XXL (Mylène Farmer song)

After the failure of Laurent Boutonnat's film Giorgino in 1993, in which she played, Farmer decided to move to Los Angeles, willing to return to anonymity.{{cite book |first=Élia |last=Habib |title=Muz hit. tubes |page=330 |year=2002 |publisher=Alinéa Bis |language=fr |isbn=2-9518832-0-X}} In 1995, she found the inspiration to write new songs by reading various books, including La Mort intime by French author Marie de Hennezel, and The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.{{cite web |title=Discographie du single "XXL" |url=http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/discographie/singles/single.php?single=xxl |publisher=Sans-logique |first=Julien |last=Rigal |language=fr |access-date=8 January 2008}} She then asked Laurent Boutonnat to join her in California to produce together a new album, which would become Anamorphosée. However, following the failure of Giorgino, they decided to propose a new public image for the singer, and a new sound with rock sensibilities, inspired by the success of grunge and alternative rock scene in the early 1990s. When the French channel M6 announced the name and content of the first single, "XXL", it surprised the fans, since the album was not released yet. Long-term fans did not expect such a musical departure;Khairallah, 2007, p. 27. some of them decided to turn their back on the new universe proposed by the duo Farmer / Boutonnat, but a new public was won over.{{cite web |title=Mylène Farmer – "XXL" – Histoire du single |url=http://www.mylene.net/mylene/d_s_xxl_histoire.php |publisher=Mylene.net |language=fr |access-date=4 March 2010}}

The promotion began on 24 August 1995. Some medias received a sizeable custom-made display rack, designed by Henry Neu, consisting of a giant "XXL" made in wrought iron, with the CD placed between the two "X" letters. The CD single was released on 19 September 1995. The various remixes on the four formats were all produced by Laurent Boutonnat and Bertrand Châtenet. It was Farmer's first single cover on which she did not appear (the second was later "L'Histoire d'une fée, c'est...").

Another remix, named 'UK remix', has been made about a year later by Richard Dekkard, and released on the "Rêver" CD maxi. As for the 'JXL remix', it was produced by the Dutch musician Junkie XL and features on the compilation RemixeS.

"XXL" can be interpreted as a feminist song, in which Farmer expresses women's need of love, in the form of a prayer. For the first time, the message of her song is not universal, since it is exclusively for women.Royer, 2008, p. 209. She evokes all kinds of women: bourgeois, homeless, romantic, pessimistic, feminists, anti-abortion, great ladies, prostitutes, transsexuals, celebrities, women who are suffering or not from the AIDS virus.Cachin, 2006, pp. 267–72. The name of the song is a reference to the largest size of ready-to-wear clothes in the United-States.{{cite journal |journal=La Dernière Heure |date=16 July 1995 |title=Mylène en XXL |first=Eddy |last=Przybylski |url=http://www.mylene.net/presse/presse1995/mylene-farmer_presse_la-derniere-heure_16-07-1995.jpg |place=Brussels |language=fr |access-date=6 June 2011}} Unlike most of the songs lyrics written by Farmer, which tend to be cryptic and loaded with literary references, those of "XXL" are relatively straightforward and easy to understand.Rajon, 2005, p. 101.

The song has a rock sound with riffs by guitarist Jeff Dahlgren,Chuberre, 2007, pp. 305–06. "electric guitars are ultra-present, the rhythm is more aggressive".Chuberre, 2008, pp. 174–77. As its very outset, the track has a strong driving rhythm.

File:XXL (video).jpg, hooked at the front of the 1910 locomotive used in Richard Attenborough's film Chaplin, wears a dress made by fashion designer Thierry Mugler.]]

Unlike Farmer's previous music videos, this one was not directed by Laurent Boutonnat, but by Marcus Nispel.{{cite journal |journal=France Soir |date=19 September 1995 |title=Mylène Farmer – Anamorphosée |first=Richard |last=Gianorio |url=http://www.mylene.net/presse/presse1995/mylene-farmer_presse_france-soir_19-09-1995.jpg |place=Paris |language=fr |access-date=6 June 2011}} This Requiem Publishing production cost about 80,000 euros (230,000 euros, according to journalist Benoît Cachin) and was shot in two days one for Farmer, one for the extras – in August 1995, in Fillmore, California,{{cite web |title=Interview of Mylène Farmer, on Paris Première, by Paul Amar |year=1996 |url=http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/farmer+amar+paris+premi%C3%A8re/video/x1f7ss_20h-paris-premiere-33_music |publisher=Dailymotion |language=fr |access-date=15 January 2008}} on the Fillmore and Western Railway.Royer, 2008, p. 92. Based on an idea by Farmer, the video shows a 1910 locomotive being driven at high speed, which is frequently interpreted as a symbol of sexual intercourse.{{cite journal |last1=Bee |first1=Caroline |last2=Brunet |first2=Océane |last3=Thiry |first3=Benjamin |last4=Parpette |first4=Jennifer |year=2001 |title="Fuck You" Acte 1 |journal=Instant-Mag |publisher=Tear Prod |location=Pantin |language=fr |volume=7 |page=6}}-This train was also used in the 1992 movie Chaplin, directed by Richard Attenborough{{cite journal |journal=Télé 7 Jours |volume=1849 |title=Mylène Farmer – Son étrange confession |first=Fabrice |last=Guillermet |publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias |place=Levallois-Perret |language=fr}}

Producer Anouk Nora explained that some difficulties were met during the shooting: "The idea of putting the artist hanging in front of a moving train, it was unthinkable. Because in the United States, they are sticklers on security issues." Thus, it was necessary to sign release forms in order to allow the filming. Moreover, Farmer burned herself twice during the shooting.Royer, 2008, p. 158. For the shooting, the singer remained hung on this locomotive for nearly five hours under a 40 °C temperature and was scared because it ran sometimes very quickly. She wore a dress made by French fashion designer Thierry Mugler.Violet, 2004, pp. 173–75. No tricks were used, and according to author Erwan Chuberre, "the staging is firmly photographic", but there is "no screenplay". In the video, Farmer appears much more "glamorous and sophisticated woman" than before and "proudly proclaims her femininity".

File:Fillmore, California panorama 1.jpgThe video premiered on 18 September 1995 on M6.{{cite journal |journal=Libération |date=18 September 1995 |title=Le nouveau clip de Mylène Farmer |url=http://www.mylene.net/img_data/liberation_18091995.jpg |publisher=Libération SARL |place=Paris |language=fr |access-date=23 March 2008}} Shot in black and white,{{cite journal |journal=Le Parisien |date=18 September 1995 |title=Découvrez ce soir le nouveau clip de Mylène Farmer |url=http://www.mylene.net/presse/presse1995/mylene-farmer_presse_le-parisien_18-09-1995.jpg |publisher=Éditions Philippe Amaury |place=Saint-Ouen |language=fr |access-date=6 June 2011}} it features Farmer hung on at the front of a moving locomotive, filmed in an orange grove.{{cite web |title=Clip "XXL" |url=http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/clips/clip.php?clip=xxl |publisher=Sans-logique |first=Julien |last=Rigal |language=fr |access-date=8 January 2008}} These images alternate with those of the train passengers who are very different from each other (social origin, race, age, marital status...). The action probably takes place in the United States in the mid-twentieth century, as evidenced by the sets and costumes.Bee, 2006, p. 148.

The song was never performed on television, but was performed on the 1996, 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2023 concerts.

The song was the last one performed during the 1996 tour, and is also the last on the Live à Bercy album from that tour. It began with the sound of a train, then the scene was fumigated. Farmer, raised on a hoist, wore an indented black outfit, and her dancers wore pants and a golden tank top.{{cite web |title=Live à Bercy (1996) – Description du live |url=http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/live/live-a-bercy/ |publisher=Sans-logique |first=Julien |last=Rigal |language=fr |access-date=5 July 2010}} The song was scheduled for the 2000 Mylenium Tour, but finally rejected. During the 2006 series of concerts, the hall was fully blue when "XXL" was performed. The singer asked the audience to clap their hands, and at the end of the song, the refrain was repeated by Farmer and the audience.{{cite web |title=Avant que l'ombre... à Bercy (2006) – Description du live |url=http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/live/avant-que-lombre/ |publisher=Sans-logique |first=Julien |last=Rigal |language=fr |access-date=5 July 2010}} The song was performed again on the 2009 tour; Farmer wore a glittering short dress with red cape with hood; at one point, she caresses her guitarists from the torso to the crotch.Royer, 2008, p. 342. For the 2013 Timeless Tour, "XXL" was performed as the 17th song of the setlist. This version had a melancholic intro with samples of "A-t-on jamais" from her album Monkey Me, then, after the first verse, the song turned into its original arrangement while rotating lights lit up the crowd and the stage. Mylène wore a black suit with a white shirt, and black tie and black high-heeled shoes. During this tour, Mylène asked the crowd to sing the chorus only on a few dates.

