Chaleur humaine

Chaleur humaine (English: Human Warmth, retitled Christine and the Queens in some English-speaking territories)[3][4][5] is the debut studio album by French singer Christine and the Queens.[6] The album was re-released in 2015 with new songs and "Tilted" – the English version of "Christine" – served as a single.

Chaleur humaine
Studio album by Christine and the Queens
Released	2 June 2014
Studio	RAK Studios 123 Studios Smokehouse Studios
Genre	Synth-pop[1] freakpop[1][2] alternative R&B
Length	47:03
Language	English French
Label	Because
Producer	Christine and the Queens
Christine and the Queens chronology
Nuit 17 à 52 (2013) Chaleur humaine (2014) Chris (2018)
Singles from Chaleur humaine
"Nuit 17 à 52" Released: 3 June 2013 "Saint Claude" Released: 14 April 2014 "Christine" Released: 13 October 2014 "Paradis perdus" Released: June 2015
Singles from Christine and the Queens
"No Harm Is Done" Released: 11 September 2015 "Jonathan" Released: 16 October 2015 "Tilted" Released: 15 January 2016

Background

The album was first released in France as Chaleur humaine in June 2014.[7] The album was released in United States on 16 October 2015 via Because Music as Christine and the Queens.[8] For its American release, many the tracks were reworked with English lyrics and revamped beats by producer Ash Workman.[9] Two tracks were replaced with three new songs. Two of the new songs are collaborations – "Jonathan" with Perfume Genius, and "No Harm Is Done" with rapper Tunji Ige. The American version was released in the UK in 2016 but reverted to its original French title.

Composition

On her verified Genius account, Lettisier offers some insight on how some tracks were conceived.[10] She describes the whole album as "a dream about adolescence" "Christine"/"Tilted" is about "trying to embrace this weirdness, awkwardness of yours, all those thoughts and details that make you feel like you don't belong." "Saint Claude" is written in a stream of consciousness style, inspired by rappers like Kendrick Lamar that Letissier was listening to at the time. "Science Fiction" is about a Seapunk girl named Stella "galaxy shorts" and the song is described as an LSD daydream about her. The lyric "paper cut humanoids" is a direct allusion to the animated series The Wild Planet. Lettisier describes it as an italo disco inspired by Lovemachine by Supermax. The percussion on "Here" was inspired by Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight". "Ugly-Pretty" takes inspiration "from certain harmonic sequences specific to operas and pieces of classical music" as well as Klaus Nomi and House music and the title itself was taken from Lettisier watching American reality television programs like America's Next Top Model. The bridge features lyrics in French that refer to pornography and the idea of abstract sex not connected to emotions, and the theme of ugliness vs attractiveness at the same time.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.1/10[11]
Metacritic	85/100[8]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[12]
Billboard	[9]
The Guardian	[13]
The Irish Times	[14]
Mojo	[15]
The Observer	[16]
Pitchfork	8.0/10[17]
Q	[18]
Spin	8/10[19]
Uncut	7/10[20]

The album has been given a Metacritic rating of 85 based on 11 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[8] The album is featured on many end of year lists, including Rough Trade and NME.

Accolades

Publication	Accolade	Year	Rank	Ref.
The Guardian	Best Albums of 2016	2016	8	[21]
The Independent	Best Albums of 2016	2016	20	[22]
Mojo	The 50 Best Albums of 2016	2016	46	[23]
NME	NME's Albums of the Year 2016	2016	3	[24]
Rough Trade	Albums of the Year	2016	16	[25]

Commercial performance

The album first entered the French chart at No. 6 on its release in June 2014, and peaked at No. 2 in February 2015.[26] As of April 2018, the album had sold 650,000 units in this country.[27] It also reached No. 1 on the Belgian Wallonia albums chart.

