Cherchez La Femme

"Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon"
Single by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
from the album Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
A-side"Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon"
B-side"Sunshower (U.S.)"
Released1976
RecordedHouse of Music, West Orange, New Jersey, 1976
GenreDisco, pop, big band
Length5:46 (album version)
3:33 (7" single)
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Stony Browder Jr. (Music)
August Darnell (Lyrics), John Schonberger, Richard Coburn, Vincent Rose
Producer(s)Sandy Linzer

"Cherchez La Femme" (French for Seek the woman) is a song that was written and performed by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band with lead vocals by Cory Daye in 1976. The music was written by band-leader and pianist Stony Browder Jr. and John Schonberger, Richard Coburn (né Frank Reginald DeLong; 1886–1952), and Vincent Rose; with lyrics by Browder Jr.'s brother and bassist August Darnell. The song's full title is "Whispering"/"Cherchez La Femme"/"Se Si Bon" [sic]. "Cherchez La Femme" became the group's biggest hit.

The song's opening lyric refers to record executive Tommy Mottola, who was instrumental in giving the act their major label deal. Along with the tracks "Sour and Sweet" and "I'll Play the Fool", "Cherchez La Femme" went to #1 on the disco chart.[1] "Cherchez La Femme" also charted on the pop, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts.

Track listing

7" Single
  1. "Whispering" / "Cherchez La Femme" / "Se Si Bon" - 3:33
  2. "Sunshower" - 4:02

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1976–77) Peak
position
Australia 49
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[2] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 23
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[3] 18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[4] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[5] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 27
US Disco Action Top 30 (Billboard)[6] 1
US Easy Listening (Billboard)[7] 22
US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[8] 31

Year-end charts

Chart (1977) Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[9] 75
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] 91

Gloria Estefan version

"Cherchez La Femme"
Single by Gloria Estefan
from the album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
ReleasedMay 1995 (USA)
June 1995 (Europe)
Recorded1993 - 1994
GenreDance-Pop
Length4:58
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Stony Browder Jr.
August Darnell
Producer(s)Emilio Estefan Jr.
Lawrence Dermer
Gloria Estefan singles chronology
"It's Too Late"
(1995) 		"Cherchez La Femme"
(1995) 		"Abriendo Puertas"
(1995)

"Cherchez La Femme" was covered by Cuban American singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan on her fourth studio album, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. It was released as the fifth single from the album in the US, Australia and Benelux.

Critical reception

Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "In 1977, romantic couples took the floor every time Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was played. Now another "femme" is singing the nostalgic swing band song with equal joy."[13] Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues wrote in his review of the Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me album, that it is "a brave move" to cover the song. He added, "Gloria’ s vocal lacks the playful coquettishness of Cory Daye’s but it is great to hear it again amongst her selections of songs."[14]

Track listings

U.S. Promo 12" Vinyl Single #1 (EAS 7084) [May 1995]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cherchez La Femme" (Ballroom Vocal Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.7:29
2."Cherchez La Femme" ("Femme Fatale" Club Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.8:24
3."Cherchez La Femme" (Doom Dub)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.8:16
4."Cherchez La Femme" (Piano Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.6:39
U.S. Promo 12" Vinyl Single #2 (AED 7219) [May 1995]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cherchez La Femme" (THE GStyle And DJ WT MIX)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.8:16
2."Cherchez La Femme" (THE Gary Q MIX)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.7:00
3."Cherchez La Femme" (THE Danny C. And Giuseppe D. MIX)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.6:30
4."Cherchez La Femme" (THE Marc "DJ Stew" Pirrone DUB)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.6:10
5."Cherchez La Femme" (THE Charley Casanova MIX)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.5:38
Europe CD Single (EPC 662039 1) [June 1995]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.4:58
2."Cherchez La Femme" (Piano Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.6:39
Europe CD-Maxi Single (EPC 662039 2) [June 1995]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.4:58
2."Cherchez La Femme" (Ballroom Vocal Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.7:29
3."Cherchez La Femme" ("Femme Fatale" Club Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.8:24
4."Cherchez La Femme" (Radio Club Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.4:55
5."Cherchez La Femme" (Alternate Radio Club Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.3:54
U.K. CD-Maxi Single (It's Too Late / Cherchez La Femme) [Cancelled / Unreleased] {662044 2} (June 12, 1995)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
2."It's Too Late" (Piano Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:58
3."Cherchez La Femme" (Radio Club Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.3:54
4."Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.4:58
U.K. Promo 12" Vinyl Single (XPR 2178) [June 1995]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cherchez La Femme" (Ballroom Vocal Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.7:29
2."Cherchez La Femme" (Piano Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.6:39
3."Cherchez La Femme" (Doom Dub)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.8:16
4."Cherchez La Femme" ("Femme Fatale" Club Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.8:24
Australia CD-Maxi Single (It's Too Late / Cherchez La Femme) [662020 2] {June 1995}
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
2."It's Too Late" (Album Version)Carole King, Toni Stern3:57
3."It's Too Late" (Piano Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:58
4."Cherchez La Femme" (Doom Dub)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.8:17
5."Cherchez La Femme" (Piano Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder Jr.6:41

Official versions

Original Versions

  1. Album Version — (4:58)

Pablo Flores & Jose "Pepe" Ojeda Remixes

  1. Radio Club Mix — (4:55)
  2. Alternative Radio Club Mix — (3:54)
  3. "Femme Fatale" Club Mix — (8:24)

Ronnie Ventura Remixes

  1. Piano Mix — (6:39)
  2. Doom Dub — (8:16)
  3. Ballroom Vocal Mix — (7:29)

Remixes

  1. The GStyle & DJ WT Mix — (8:16)
  2. The Gary Q Mix — (7:00)
  3. The Danny C. & Giuseppe G. Mix — (6:30)
  4. The Marc "DJ Stew" Pirrone Dub — (5:10)
  5. The Charley Casanova Mix — (5:38)

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 124
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play (Billboard) 19

In popular culture

  • The original recording of "Cherchez La Femme" was part of the soundtrack to the 1998 film, 54.
  • Michael Tolliver, one of the main characters of Armistead Maupin’s ‘’Tales of the City,’’ dances to the song when he competes in the jockey shorts dance contest, which he wins.
  • "Cherchez La Ghost," the 1999 single by rapper Ghostface Killah which remixes "Cherchez La Femme" and charted on the Billboard 100.

See also

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 81.
  2. ^ "Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – Whispering / Cherchez la femme / Se si bon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. February 5, 1977. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  4. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band – Whispering / Cherchez la femme / Se si bon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "allmusic ((( Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 80.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 165.
  9. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1977". Ultratop. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1977". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1977". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  13. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 10, 1995. p. 6. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  14. ^ Shanklin, Phil (November 22, 2015). "100 Essential CDs – Number 72 –Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me –Gloria Estefan". ReviewsRevues. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  15. ^ "Part of Estefan's ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in 2022". ARIA. Retrieved 3 December 2023 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
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