Fais-moi une place

"Fais-moi une place" is a 1989 pop song recorded by French singer Julien Clerc. Written by Françoise Hardy with a music composed by Clerc, it was the first single from his 15th studio album Fais-moi une place, on which it appears as the seventh track, and was released in January 1990. It achieved success in France where it was a top ten hit and won the category "Song of the year" at the 1991 Victoires de la Musique.

"Fais-moi une place"
Single by Julien Clerc
from the album Fais-moi une place
B-side	"Gare à la casse"
Released	January 1990
Recorded	1989
Genre	Pop, chanson
Length	3:35
Label	Virgin
Composer(s)	Julien Clerc
Lyricist(s)	Françoise Hardy
Producer(s)	Phil Ramone
Julien Clerc singles chronology
"Les Menhirs" (1988) "Fais-moi une place" (1990) "Fille de feu" (1990)

Background and writing

Clerc and Hardy had a first collaboration in 1988, on Clerc's album Les Aventures à l'eau. In 1989, he proposed to Hardy several of his compositions, but she was not interested by them; however, the last one he played, the one which was later that of "Fais-moi une place", pleased her, though the melody was not finished. Hardy had an audio cassette of the composition, and about three days later, she sent Clerc a version of "Fais-moi une place" with her own lyrics and sung by her, asking him not to change a single thing, as she deemed that the first attempt was always good and that she would not rewrite the lyrics. Clerc eventually recorded the song in New York.^[1][2]

Music video

The black and white music video for "Fais-moi une place" was directed by Didier Le Pecheur.^[3]

Critical reception

"Fais-moi une place" was elected "Song of the year" at the 1991 Victoires de la Musique. Elia Habib, an expert of the French charts, qualified it as a "1990s standard",^[4] and Anthony Martin of RTL deemed it a "great" and "melancholy" song.^[1]

Cover versions

In 1989, the same year of the recording by Clerc, Hardy made her own version of "Fais-moi une place" on the compilation Vingt ans vingt titres, as she stated she liked the song. In 1990, American group Comateens covered the song in a very bubble gum version titled "A place for Me", which was released as a single in 1991.^[1][4] "Fais-moi une place" was also covered by Michel Delpech (Les Plus Belles Chansons françaises, 1996), Jérémy Amelin of Star Academy 5 (Les Meilleurs Moments, 2005), Maurane and Christophe Willem (Kiss and Love for Sidaction, 2014) and Liane Foly (Crooneuse, 2016). In 2019, Clerc covered the song as a duet with his daughter Vanille and considered that this version expressed more the love between parents and children.^[1]

Chart performance

In France, "Fais-moi une place" debuted at number 30 on the chart edition of 10 February 1990, which was the highest debut that week; then it climbed every week and reached a peak of number eight in its fourth week, and remained for a total of 13 weeks in the top 50.^[5] On the European Hot 100, it started at number 89 on 3 March 1990, reached a peak of number 34 in its third week,^[6] and appeared on the chart for ten weeks. Much played on radio, it also charted for eight weeks on the European Airplay Hot 100, with a peak for two weeks at number 21,^[7] and was number one on the French AM national airplay.^[8]

Track listings

• CD single^[9]

1. "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35
2. "Gare à la casse" — 3:52
3. "Le Verrou" — 2:22

• 7" single^[10]

1. "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35
2. "Gare à la casse" — 3:52

• 7" single - Promo^[11]

1. "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35

• 12" single - Promo^[12]

1. "Fais moi-une place" — 3:35

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Fais-moi une place"

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13]	43
Europe (European Airplay Top 50)[7]	21
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6]	34
France (Airplay Chart [AM Stations])[8]	1
France (SNEP)[5]	8

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
France	1990	CD single[9]	Virgin
		7" single[10]
		Promotional 7" single[11]
		Promotional 12" single[12]