Civilisation (album)
Civilisation is the fourth studio album by French rapper Orelsan, released on 19 November 2021 through 7th Magnitude, 3e Bureau and Wagram. The album was largely produced by long-time collaborator Skread and features guest appearances by Gringe and The Neptunes. It marks his first album release in over four years.
Civilisation | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 19 November 2021 | |||
Genre | French rap | |||
Length | 57:43 | |||
Language | French | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Orelsan chronology | ||||
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Singles from Civilisation | ||||
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The album made a record-breaking debut on the French Albums Chart, selling more units than any other album in 2021. The album topped at 1st on French and Belgian (Wallonia) charts, as well as 2nd on Swiss charts at its best week. It was certified diamond by the SNEP within five months in France, becoming the fastest album to be certified diamond in the history of French rap.[1][2]
According to the SNEP, Civilisation was the No.1 selling album in France for two consecutive years of 2021 and 2022.[3][4]
Background and reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Focus Vif | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Le Devoir | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Le Parisien | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Prior to its release, Orelsan did not reveal much about the album.[8] According to him, in his mind the record signifies a "deconstruction".[9] In late October 2021, it was announced that physical copies of the album would arrive in 15 different designs.[8] Two vinyl editions of the album were released on 10 December 2021.[10]
Civilisation sees the rapper departing from his "crazed humour" trademark style, instead settling for more "committed and personal tracks",[11] in a soundscape between "drill" and "disco".[12] French publication Le Parisien called Civilisation the best French rap album of 2021.[7] However, the record was also criticised for containing too much singing while it was also noted that the rapper took himself too seriously at times.[13]
Commercial performance
In its first three days, Civilisation sold 94,306 units, beating a record previously held by PNL's Deux frères (2019).[14] The album arrived atop the French Albums Chart, moving 138,929 units in its first week, 96,615 of which were physical sales.[15] The sum reset the record for the largest opening week in France for an album in 2021, beating Adele's 30 which debuted at number two the same week.[16]
The lead single "L'odeur de l'essence" reached number one on the French Singles Chart. The other lead single "Jour Meilleur" reached number one the following week. All of the album tracks entered the French Singles Chart Top 20 in its first week, nine of which reached the Top 10.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Shonen" | Skread | 2:33 | |
2. | "La quête" |
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| 4:04 |
3. | "Du propre" |
| Skread | 3:47 |
4. | "Bébéboa" |
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| 3:02 |
5. | "Rêve mieux" |
| Phazz | 3:44 |
6. | "Seul avec du monde autour" |
| Skread | 3:28 |
7. | "Manifeste" |
| Skread | 7:22 |
8. | "L'odeur de l'essence" |
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| 4:42 |
9. | "Jour meilleur" |
| Skread | 3:01 |
10. | "Baise le monde" |
| Skread | 3:45 |
11. | "Casseurs Flowters Infinity" (with Gringe) |
| Skread | 3:08 |
12. | "Dernier verre" (featuring The Neptunes) |
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| 3:23 |
13. | "Ensemble" (featuring Skread) |
| Skread | 4:43 |
14. | "Athéna" |
| Phazz | 2:52 |
15. | "Civilisation" |
| Skread | 4:05 |
Total length: | 57:43 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "CP_001_ Intro Civilisation Perdue" | Skread | 2:41 | |
2. | "CP_002_ Les aventures de MiniSan" |
| Skread | 4:46 |
3. | "CP_003_ Toujours perdu quand même" |
| Skread | 3:38 |
4. | "CP_004_ Juste un dernier" |
| Skread | 3:09 |
5. | "CP_005_ Ok... Super..." |
| Skread | 2:22 |
6. | "CP_006_ Ah la France" |
| Skread | 2:31 |
7. | "CP_007_ Point de rupture" |
| Skread | 3:42 |
8. | "CP_008_ Nous contre le monde" |
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| 2:47 |
9. | "CP_009_ Évidemment" (with Angèle) |
| Skread | 3:26 |
10. | "CP_010_ On a gagné" |
| Skread | 3:45 |
Total length: | 60:30 |
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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France (SNEP)[27] | Diamond | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- "Orelsan : Civilisation devient le disque de diamant le plus rapide du rap français". 29 April 2022.
- "Orelsan : "Civilisation" est disque de diamant en seulement 161 jours". 29 April 2022.
- "Orelsan : "Civilisation" est l'album le plus vendu de 2021 en France". 3 January 2022.
- "ORELSAN : «CIVILISATION» EST L'ALBUM LE PLUS VENDU EN FRANCE EN 2022". 6 January 2023.
- "[l'album de la semaine] Orelsan - Civilisation: Gagné d'avance". 26 November 2021.
- "Civilisation, Orelsan".
- Bureau, Eric (19 November 2021). "Pourquoi "Civilisation" d'Orelsan est le meilleur album de rap français de l'année". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- "Orelsan : "Ma meuf et la société", ce qu'on trouve dans son nouvel album "Civilisation"". Le Journal de Saône-et-Loire (in French). 19 November 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Orelsan et Skread vous racontent l'histoire derrière chaque titre de "Civilisation"". France Inter (in French). 26 November 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Orelsan : les vinyles de "Civilisation" épuisés et déjà revendus". Mouv' (in French). 11 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- Nuc, Olivier (23 November 2021). "Sa "meuf", la société et le sens de la vie… Orelsan se cherche dans son album Civilisation". Le Figaro Magazine (in French). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- Binet, Stéphanie (19 November 2021). "" Civilisation ", le grand cru d'Orelsan". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- Boucaud-Victoire, Kévin (22 November 2021). "Orelsan et Skread vous racontent l'histoire derrière chaque titre de "Civilisation"". Marianne (in French). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- Delwasse, Samuel (22 November 2021). "Avec Civilisation, Orelsan réalise le meilleur démarrage de l'histoire du rap français". Konbini (in French). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- JeuneDauphine (26 November 2021). "Orelsan plus fort que PNL : les ventes incroyables de son album Civilisation". booska-p.com (in French). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- Bureau, Eric (26 November 2021). "138 929 ventes en une semaine : avec "Civilisation", Orelsan bat tous les records et devance largement Adele". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Ultratop.be – Orelsan – Civilisation" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Ultratop.be – Orelsan – Civilisation" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Lescharts.com – Orelsan – Civilisation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Swisscharts.com – Orelsan – Civilisation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- "Rapports annuels 2021". Ultratop. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- "Top de l'année Top Albums 2021" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2021". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- "Rapports annuels 2022" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- "2022: La production musicale française toujours au top" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2022". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- "French album certifications – Orelsan – Civilisation" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 29 May 2022.