Words (F. R. David song)

"Words"
Single by F. R. David
from the album Words
B-side	"When the Sun Goes Down"
Released	1982
Format	7" single 12" maxi
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:31
Label	Carrere
Writer(s)	Robert Fitoussi
Producer(s)	Frédéric Leibovitz
F. R. David singles chronology
"Words" (1982) "I Need You" (1983)

"Words" is a 1981 song by F. R. David. The song was originally released only in France and Monaco in the winter of 1981, later it was released in the rest of Europe. In 1983, it finally was released in America and the UK. It was a huge European hit, peaking at number one in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and Norway. In spring of 1983, it peaked at number two on the British charts. It also went to number one in South Africa in late 1982 and spent 25 weeks on the charts. The photography of the 7" vinyl was made by Vassili Ulrich.

Initial copies of the recording on both LP and single credit the composition of "Words" solely to Robert Fitoussi, which is the real name of F. R. David. All later reissues of F. R. David's original recording of "Words", as well as all re-recordings, credit the composition of the song to Robert Fitoussi (music and lyrics).

In the 2000s, F. R. David released a French language duo version of the song with the singer Winda entitled "Words, J'aime ces Mots". F. R. David and Winda included also an English version as a duo.

Track listings

7" single

1. "Words" – 3:31
2. "When the Sun Goes Down" – 3:59

12" maxi

1. "Words" – 3:31
2. "When the Sun Goes Down" – 3:08

Charts and sales

Original version Chart (1982–83) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 12 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 1 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[4] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[5] 9 Denmark (IFPI)[6] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 1 France (IFOP)[8] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 1 Italy (FIMI)[11] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[15] 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] 1 Spain (AFYVE)[17] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] 2 Words (Remix '97) Chart (1997) Peak position Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 19 Words '99 Chart (1999) Peak position France (SNEP)[22] 27

Year-end charts Chart (1982) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 1 France (IFOP)[24] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 12 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 17 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 1 Chart (1983) Position South Africa (Springbok Radio)[28] 1 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/Sales France 1,000,000[29] Germany (BVMI)[30] Gold 250,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

• Singer Penny McLean recorded and released the song as a single in 1982.
• British pop band The Tremeloes recorded the song as a single on CBS in 1983; their version garnered considerable airplay in the UK, but narrowly missed the Top 75 after being swiftly eclipsed by the original.
• Spanish singer Soraya Arnelas recorded a version of "Words" for her 2007 album La Dolce Vita. It was released as the second single and reached number 6 in the Spanish Charts.
• Colin Murray's Talksport show 'Colin Murray and Friends' uses the song on a Friday to introduce the Feature 'Bob Mills Goes Postal'. The song is sung by Murray, Mills, and other regular Friday co-host Perry Groves.

References

1. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
2. "Austriancharts.at – F-R David – Words" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
3. "Ultratop.be – F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
4. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 21 augustus 1983" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
5. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6241." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
6. "Hits Of The World". Billboard. 95 (1): 72. 8 January 1983. ISSN 0006-2510.
7. MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 June 2006). MusicSeek.info.
8. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "F.R. David" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
9. "Offiziellecharts.de – F-R David – Words". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – FR David". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
11. "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 3: 1980-1990)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – F R David - Words search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
13. "Dutchcharts.nl – F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
14. "Charts.org.nz – F-R David – Words". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
15. "Norwegiancharts.com – F-R David – Words". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
16. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
17. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
18. "Swedishcharts.com – F-R David – Words". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
19. "Swisscharts.com – F-R David – Words". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
20. "Archive Chart: 1983-04-30" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
21. "F.R. David: Words (Remix *97)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
22. "Lescharts.com – F.R. David – Words '99" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
23. "Jaaroverzichten 1982" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
24. "TOP – 1982" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
25. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
26. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
27. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1982" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
28. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
29. "Les Meilleures Ventes Tout Temps de 45 T. / Singles" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
30. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (F.R. David; 'Words')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics