles from the album were also, but was De Larochellière's only charting single in France.
| "Cash City" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Luc De Larochellière | ||||
| from the album Sauvez mon âme | ||||
| B-side | "La machine est mon amie" | |||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1990 | |||
| Studio | Le Majeure, Montreal | |||
| Genre | Pop, chanson | |||
| Length | 4:33 | |||
| Label | Trema | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Luc De Larochellière | |||
| Luc De Larochellière singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and lyrics
editDe Larochelière explained that eight months passed between the single's release in France and the moment he started promoting it in the country, which led him to come regularly after his concerts in Quebec; however, he said he felt then he was used as a commercial product and disliked the fact that the marketing plan was out of his control.[1] Lyrically, "Cash City" describes with irony a society marked by ostensible consumerism, insatiable search for money and importance of appearances.[2]
Critical reception
editAgnès Gaudet of Le Journal de Montréal considers "Cash City" and "Sauvez ma vie" as songs "both joyful and engaged".[3] A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media describes "Cash City" as "the kind of song that could have easily fit in the folky repertoire of John Mellencamp in his Lonesome Jubilee period" and added that "the use of accordion gives it the right atmosphere for both the EHR and AC formats".[4] De Larochelière said that in Africa, where he toured, the song was popular and people knew the lyrics by heart.[5]
Chart performance
editIn Quebec, Larochelière's home-country, "Cash City" spent seven weeks at number one on the airplay chart. In France, it debuted at number 48 on the chart edition of 23 November 1991, then performed the biggest jump of the week to reach number 25 and eventually peaked at number 11 twice, in its eighth and 13th weeks; it stayed in the top 20 for 11 weeks and in the top 50 for 20 weeks.[6] It entered the European Hot 100 Singles at number 88 on 11 January 1992 and remained for ten non consecutive weeks on the chart, with a peak at number 60 in the third week.[7]
Cover versions
editIn 2006, De Larochellière recorded a new version of "Cash City" as a duet with French singer Francis Cabrel for his album Voix croisées. In 2012, Garou covered "Cash City" on his album Rhythm and Blues, a version which André Péloquin of Voir considered as recorded with a twang recalling Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.[8]
Track listings
edit- 7" single[9]
- "Cash City" — 4:33
- "La machine est mon amie" — 3:59
- CD single[10]
- "Cash City" — 4:33
- "La machine est mon amie" — 3:59
Personnel
edit- Artwork — FKGB
- Photography (first edition) — Flomen
- Photography (second edition) — J.F. Gratton
Charts
edit| Chart (1991-1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (European Hot 100)[7] | 60 |
| France (Airplay Chart [AM Stations])[11] | 8 |
| France (Airplay Chart [FM Stations])[12] | 3 |
| France (SNEP)[6] | 11 |
| Québec (Francophone chart)[13] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ Martin, Steve (13 November 2020). ""Mes chansons étaient des cris d'alarme" - Luc De Larochellière". tvanouvelles.ca (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ Provencher, Normand (14 July 2019). "Luc de Larochellière: Retour en Amère América". Le Soleil (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ Gaudet, Agnès (14 July 2018). "Photos souvenirs: Luc De Larochellière". Le Journal de Montréal (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Spotlight – France" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 12. 21 March 1992. p. 15. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 31 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Sauvé, Mathieu-Robert (19 May 2017). "Citoyen de Larochellière". L'Actualité (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Luc De Larochellière – Cash City" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 4. 25 January 1992. p. 29. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 31 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Péloquin, André (14 February 2013). "Garou reprend le " hit " Lonely Boy des Black Keys. À écouter!". voir.ca (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Cash City" at Discogs, 7" single (Luc De Larochellière – "Cash City") (accessdate: 31 October 2021).
- ^ "Cash City" at Discogs, CD single (Luc De Larochellière – "Cash City") (accessdate: 31 October 2021).
- ^ "National airplay – France AM" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 2. 11 January 1992. p. 20. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 31 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "National airplay – France FM" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 6. 8 February 1992. p. 21. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 31 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Michel Gignac. "Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes" (pdf). banq.qc.ca (in French). Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. p. 202. Retrieved 31 October 2021.