| "Chic C'est la Vie" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byCountess Luann | ||||
| Released | June 28, 2011 (2011-06-28) | |||
| Studio | KMA Studio (New York City) | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop | |||
| Length | 3:05 | |||
| Label | Ultra | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Chris Young | |||
| Countess Luann singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Chic C'est la Vie" onYouTube | ||||
"Chic C'est la Vie" is the second single by American television personalityLuann de Lesseps, under thestage name and formercourtesy title of Countess Luann. She wrote the song with Chris Young, its sole producer. Following the performance of her debut single "Money Can't Buy You Class", "Chic C'est la Vie" was released as a follow-up on June 28, 2011, throughUltra Records. Musically, it is adance-pop song with a quick,electronic beat. de Lesseps sings in a mostly spoken word style, and the song's lyrics discuss her extravagant lifestyle.
Music critics provided mostly negative reviews of "Chic C'est la Vie", with some praise for thecatchy refrain. An accompanyingmusic video was filmed at theBorgata resort inAtlantic City, and was documented during an episode ofThe Real Housewives of New York City in 2011. de Lesseps invited the series' cast to appear in the clip, and was ultimately joined by membersJill Zarin andKelly Killoren Bensimon. The video spawned severalinternet GIFs.
In mid 2010, Luann de Lesseps released "Money Can't Buy You Class", her firstsingle withUltra Records.[1] Lyrically, it is an extension of the topics and themes explored in her bookClass with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair (2009), and features etiquette and class tips.[2][3] She worked with New York City-based producer Chris Young to write the song, and its recording process was documented throughout thethird season ofThe Real Housewives of New York City, of which de Lesseps is a cast member.[4] According to Young, his appearances in the series increased his visibility as a musician, resulting in a higher demand for other artists to work with him.[1] Although "Money Can't Buy You Class" was panned by music critics, it became the third most-purchased song inThe Real Housewives franchise, selling 19,000 copies.[5]
de Lesseps recorded "Chic C'est la Vie" afterwards, which became her second single with Ultra. She reunited with Young to create the song, and he is also credited as a co-writer for the lyrics.[6] Like its predecessor, "Chic C'est la Vie" was recorded atKMA Studio in New York City.[7] On June 28, 2011, "Chic C'est la Vie" was formally released fordigital download andstreaming in the form of a digitalextended play (EP).[8][9] Three remixes are featured on the EP, including two produced by Gabi Newman and Lenny Fontana.[9] The title of one of the remixes, theMoroccan mix, references a cast trip that de Lesseps went on duringThe Real Housewives of New York City.[10] Also in June 2011, alaunch party for the single was held at the former Bar Basque Spanish restaurant in New York City.[11][12] de Lesseps cut ties with Ultra after "Chic C'est la Vie", and eventually signed with Eloli Music to release her third single, "Girl Code", in 2015.[13]
"Chic C'est la Vie" is adance-pop track with a fast,electronic beat.[14][15] de Lesseps sings in a mostlyspoken word style.[10][16]The Awl's Mike Barthel called the song musically "utterly indistinguishable" from "Money Can't Buy You Class".[6] "Chic C'est la Vie" is set in thetime signature of 4/4, and has an averagetempo of 130 beats per minute. Thekey of the song is inA minor and it advances with a setup of two verses, each followed by arefrain. The song utilizes thechord progression of F–G–Am–C throughout.[17]
Lyrically, "Chic C'est la Vie" describes the riches and extravagance of de Lesseps' lifestyle.[18] During the song'sbridge, de Lesseps calls the names of her fellowReal Housewives cast members, and requests that they "bring something of theirs along"; for example, she tellsSonja Morgan and Ramona Singer to bring "her men" and a bottle ofpinot grigio, respectively, and quips that she herself will "bring the diamonds".[14] Ifan Llewelyn fromQX felt that these callouts were actually "loaded metaphors" that represent de Lesseps' feelings on the other cast members.[14]
"Chic C'est la Vie" received mostly negative reviews frommusic critics.Stereogum's Gabe Delahaye panned the song, referring to it as de Lesseps' "contractual obligation to record at least one horrifically awful 'pop song'".[15] Barthel criticized de Lesseps' performance on the song, calling it "half-hearted" due to the absence of her "persona of bored condescension she's so carefully cultivated".[6] In a retrospective review of all music releases from theReal Housewives releases, Dave Quinn fromPeople listed "Chic C'est la Vie" as the seventh best song, calling it a "totalcampy delight" and insisted that its refrain "instantaneously gets lodged in your head".[19] ABlackBook critic reviewed the Moroccan mix of the song, and said it was worth a listen because of its "stunningly un-self-aware and over the top" nature.[10]
The filming and production of the video were documented onThe Real Housewives of New York City in 2011. Interior scenes were shot at theBorgata resort in nearbyAtlantic City. The series' cast members were invited to appear in the video, but several declined to be featured. Morgan was one of them, and explained she did not want to be associated with de Lesseps' provocative image, citing the 2010 music video for "Money Can't Buy You Class".[20] Two members, Jill Zarin andKelly Killoren Bensimon, are featured in the video in supporting capacities. The clip opens with de Lesseps telling the viewer: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Countess speaking. We have arrived!" before arriving at the Borgata. Various scenes in the video depict de Lesseps enjoying herself with the resort's amenities, including partying at a club andcasino, being chauffeured in a limousine, and relaxing poolside with Zarin and Killoren Bensimon.[18]
Delahaye panned the video, questioning de Lesseps: "As a grown up adult, how are you going to make something worse thanKe$ha?".[15] Quinn acknowledged that the video generated popularinternet GIFs.[19] It was uploaded to Ultra Records' officialYouTube channel on June 30, 2011, and made available for digital download on July 12, the following month.[21][22]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chic C'est la Vie" | 3:05 |
| 2. | "Chic C'est la Vie" (Moroccan mix) | 3:10 |
| 3. | "Chic C'est la Vie" (L Fontana & G Newman remix radio edit) | 3:33 |
| 4. | "Chic C'est la Vie" (L Fontana & G Newman Club remix) | 6:03 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | June 28, 2011 | Remixes EP | Ultra | [9] |