The English version of the album was released in the UK on 26 February 2016, and first entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 132 the following week.[28] It then re-entered at No. 8 in June 2016,[29] just prior to Christine and the Queens performing a well-received concert at the Glastonbury Festival.[30] It peaked at No. 2 on 29 July 2016. As of April 2018, the album had sold 220,000 units in the UK.[31] The album debuted at No. 3 on the Irish Albums Chart in June 2016, before reaching No. 1 on 21 July 2016.[32]

In 2016 it was awarded a platinum certification from the Independent Music Companies Association,[33] which indicated sales of at least 400,000 copies+ throughout Europe.[34][35]

As of January 2017 the record has sold 970,000 copies worldwide, in addition to attracting more than 194m streams – an ‘album equivalent’ streaming figure in most territories of 129,000.[36]

Track listing

Chaleur humaine — French edition[37]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"iT"	Héloïse Letissier	3:38
2.	"Saint Claude"	Letissier	3:59
3.	"Christine"	Letissier	3:54
4.	"Science fiction"	Letissier	3:39
5.	"Paradis perdus"	Christophe Jean Michel Jarre	3:35
6.	"Half Ladies"	Letissier	4:18
7.	"Chaleur humaine"	Letissier	3:57
8.	"Narcissus Is Back"	Letissier	3:28
9.	"Ugly-Pretty"	Letissier	3:25
10.	"Nuit 17 à 52"	Letissier	4:22
11.	"Here"	Letissier	4:27

Christine and the Queens — 2015 reissue[38]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"iT"	Héloïse Letissier	3:38
2.	"Saint Claude"	Letissier	4:01
3.	"Tilted"	Letissier	3:53
4.	"No Harm Is Done" (featuring Tunji Ige)	Noah Breakfast Tunji Ige Letissier	3:30
5.	"Science fiction"	Letissier	3:38
6.	"Paradis perdus"	Christophe Jean Michel Jarre	3:35
7.	"Half Ladies"	Letissier	4:18
8.	"Jonathan" (featuring Perfume Genius)	Letissier	3:24
9.	"Narcissus Is Back"	Letissier	3:28
10.	"Safe and Holy"	Letissier	4:07
11.	"Night 52"	Letissier	4:21
12.	"Here"	Letissier	4:27

Chaleur humaine — Digital Edition Collector[39]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"iT"	Letissier	3:38
2.	"Saint Claude"	Letissier	4:01
3.	"Christine"	Letissier	3:53
4.	"Science fiction"	Letissier	3:38
5.	"Paradis perdus"	Christophe Jarre	3:35
6.	"Half Ladies"	Letissier	4:18
7.	"Chaleur humaine"		3:57
8.	"Narcissus Is Back"	Letissier	3:28
9.	"Ugly-Pretty"		3:25
10.	"Nuit 17 à 52"	Letissier	4:22
11.	"Here"	Letissier	4:27
12.	"No Harm Is Done" (featuring Tunji Ige)	Breakfast Ige Letissier	3:30
13.	"Intranquillité"		3:13
14.	"Amazoniaque"		3:40
15.	"Safe and Holy"	Letissier	4:07
16.	"Jonathan" (featuring Perfume Genius)	Letissier	3:24

Chaleur humaine — iTunes deluxe edition[40]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"iT"	Letissier	3:38
2.	"Saint Claude"	Letissier	4:01
3.	"Tilted"	Letissier	3:53
4.	"No Harm Is Done" (featuring Tunji Ige)	Breakfast Ige Letissier	3:30
5.	"Science fiction"	Letissier	3:38
6.	"Paradis perdus"	Christophe Jarre	3:35
7.	"Half Ladies"	Letissier	4:18
8.	"Jonathan" (featuring Perfume Genius)	Letissier	3:24
9.	"Narcissus Is Back"	Letissier	3:28
10.	"Safe and Holy"	Letissier	4:07
11.	"Night 52"	Letissier	4:21
12.	"Here"	Letissier	4:27
13.	"Saint Claude (Version française)"		3:59
14.	"Christine"	Letissier	3:54
15.	"Chaleur humaine"	Letissier	3:57
16.	"Ugly-Pretty"		3:25
17.	"Intranquillité"		3:13
18.	"Amazoniaque"		3:40

