Dominique

"Dominique" is a 1963 French language popular song, written and performed by Belgian singer Jeannine Deckers, better known as Sœur Sourire ("Sister Smile" in French) or The Singing Nun. The song is about Saint Dominic, a Spanish-born priest and founder of the Dominican Order, of which she was a member (as Sister Luc-Gabrielle).<ref>Dominique, by the "Singing Nun", Lyrics and Music. National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved on 25 January 2009</ref> The English-version lyrics of the song were written by Noël Regney.<ref>Noel Regney, 80; Wrote Favorite Christmas Tune, Hit Song for Singing Nun By Dennis Mclellan. 30 November 2002 for The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 25 January 2009.</ref> In addition to French and English, Deckers recorded versions in Dutch, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese.

It was a top selling record in 11 countries in late 1963 and early 1964.

Commercial performance

"Dominique" reached the Top 10 in 11 countries in late 1963 and early 1964, topping the chart in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It reached the Top 5 in Norway, Denmark, Ireland and South Africa, with the song making it into the lower reaches of the Top 10 in the Netherlands, West Germany, and the United Kingdom. The song reached and stayed at No. 1 on Top 40 radio station WABC in New York City for the four weeks of 19 November through 10 December.<ref>Musicradio77.com/Surveys/1963 10 December 1963</ref> On WLS Chicago, the song was No. 1 for the three weeks 15–29 November 1963.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and "Easy Listening chart", "Dominique" was No. 1 for the four weeks 7–28 December 1963.

The song won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording (Musical) in 1964.<ref name="Grammy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was also a nominee for Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and Sœur Sourire was a nominee for Best Female Vocal Performance.<ref name="Grammy"/> It was the second foreign language song to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1963, the first being "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto. For the next ten years or so, although there were a number of hits with most of the vocals in a language other than English (e.g., The Sandpipers' "Guantanamera", René y René's "Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero", etc.), no other purely foreign language song reached the Billboard Hot 100's top 40 until the Spanish language hit "Eres tú (Touch The Wind)" in 1974.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> "Dominique" outsold Elvis Presley during its stay on the Billboard Hot 100; it was the second to last No. 1 hit before the British Invasion.

The song

"Dominique" became a worldwide hit in 1963 and was the first, and only, Belgian number-one hit single in the American Billboard charts.

It is remembered chiefly for its refrain, which goes:

Domi-nique -nique -nique s'en allait tout simplement,

Routier, pauvre et chantant.

En tous chemins, en tous lieux,

Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu,

Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu.

A literal English translation is:

Domi-nic -nic -nic went about simply,

a poor singing traveller.

On every road, in every place,

he talks only of the Good Lord,

he talks only of the Good Lord.

The lyrics of the chorus of Regney's English-language translation are:

Domi-nique -nique -nique, o'er the land he plods along,

And sings a little song.

Never asking for reward,

He just talks about the Lord,

He just talks about the Lord.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Chart (1963–1964)	Peak position
Argentina Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardMay1964>Template:Cite book</ref>	1
Australian Singles Chart<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1
Brazil Singles Chart (IBOPE)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Brazil EP's Chart (IBOPE)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
Canadian (CHUM Charts Top 20)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Danish Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardFeb1964>Template:Cite book</ref>	2
Dutch Singles Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6
German Singles Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Finland Singles Chart (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	23
Irish Singles Chart<ref name="Billboard, February 1, 1964">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3
Japanese Singles Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
Mexican Singles Chart (AMPROFON)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Norwegian Singles Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
South African Singles Chart	1
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	12
Swiss Hitparade<ref name=BillboardMay21964>Template:Cite book</ref>	4
Uruguay Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardJune61964>Template:Cite book</ref>	2
UK Singles Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Venezuela Singles Chart<ref name=BillboardMay1964/>	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1963)	Rank
US Cash Box <ref name="tropicalglen.com">Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, 28 December 1963</ref>	100

Chart (1964)	Rank
South Africa (Springbok)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
US Cash Box <ref name="tropicalglen.com"/>	11

All-time charts

Chart (1958–2018)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	412

Cover versions

• Sandler and Young revived the song in late 1966,<ref>Sandler & Young CD Collection Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on 25 January 2009</ref> a version that appeared on the Billboard easy listening chart. The performance was a medley including other religious-themed songs including "Deep River" and "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen".

See also

• List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States

External links

• "Dominique" lyrics in English and French Allthelyrics.com
• The lyrics in full Template:In lang
• Template:YouTube