Les Démons de minuit

"Les Démons de minuit" is the debut single of the French band Images. Released in June 1986, it was the first single from their first album Album d'Images. Very popular, the song was a huge hit in France and the main summer hit of 1986, peaking at number one for 13 weeks.

"Les démons de minuit"
Single by Images
from the album Album d'Images
B-side"Instrumental"
ReleasedJune 1986
Recorded1986
GenrePop
Length3:54 (album)
6:05 (extended)
LabelFlarenasch
Songwriter(s)Richard Seff
Stéphane Despres
Jean Louis Pujade
Phillipe Mimouni
Christophe Despres
Producer(s)Richard Seff
Images singles chronology
"Les démons de minuit"
(1986)		 "Corps à corps"
(1987)

Background and writing

"Les Démons de minuit" was also released as an English version (by the same group), titled "Love Emotion".[1] It was very difficult for the group to find a record company agreeing to sign a contract with them, because at the beginning nobody believed in the potential of the song. Christophe Desprès, who took part in the composition of the song, was also a member of the group Pacifique, which released two top 20 hits in the late 1980s. At the time, the music video apparently was regarded scandalous in France as it featured a little particular priest, tortured by the temptation among seductive women.

Chart performance

In France, "Les Démons de minuit" debuted at number 30 on the SNEP Singles Chart on 21 June 1986, reached the top 10 two weeks after and climbed to number on July 19, where it stayed for 13 weeks, and fell off the chart after 30 weeks.[2] The song thus hold the title of the song with most weeks at number one on the French Singles Chart, this record being also performed in 1987 by Licence IV's "Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison", and was beaten in 1993 by Jordy's "Dur dur d'être bébé!" which stayed at number one for 15 weeks.[3] In addition, "Les Démons de minuit" was a number one hit in the Walloon region of Belgium,[4] while it peaked at number 31 in the Flanders region of the same country.[5] On the overall Eurochart Hot 100, it started at number 84 on 5 July 1987, attained number 20 in its 10th week,[6] and fell off the chart after 28 weeks of presence. It also spent 13 weeks on the European Airplay Top 50, with a peak at number 21 twice.[7]

Cover versions

"Les Démons de minuit" was re-recorded by Images in 1996 in a remixed version and features in this new version on their cover album Jusqu'au bout de la nuit, which was number one on the French Albums Chart for four weeks in France and number six in Belgium (Wallonia). In 1999, the song was included in a successful medley entitled "Jusqu'au bout de la nuit", performed with Émile, the singer of French band Gold (number 12 in France, number 24 in Wallonia).[8][9]

The song was covered by DV8 feat. R. Fame in 2002. It was also covered by Soma Riba and DJ Fou in 2005, and this version achieved a minor success, failing to reach the top 50 (number 54 in France).[10] The playback of the song was also used for a rap version in English-language under the title "Devil's Rap", by "Ramsdy Jay and Gang".[1]

Track listings
  • 7" single
  1. "Les Démons de minuit" — 3:54
  2. "Les Démons de minuit" (instrumental) — 3:58
  • 12" maxi
  1. "Les Démons de minuit" — 6:05
  2. "Les Démons de minuit" (instrumental) — 4:25

Charts

Certifications and sales
Certifications for "Les Démons de minuit"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[13] Platinum 1,000,000*
France (SNEP)[14]
1999 Medley version 		Silver 125,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Habib, Elia. Muz hit.tubes. Alinéa Bis. p. 80. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  2. "Images – Les Démons de minuit" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  3. Alex P. King, Hit-parade, 20 ans de tubes, 2005, Pascal Ed., p. 9 (ISBN 978-2350190099) Vingt ans de tubes (Retrieved April 23, 2008)
  4. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 37. 20 September 1986. p. 14. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 15 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  5. "Images – Les Démons de minuit" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  6. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 35. 6 September 1986. p. 12-13. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 13 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  7. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 31. 9 August 1986. p. ?. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 15 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
  8. "Emile & Images – Jusqu'au bout de la nuit" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  9. "Emile & Images – Jusqu'au bout de la nuit" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  10. "Soma Riba feat. DJ Fou – Les Démons de minuit" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51–52. 27 December 1986. p. 28-29. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 4 October 2021 – via American Radio History.
  12. 1999 French Singles Chart Ifop.com Archived 2008-11-14 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved August 20, 2008)
  13. "French single certifications – Images – Les Démons de minuit" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 August 2022. Select IMAGES and click OK. 
  14. "French single certifications – Emile and Images – Les Démons de minuit" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 August 2022. Select EMILE AND IMAGES and click OK. 
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