Words (F. R. David song)

1982 single by F. R. David

"Words"

Single by F. R. David
from the album  Words
B-side| "When the Sun Goes Down"
Released| 1982
Genre|

* Synth-pop[1]
* Europop[2]

Length| 3:31
Label| Carrere
Composer(s)| Robert Fitoussi
Lyricist(s)| Louis Sandy Yaguda (Sandy Deanne), Martin Joe Kupersmith (Marty Sanders)
Producer(s)| Frédéric Leibovitz
F. R. David singles chronology
| "Black Jack"
(1981)  | "Words"
(1982)  | "Pick Up the Phone"
(1983)

|
|

"Words" is a song by F. R. David, released as a single in 1982 from his debut album of the same name. The song was a huge European hit, peaking at number one in West Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, and Norway. In early 1983, it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and it also went to number one in South Africa in late 1982, spending 25 weeks on the charts, eventually becoming the most successful hit on that country's year-end chart. In Australia, the single peaked at number 12 and spent 41 weeks within the top 100 in two chart runs throughout 1983 and early 1984.[3]

In 2006, David released a French language duet version of the song with singer Winda Sylviana, entitled "Words, J'aime ces Mots," the pair also recorded an English duet version entitled "Words."[4]

The song is on the Call Me by Your Name soundtrack.

## Track listings

[edit]

7-inch single

1. "Words" – 3:31
2. "When the Sun Goes Down" – 3:59

12-inch maxi

1. "Words" – 3:31
2. "When the Sun Goes Down" – 3:08

## Charts and sales

[edit]

### Original version

[edit]

| Chart (1982–1983)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] | 12
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] | 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] | 1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] | 9
Denmark (IFPI)[8] | 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] | 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] | 1
France (IFOP)[11] | 2
Iceland (Dagblaðið Vísir)[12] | 5
Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[14] | 1
Japan (Oricon Singles Chart)[15] | 57
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] | 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] | 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] | 7
Norway (VG-lista)[19] | 1
Portugal (AFP)[20] | 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[21] | 1
Spain (AFYVE)[22] | 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] | 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] | 1
UK Singles (OCC)[25] | 2
US Billboard Hot 100[26] | 62
West Germany (GfK)[27] | 1

### "Words (Remix '97)"

[edit]

Chart (1997)  | Peak
position

|

Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[28] | 19

### "Words '99"

[edit]

Chart (1999)  | Peak
position

|

France (SNEP)[29] | 27

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1982)  | Position

|

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[30] | 1
France (IFOP)[31] | 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] | 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] | 17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] | 1
West Germany (Offizielle Deutsche Charts)[35] | 47
Chart (1983)  | Position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[36] | 49
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[37] | 1
West Germany (Offizielle Deutsche Charts)[38] | 42

## See also

[edit]

* List of European number-one hits of 1982
* List of number-one hits of 1982 (Germany)
* List of number-one singles of 1983 (Ireland)
* List of number-one hits (Italy)
* List of number-one singles of 1982 (Spain)
* List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden
* List of number-one singles of the 1980s (Switzerland)
* VG-lista 1964 to 1994

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Gift Horse + Bloom + Josh Thorpe". The Glad Cafe. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
2. ^ Monger, Timothy (13 February 2025). "Bittersweet Symphonies: AllMusic's Love Songs for the Lovelorn". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2025. "F.R. David's 1982 smash "Words" is a Europop masterpiece whose sweet, yearning tone is as vulnerable as its sentiment."
3. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. ^ "F.R.David* Feat. Winda – Words J'aime Ces Mots..." Discogs. 2006.
5. ^ "F-R David – Words" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
6. ^ "F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
7. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6241." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
8. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 1\. 8 January 1983. p. 72\. ISSN 0006-2510.
9. ^ "UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits". MusicSeek.info. Archived from the original on 14 June 2006.
10. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "F.R. David". Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 58. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
11. ^ "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "F.R. David" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
12. ^ "Ísland Topp 10". DV. 3 December 1982. p. 37\. ISSN 1021-8254.
13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – FR David". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
14. ^ "M&D: Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Select Singoli from the Tipo field, enter F. R. David in the Arista field, then select "cerca". Retrieved 22 June 2023.
15. ^ Oricon Singles Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
17. ^ "F-R David – Words" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
18. ^ "F-R David – Words". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
19. ^ "F-R David – Words". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
20. ^ Portuguese Charts Archive. 2 November 1982.
21. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
22. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
23. ^ "F-R David – Words". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
24. ^ "F-R David – Words". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
26. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. 27 August 1983.
27. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – F-R David – Words" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
28. ^ "F.R. David: Words (Remix *97)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
29. ^ "F.R. David – Words '99" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
30. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1982" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
31. ^ "TOP – 1982". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 24 April 2014.
32. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
33. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
34. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1982" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
35. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1982". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015.
36. ^ "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 22 January 2023 - via Imgur.com.
37. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1983". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
38. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1983". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.

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