"Les Cactus" is the third single by French singer-songwriter Jacques Dutronc, released in 1967. It is the last from his self-titled debut album.

"Les Cactus"
Single by Jacques Dutronc
ReleasedFebruary 1967
Recorded1966
GenreFrench rock
Length2:42
LabelDisques Vogue
Songwriter(s)Jacques Lanzmann, Jacques Dutronc
Producer(s)Unknown
Jacques Dutronc singles chronology
"Les play boys"
(1966)
"Les Cactus"
(1967)
"J'aime les filles"
(1967)

It reached number 4 in the French singles chart in March 1967, selling over 400,000 copies.[1][2]

The song was referenced by French Prime Minister Georges Pompidou in the Assemblée Nationale to indicate his feelings towards his former Finance Minister, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who was a harsh critic of his successor Michel Debré: "As Jacques Dutronc says, there is a cactus here". The comment made front-page news.[2]

A live cover of the song was released as a single by Vanessa Paradis in 1994.

The song was covered by The Last Shadow Puppets on their The Dream Synopsis EP.

Track listing

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Words by Jacques Lanzmann and music by Jacques Dutronc, except "La Compapade", words and music by Jacques Dutronc.

Side A

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No.TitleLength
1."Les Cactus"02:42
2."L'espace d'une fille"02:45

Side B

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No.TitleLength
1."L'opération"03:09
2."La Compapade"03:19

Personnel

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  • Jacques Dutronc: voice, guitar, percussion
  • Hadi Kalafate: bass, percussion
  • Alain Le Govic (alias Alain Chamfort): piano, organ
  • Jean-Pierre Alarcen: guitar
  • Jacques Pasut: rhythm guitar
  • Michel Pelay: drums
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References

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  1. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. 4 March 1967. p. 66.
  2. ^ a b Michel Leydier (2010). Jacques Dutronc: La Bio. Paris: Seuil, p. 117