The song was parodied in 1996 by Le Festival Roblès under the title "L'Amour en 4L",{{cite web |title=Émission : Le festival Robles de 1995 à 2001 sur NRJ |url=http://blog90.over-blog.fr/article-21598896.html |publisher=Blog 90 |date=28 July 2008 |language=fr |access-date=4 March 2010}} and was covered by Rejane in 1998.{{cite web |title="XXL", cover by Rejane |url=http://www.sans-logique.com/mylene-farmer/discographie/reprises/reprise.php?reprise=rejane-xxl |publisher=Sans-logique |language=fr |access-date=4 March 2010}} In 2009, Belgian singer Jonatan Cerrada made a comeback in his singing career with an acoustic cover version of "XXL".{{cite web |title=Jonatan Cerrada reprend "XXL" de Mylène Farmer |author=Thierry Cadet |date=18 September 2009 |url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Jonatan-Cerrada/news-68611.html |publisher=Chartsinfrance |language=fr |access-date=4 March 2010}} In 2010, Les Enfoirés recorded a cover of the song for their album La Crise de nerfs!; the singers on this version are Amel Bent, Grégoire Boissenot, Hélène Segara, Lorie, Renan Luce and Lââm for the verses.{{cite web |title=Les Enfoirés, La Crise de nerfs!, track listings and charts |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Les+Enfoir%E9s&titel=2010%3A+Les+Enfoir%E9s%2E%2E%2E+la+crise+de+nerfs%21&cat=a |publisher=Lescharts |language=fr |access-date=19 March 2010}}

On 23 September 1995, the single entered directly at number one on French Top 50 singles chart, making it her third top charting single. However, the single dropped quickly over the next weeks. It remained for five weeks in the top 10 and was listed for a total of twelve weeks in the Top 50.{{cite web |title=Mylène Farmer — "XXL", French Singles Chart |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=XXL&cat=s |publisher=Lescharts |language=fr |access-date=5 December 2007}} It was the 42nd best-selling single of the year 1995 in France.{{cite web|title=Classement Singles – année 1995 |url=http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/monopage.xml?id=259376&year=1995 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |language=fr |access-date=30 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307201551/http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/monopage.xml?id=259376&year=1995 |archive-date=7 March 2012 }} In December 2017, the single was re-edited and re-entered the chart at number 27, staying three weeks in the top 200.

In Belgium (Wallonia), the single ranked on the Ultratop 50 chart for 14 weeks, from 7 October 1995 to 6 January 1996. It went straight into the top ten and reached a peak of number three for two non-consecutive weeks. It totaled seven weeks in the top ten{{cite web |title=Mylène Farmer — "XXL", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/c1e/Mylene-Farmer-XXL |publisher=Ultratop |language=fr |access-date=3 January 2007}} and was the 36th best-selling single of 1995.{{cite web|title=Rapports Annuels 1995 — Singles |url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1995 |publisher=Ultratop |language=fr |access-date=21 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414112334/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=1995 |archive-date=14 April 2014 }}

"XXL" stayed on Swiss Singles Chart for ten weeks, from 15 October to 17 December 1995, including a peaked at number 11 on 5 November, then dropped. This peak position remains for Farmer her highest placement in Switzerland.{{cite web |title=Mylène Farmer — "XXL", Swiss Singles Chart |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Myl%E8ne+Farmer&titel=XXL&cat=s |publisher=Hitparade |language=de |access-date=5 December 2007}}

These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "XXL":{{cite web |title=Mylène Farmer – "XXL" – Supports |url=http://www.mylene.net/mylene/d_s_xxl_supports.php |publisher=Mylene.net |language=fr |access-date=1 March 2010}}

• CD single – Black CD with white writing{{cite AV media notes|title=XXL |others=Mylène Farmer |date=1995 |type=Black CD-one Single liner notes |publisher=Polydor |id=577 152-2 |url=http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer-referentiel_xxl_cd-single-france-cd-noir.php |language=fr}} / CD single – Gilt CD{{cite AV media notes|title=XXL |others=Mylène Farmer |date=1995 |type=Gilt CD-one Single liner notes |publisher=Polydor |id=577 152-2 |url=http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer-referentiel_xxl_cd-single-france-cd-or.php |language=fr}} / CD single – Japan – Long box{{cite AV media notes|title=XXL |others=Mylène Farmer |date=1995 |type=Japan CD-one Single liner notes |publisher=Polydor |id=PODP 1121 |url=http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer-referentiel_xxl_cd-single-japon.php |language=fr}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = XXL