Chaleur humaine — Physical deluxe edition — Disc 1: CD[41]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"iT"	Letissier	3:38
2.	"Saint Claude"	Letissier	4:01
3.	"Tilted"	Letissier	3:53
4.	"No Harm Is Done" (featuring Tunji Ige)	Breakfast Ige Letissier	3:30
5.	"Science fiction"	Letissier	3:38
6.	"Paradis perdus"	Christophe Jarre	3:35
7.	"Half Ladies"	Letissier	4:18
8.	"Jonathan" (featuring Perfume Genius)	Letissier	3:24
9.	"Narcissus Is Back"	Letissier	3:28
10.	"Safe and Holy"	Letissier	4:07
11.	"Night 52"	Letissier	4:21
12.	"Here"	Letissier	4:27
13.	"Saint Claude (Version française)"		3:59
14.	"Christine"	Letissier	3:54
15.	"Chaleur humaine"	Letissier	3:57
16.	"Ugly-Pretty"		3:25
17.	"Intranquillité"		3:13
18.	"Amazoniaque"		3:40

Chaleur Humaine — Physical deluxe edition — Disc 2: DVD[41]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Starshipper" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
2.	"Half Ladies" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
3.	"iT" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
4.	"Science fiction" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
5.	"Safe and Holy" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
6.	"Here" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
7.	"No Harm Is Done" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
8.	"Christine" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
9.	"Who Is It" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
10.	"Jonathan" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
11.	"Narcissus Is Back" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
12.	"Ugly-Pretty" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
13.	"Intranquillité" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
14.	"Chaleur humaine" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
15.	"Saint Claude" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
16.	"Paradis perdus" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
17.	"The Loving Cup" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)
18.	"Nuit 17 à 52" (Live Performance from Zenith Lille, France)

Christine and the Queens — Bonus tracks[42]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Saint Claude (Version française)"		3:59
2.	"Christine"	Letissier	3:54
3.	"Chaleur humaine"	Letissier	3:57
4.	"Ugly-Pretty"		3:25
5.	"Intranquillité"		3:13
6.	"Amazoniaque"		3:40

Chaleur Humaine — Les Inédits[43]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"No Harm Is Done" (featuring Tunji Ige)	Noah Breakfast Tunji Ige Letissier	3:30
2.	"Intranquillité"		3:13
3.	"Amazoniaque"		3:40
4.	"Safe and Holy"	Letissier	4:07
5.	"Jonathan" (featuring Perfume Genius)	Letissier	3:24

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014–16) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[44] 8 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[45] 5 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[46] 1 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[47] 25 French Albums (SNEP)[26] 2 Irish Albums (IRMA)[48] 1 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[49] 8 Scottish Albums (OCC)[50] 2 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 7 UK Albums (OCC)[52] 2 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[53] 7 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[54] 48

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[46] 46 French Albums (SNEP)[55] 23 Chart (2015) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[45] 7 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[46] 5 French Albums (SNEP)[55] 5 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[56] 18 Chart (2016) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[57] 95 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[58] 58 UK Albums (OCC)[59] 33

