(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie

"(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1982 as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome and also included on its 1984 North American counterpart, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Lea. "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" reached number 50 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for seven weeks.[2]

"(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie"
UK/European cover of "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie".
Single by Slade
from the album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome
B-side"Merry Xmas Everybody (Live & Kickin')"
Released19 November 1982[1]
GenreRock
Length3:43
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jim Lea
Slade singles chronology
"Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)"
(1982)		 "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie"
(1982)		 "My Oh My"
(1983)
Audio sample
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Background

Slade started recording their second studio album for RCA in 1982, and in November that year, the album's first single, "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie", was released. Attempting to appeal to the Christmas market, it reached No. 50 in the UK,[2] but fared better in Poland, reaching No. 2 there in January 1983, while also reaching No. 29 on Radio Luxembourg's chart.[3][4] As the song was not the big UK hit that both the band and RCA hoped for, the new album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome would not be released until December 1983. At the beginning of the year, RCA told the band that the album lacked potential chart hits and in the effort to amend that, the label hired producer John Punter to work on two new tracks "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway", both of which would go on to become big hits in 1983–84.[5]

"(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" was described by Holder as a "sentimental love song".[6] In a 1983 interview with Sounds, Lea said of the song: "We thought it was a ballad but when Dave Lee Travis played it, he said "That's Slade and now for a ballad" and put Lionel Ritchie on and then we realised ours wasn't a ballad at all. It came over like four idiots trying to tear their way out of the speakers."[7] Holder also told Sounds in 1983: "It looked as if it was going to be quite a big hit but unfortunately it didn't get much above #50 in the charts."[8]

In 2005, Holder appeared on his regular TV-reviewing slot on the BBC Radio 2 show The Radcliffe and Maconie Show. Asked to choose a track from the band's new compilation album The Very Best of Slade, Holder chose "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie". He felt the track, although not one of Slade's best-known singles, showed off his voice really well.[9]

Promotion

No music video was filmed to promote the single. In the UK, the band performed the song on the ITV children's music show Razzmatazz.[10] In December, Slade embarked on a UK tour, which promoted the single and the newly released Slade on Stage album.[11]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Malcolm Dome of Kerrang! described the song as an "excellent taster" of the band's new studio album.[12] In a review of The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome, Kerrang! said the song "tends to disappear into the clouds of its own long-winded ambition." Sounds said: "The "Sailing"-style scarves in the air of "My Oh My" is surpassed by the even more anthemic "C'est La Vie"".[13] In a retrospective review, Joe Geesin of the Get Ready to Rock! felt the song was a strange choice for a single.[14]

Formats

7-inch single (UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia)[15][16][17]

  1. "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" – 3:44
  2. "Merry Xmas Everybody" (Live & Kickin') – 4:03

Personnel

Slade

Production

  • Jim Lea – production ("(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie")
  • Slade – production ("Merry Xmas Everybody")

Charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 50

References
  1. "Slade - (And Now - the Waltz) C'Est la Vie".
  2. "Slade; full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  3. "Song artist 245 - Slade". Tsort.info. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  4. "Ultimate Music Database". Umdmusic.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. "Don's 1983 Diary - Don Powell Official Website". Donpowellofficial.com. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  6. "1984 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  7. "1983 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  8. "1983 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  9. The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  10. "Slade Ces'T La Vie". YouTube. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  11. "Don's Gigs 1971 - 1991 - Don Powell Official Website". Donpowellofficial.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  12. "From Roots To Boots: The Slade Story". Sladestory.blogspot.co.uk. 7 January 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  13. "1983 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  14. "Get Ready to ROCK! Review of CD album resissues by rock band Slade called The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome,You Boyz Make Big Noize,The Collection 70-87,Rogues Gallery". Getreadytorock.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  15. (And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie (UK and Dutch 7-inch single sleeve notes). Slade. RCA. 1982. RCA 291.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. (And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie (German 7-inch single sleeve notes). Slade. RCA. 1982. PB 68015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. (And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie (Australian 7-inch single sleeve notes). Slade. RCA Victor. 1982. 104099.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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