BIGGEST TRACKS – Johnny Hallyday
The list of most successful songs is compiled in album equivalent sales generated by each of them. It includes the song’s own physical singles sales with a 0,3 weighting, its download and streaming sales, and with appropriate weighting too, plus its share among sales of all albums on which it is featured.
1. 1964 – Le pénitencier [Le pénitencier] – 4,400,000
2. 1969 – Que Je T’Aime [Orphan] – 3,070,000
3. 1986 – L’envie [Gang] – 2,660,000
4. 1985 – Quelque Chose De Tennessee [Rock N’ Roll Attitude] – 2,360,000
5. 2002 – Marie [A La Vie, A La Mort] – 2,040,000
6. 1986 – Je Te Promets [Gang] – 1,970,000
7. 1961 – Retiens La Nuit [Salut Les Copains!] – 1,870,000
8. 1976 – Gabrielle [Derrière L’Amour] – 1,660,000
9. 1976 – Requiem pour un fou [Derrière L’Amour] – 1,520,000
10. 1966 – Noir c’est noir [La Génération Perdue] – 1,470,000
10. 1962 – L’Idole des Jeunes [Orphan] – 1,470,000
12. 1977 – J’ai Oublié De Vivre [C’est la vie] – 1,410,000
13. 1963 – Pour moi la vie va commencer [D’où Viens-tu Johnny ?] – 1,240,000
14. 1973 – La Musique Que J’aime [Insolitudes] – 1,230,000
15. 1960 – Souvenirs, souvenirs [Hello Johnny] – 1,210,000
16. 1998 – Allumer Le Feu [Ce Que Je Sais] – 1,160,000
17. 1999 – Vivre Pour Le Meilleur [Sang Pour Sang] – 1,060,000
18. 1999 – Sang Pour Sang [Sang Pour Sang] – 1,020,000
19. 1967 – Hey Joe [Johnny 67] – 950,000
20. 1979 – Ma Gueule [Hollywood] – 920,000
If you feel inspired by this list, we just created this CSPC Johnny Hallyday playlist on Spotify!
I counted 10 million less. Are you counting EP’s as singles?
Hi MJD!
I’ve read that Mon pays c’est l’amour has already sold 890,000 (!!!) copies in France in the weeks since its release. Of course, given the circumstances and Johnny Hallyday’s stature that doesn’t actually feel too surprising, but comprehensively speaking, how do you see it performing in the long-run compared to the rest of his discography? Also, do you have a ballpark figure of how much his CSPC results may have increased in the year since his passing?
Hi Orange! Yes, it sold 888k pure units in its first two weeks. Not sure it will do that well in the long run (except in the run of Christmas of course), it’s sales aren’t reflective of an organic success. It’s mostly down to nostalgia effect added to the most insane promotion campaign that have ever been. Even main TV channels stopped their programs at midnight to stream live the album, to be honest it felt kind of nonsense. All jornalists and all were saying how utterly essential / great the album is even before listening parties had happen. I… Read more »
Thank you! I wasn’t aware of all the TV promotion, that does sound a bit ridiculous haha.
If he sold that much in 2 weeks, he must have totally crushed his own record of highest first-week sales in France, which is fantastic but it seems like it would be impossible for that to happen if he were still alive.
I’ve just gone through it, too quickly, but I’m going to look at it more carefully. That’s already the best level of Johnny sales research I’ve ever seen. This is a titanic job and must be difficult, as there is so much missing data. I am fairly familiar with Johnny’s career and have read quite a few books, some of which contain first-hand accounts. His artistic directors, record company heads. Everyone agrees that some times were more difficult. 66/67,74/75,81/84. Concerts were not always full and the hits were rarer. Outside, from what I’ve seen, it’s not always reflected in your… Read more »
France Gall has died. I believe she’s among those who had the most successful french songs abroad in the 60’s, isn’t she ?
Hi Rell! Yes, she definitely is. Maybe more impressively, Ella Elle L’A also did wonders all over continental Europe, as did Babacar. Obviously Poupée de Cire Poupée de Son was her biggest international hit during the 60s. It is reputed to have sold a million copies in Japan, and while this is most likely wrong (300k to 500k is a more realistic ballpark) it was definitely a smash there. It shipped 25,000 units upon release in the Netherlands and 10,000 units in Spain. It was a #1 hit in Norway and #2 in Germany. Except in continental Europe, she mostly… Read more »
Je vous suis très reconnaissant pour la qualité de votre travail. Fan de Johnny depuis toujours, je savais qu’il cumulait des chiffres de ventes impressionnants. Pouvoir précisément connaître les chiffres de tous ses opus est incroyable……… Grâce à vous, certains peuvent mesurer l’impact de cette immense star qui restera gravé à jamais dans notre cœur…..