"Coup de Boule" (French for "headbutt") is a French song written and performed by brothers Sébastien and Emmanuel Lipszyc, who run a firm called La Plage that produces television jingles, and Franck Lascombes. The soca-style song is about the France national football team's appearance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, especially Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi. After its release, the song spread throughout the world via the Internet and topped the French and Belgian (Wallonia) charts.[1]

"Coup de boule"
Single by La Plage
ReleasedJuly 2006
Recorded2006
GenrePop
Length2:43
LabelUp Music
Songwriter(s)Sébastien Lipszyc
Emmanuel Lipszyc
F. Lascombes

Background and writing

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The song was written and recorded in half an hour on 10 July 2006,[2] the day after the World Cup Final, and parodies "Zidane y va marquer" by Cauet.[3] The Lipszyc brothers and Lascombes distributed the song as a joke to about 50 friends over the Internet, and within hours it was playlisted by Skyrock, one of France's largest independent radio stations.[1] By 12 July Warner Music won the bidding war to license the song.[2] It was released as a one-song CD on 20 July and reached number one on the French charts on 2 August, supplanting "Zidane y va marquer".[3] As of July 2014, it is the 82nd best-selling single of the 21st century in France, with 334,000 units sold.[4]

There is also a Spanish version of the song. The CD single was released on 28 July 2006, while the international CD maxi was launched on 15 September 2006.

In France, the song was covered by Zouk de Foot who peaked at #82 on 12 August 2006.[5]

Track listings

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CD single
  1. "Coup de boule" — 2:43
  2. "Coup de boule" (instrumental) — 2:43
International - CD maxi
  1. "Coup de boule" — 2:43
  2. "Ballo della Capocciata" — 2:43
  3. "Zutsuki de Zidana" — 2:43
  4. "Cudebul" — 2:43
  5. "Coup de boule" (video)

Certifications and sales

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Country Certification Date Sales certified Physical sales
Belgium[6] Gold 2 September 2006 20,000
France Should be Platinum 333,518[7]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b AFP (2006-08-02). "Zidane's head-butt song tops French charts". ABC News Australia. Retrieved 2006-09-06.
  2. ^ a b Bremner, Charles (2006-08-01). "Zidane's head-butt sparks a chart hit". London: Times Online. Retrieved 2006-09-06.[dead link]
  3. ^ a b Pichevin, Aymeric (2006-08-20). "French novelty song a head-butting hit". ninemsn (Reuters). Archived from the original on 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2006-09-06.
  4. ^ "Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du millénaire en France, épisode 2 (90-81)". Chartsinfrance. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  5. ^ "Coup de boule" by Zouk de Foot, in French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
  6. ^ Belgian certification Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 22, 2008)
  7. ^ Fanofmusic.fr (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
  8. ^ a b c d "Coup de boule", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 9, 2008)
  9. ^ 2006 Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop.be Archived October 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved February 9, 2008)
  10. ^ 2006 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com Archived July 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved February 9, 2008)
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