| note1 = single version

| length1= 4:23

| title2 = XXL

| note2 = no voice remix edit

| length2= 4:20

}}

• CD maxi – Crystal case{{cite AV media notes |title=XXL |others=Mylène Farmer |date=1995 |type=Maxi CD Single liner notes |publisher=Polydor |id=577 153-2 |url=http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer-referentiel_xxl_cd-maxi-france-cristal.php |language=fr}} / CD maxi – Digipack{{cite AV media notes |title=XXL |others=Mylène Farmer |date=1995 |type=Digipack Maxi CD Single liner notes |publisher=Polydor |id=577 153-2 |url=http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer-referentiel_xxl_cd-maxi-france-digipak.php |language=fr}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = XXL

| note1 = single version

| length1= 4:23

| title2 = XXL

| note2 = distorded dance mix

| length2= 5:20

| title3 = XXL

| note3 = extra large remix

| length3= 5:02

| title4 = XXL

| note4 = new remix edit

| length4= 4:25

}}

• CD maxi – Germany{{cite AV media notes |title=XXL |others=Mylène Farmer |date=1995 |type=German Maxi CD Single liner notes |publisher=Polydor |id=577 391-2 |url=http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer-referentiel_xxl_cd-maxi-europe.php |language=fr}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = XXL

| note1 = single version

| length1= 4:27

| title2 = XXL

| note2 = extra large remix

| length2= 5:06

| title3 = XXL

| note3 = new remix edit

| length3= 4:43

| title4 = XXL

| note4 = distorded dance mix

| length4= 5:19

| title5 = XXL

| note5 = single dance mix

| length5= 4:23

}}

• 12" maxi{{cite AV media notes|title=XXL |others=Mylène Farmer|date=1995 |type=7-inch Vinyl liner notes |publisher=Polydor |id=577 153-1 |url=http://mylene.net/mylene/mylene-farmer-referentiel_xxl_maxi-45-tours-france.php |language=fr}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = XXL

| note1 = extra large remix

| length1= 5:02

| title2 = XXL

| note2 = distorded dance mix

| length2= 5:20

}}

These are the credits and the personnel as they appear on the back of the single:{{cite web |title=Mylène Farmer – "XXL" – Crédits |url=http://www.mylene.net/mylene/d_s_xxl_credits.php |publisher=Mylene.net |language=fr |access-date=3 April 2010}}

• Mylène Farmer – lyrics
• Laurent Boutonnat – music, mixing
• Bertrand Châtenet – mixing
• Requiem Publishing – editions
• Com'N.B – design

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{{Reflist}}

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• {{cite book |title=Mylène Farmer, la part d'ombre |last1=Bee |first1=Caroline |last2=Bioy |first2=Antoine |last3=Thiry |first3=Benjamin |date=January 2006 |publisher=L'Archipel |language=fr |isbn=2-84187-790-6|ref=Bee}}
• {{cite book |title=Le Dictionnaire des Chansons de Mylène Farmer |last=Cachin |first=Benoît |year=2006 |publisher=Tournon |language=fr |isbn=2-35144-000-5|ref=Cachin}}
• {{cite book |title=L'Intégrale Mylène Farmer |last=Chuberre |first=Erwan |year=2007 |publisher=City |language=fr |isbn=978-2-35288-108-7|ref=Chuberre}}
• {{cite book |title=Mylène Farmer, phénoménale |last=Chuberre |first=Erwan |year=2008 |publisher=City |language=fr |isbn=978-2-35288-176-6|ref=Chuberre2}}
• {{cite book |title=Mylène Farmer : Des mots sur nos désirs |last=Chuberre |first=Erwan |date=18 June 2009 |publisher=Alphée |language=fr |isbn=978-2-7538-0477-7|ref=Chuberre3}}
• {{cite book |title=Mylène Farmer, le culte - L'envers du décor |last=Khairallah |first=Sophie |year=2007 |publisher=Why Not |language=fr |isbn=978-2-916611-25-9|ref=Khairallah}}
• {{cite book |title=Mylène Farmer de A à Z |last=Rajon |first=Florence |year=2005 |publisher=MusicBook |language=fr |isbn=2-84343-319-3|ref=Rajon}}
• {{cite book |title=Mylène, biographie |last=Royer |first=Hugues |year=2008 |publisher=Flammarion |place=Spain |language=fr |isbn=978-2-35287-139-2|ref=Royer}}
• {{cite book |title=Mylène Farmer, biographie |last=Violet |first=Bernard |year=2004 |publisher=J'ai lu |language=fr |isbn=2-290-34916-X|ref=Violet}}

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{{Mylène Farmer}}

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Category:1995 singles

Category:Mylène Farmer songs

Category:Songs with lyrics by Mylène Farmer

Category:Songs with music by Laurent Boutonnat

Category:Songs with feminist themes

Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Music videos directed by Marcus Nispel

Category:Black-and-white music videos