"Sensualité" is a song recorded by Belgian singer-songwriter Axelle Red. It is the third single from her debut album, Sans plus attendre, released on 10 October 1993.[1] It is however her first single released in France.[2] In 1994, the song was very successful in France and is generally considered to be Axelle Red's signature song. It was also the first single of the singer released under her pseudonym of Axelle Red.

"Sensualité"
Single by Axelle Red
from the album Sans plus attendre
B-side"Femme au volant"
Released10 October 1993
Recorded1993
GenrePop
Length3:48
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Albert Hammond, Shelly Peiken,
Axelle Red
Producer(s)Wouter Van Belle
Axelle Red singles chronology
"Aretha et Moi"
(1992)
"Sensualité"
(1993)
"Elle danse seule"
(1994)
Audio sample
A 22 seconds sample from "Sensualité" where Red is singing the first refrain.

Background, lyrics and performances

edit

Lyrics were written and the music composed by Albert Hammond, Shelly Peiken and Axelle Red. This pop song deals with a love relationship in which the physical aspect is important. During an interview in the French programme La Méthode Cauet, Axelle Red explained that the song originally should have been named "Sexualité" ("Sexuality" in English), but this title was cancelled as it could have been perceived too provocative.

The song is the fourth track on the studio album Sans plus attendre. It also features on Axelle Red's albums French Soul as first track,[3] and on Alive, as first track too.[4] It is also available on many French and Belgian compilations, such as Bleu Blanc Tubes vol. 1, De Pré Historie 1993, Bel 90 - Het beste uit de Belpop van 1993 and 100 op 1 - De beste Belgen.

Chart performance

edit

In France, the single failed to dislodge IAM with "Je danse le Mia" who topped the singles chart at the time, but it remained on the chart (top 50) for 38 weeks. It charted from 22 January 1994. It debuted at number 27, then entered the top ten three weeks later, peaked at number two for six consecutive weeks and spent 19 weeks in the top ten.[5]

The song was certified gold[6] by the SNEP, the French certifier, and ranked number four on the 1993 year-end chart.[7]

Track listings

edit
  • CD single
  1. "Sensualité" — 3:48
  2. "Femme au volant" — 3:41
  • 7" single
  1. "Sensualité" — 3:48
  2. "Femme au volant" — 3:41
  • Cassette
  1. "Sensualité" — 3:48
  2. "Femme au volant" — 3:41

Charts and sales

edit

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[6] Gold 250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Axelle Red discography, officiel website". Axelle-Red. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  2. ^ Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinéa Bis. p. 286. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  3. ^ French Soul, track listing Lescharts.com (Retrieved May 7, 2008)
  4. ^ Alive, track listing Lescharts.com (Retrieved May 7, 2008)
  5. ^ a b ""Sensualité", French Singles Chart" (in French). Lescharts. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  6. ^ a b "French single certifications – Axelle Red – Sensualité" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. ^ a b "1994 French Singles Chart" (in French). Disqueenfrance. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  8. ^ "Axelle Red, "Sensualité" — Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
edit