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[60]	Platinum	30,000^*
France (SNEP)[61]	Diamond	850,000[62]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[63]	Platinum	20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[64]	Gold	231,898[65]
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Phares, Heather. "Christine and the Queens Chaleur Humaine". AllMusic. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
2. Le Monde: Christine & the Queens: "amener un peu de fantaisie ou de bizarre" dans le genre populaire (in French)
3. Matt Collar. "Christine and the Queens". AllMusic.
4. "Christine and the Queens on Apple Music". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 6 November 2017.
5. "Christine and the Queens on Apple Music". iTunes Store (NZ). Retrieved 6 November 2017.
6. Flood, Alex (3 May 2016). "Christine And The Queens Interviewed: 'Elton John Left Me A Phone Message - I Still Haven't Called Back'". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
7. Snapes, Laura (4 September 2016). "Christine and the Queens: 'I just want to shatter everything'". The Observer.
8. "Reviews for Christine and the Queens by Christine and the Queens". Metacritic. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
9. Williams, Nick (16 October 2015). "Christine & The Queens' Heloise Letissier Reimagines Her French Debut for Stateside Appeal: Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
10. "Genius: Christine and the Queens". Genius. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
11. "Chaleur Humaine by Christine and the Queens reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
12. Phares, Heather. "Chaleur Humaine – Christine and the Queens". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
13. Petridis, Alexis (3 March 2016). "Christine and the Queens: Chaleur Humaine review – a perfect antidote to pop conservatism". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
14. Carroll, Jim (10 March 2016). "Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine: debut album has colour, panache and verve". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
15. "Christine and the Queens: Chaleur Humaine". Mojo (269): 92. April 2016.
16. Empire, Kitty (28 February 2016). "Christine and the Queens: Chaleur Humaine review – stylish and empathetic". The Observer. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
17. Snapes, Laura (26 October 2015). "Christine and the Queens: Christine and the Queens". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
18. "Christine and the Queens: Chaleur Humaine". Q (357): 102. April 2016.
19. Unterberger, Andrew (22 October 2015). "Review: Christine and the Queens Share the Crown With Everyone on Self-Tilted Debut". Spin. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
20. "Christine and the Queens: Chaleur Humaine". Uncut (227): 71. April 2016.
21. Hann, Michael (2016-12-07). "Best albums of 2016: No 8 Chaleur Humaine by Christine and the Queens". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
22. "Best Albums of 2016". The Independent. November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
23. "The 50 Best Albums of 2016". Mojo. November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
24. "NME's Albums of the Year 2016". NME. November 24, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
25. "Albums of the Year". Rough Trade. November 14, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
26. "Lescharts.com – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
27. "Christine and the Queens prolonge sa tournée et ajoute six concerts en France". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
28. "CHART: CLUK Update 5.03.2016 (wk9)". zobbel.de.
29. "Radiohead win Official Albums Chart battle against Red Hot Chili Peppers". Official Charts Company. 24 June 2016.
30. Shaun Curran (25 June 2016). "Glastonbury 2016, Friday review: Christine and the Queens deliver the knock-out show of the day". The Independent.
31. "Christine and the Queens prolonge sa tournée et ajoute six concerts en France". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
32. "Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 21 July 2016". Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
33. http://www.impalamusic.org/sites/default/files/pictures/Awards1.png
34. http://impalamusic.org/content/independents-going-strong-impala-sales-awards-clock-another-10m-units
35. http://impalamusic.org/node/11
36. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/with-1m-album-sales-worldwide-christine-and-the-queens-ready-next-step/
37. "Christine And The Queens - Chaleur Humaine". Discogs.com.
38. "Christine And The Queens - Chaleur Humaine". Amazon.com. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
39. "Christine And The Queens - Chaleur Humaine (Edition Collector)". Amazon Music. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
40. "Christine And The Queens - Chaleur Humaine (Deluxe Edition)". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
41. "Christine and the Queens Chaleur Humaine". Amazon Music. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
42. "Chaleur Humaine (Bonus Tracks)". Amazon Music. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
43. "Chaleur Humaine - Les Inédits". Apple Music. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
44. "Australiancharts.com – Christine and the Queens – Christine and the Queens". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
45. "Ultratop.be – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
46. "Ultratop.be – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
47. "Dutchcharts.nl – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
48. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 29, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
49. "Charts.nz – Christine and the Queens – Christine and the Queens". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
50. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
51. "Swisscharts.com – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine". Hung Medien.
52. "Christine and the Queens | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
53. "Christine and the Queens Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
54. "Christine and the Queens Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
55. "Lescharts.com – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
56. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2015".
57. "Jaaroverzichten 2016 Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
58. "Rapports Annuels 2016 Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
59. White, Jack (30 December 2016). "The Official Top 40 Biggest Albums of 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
60. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2016". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
61. "French album certifications – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
62. Ruelle, Yohann (17 May 2018). ""Damn, dis-moi" : Christine and the Queens signe un délicieux retour funk". chartsinfrance. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
63. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Christine and the Queens; 'Chaleur Humaine')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
64. "British album certifications – Christine and the Queens – Chaleur Humaine". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Chaleur Humaine in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
65. Sutherland, Mark (25 September 2018). "Yass Queens: Inside Because's fast-starting Christine And The Queens campaign". Music Week. Retrieved 25 September 2018.