"Ella, elle l'a" (French for "Ella Has It") is a single released by the French singer France Gall. It was released as a single from her album Babacar, on 24 August 1987, and became a hit across Europe, the Americas (especially in Quebec and the Southern Cone) and Asia (especially in Japan). It was covered by the Belgian singer Kate Ryan in a dance version in 2008.
Background Written by Michel Berger, the song is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, but also a protest against racism and an anthem to personal empowerment. Musically, "it swings between sheared rhythms of the bass and flashed brass".. The song is also available on the CD maxi for "Évidemment", released in March 1988. In addition, a live version from her concert album Le Tour de France was released in November of that year.
Critical reception "Ella, elle l'a" won two Victoires de la Musique in 1987 and in 1988. A 1987 review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media elected "Ella, elle l'a" single of the week and stated: "This moody and balanced, slowly rocking track, written by Michel Berger, deserves to be her next success outside France".
Chart performance "Ella, elle l'a" enjoyed great success in 1987 and 1988, reaching number-one in Austria and Germany in the latter year; in addition, it reached the top ten in Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Argentina. In France, it was certified as silver disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, reached number two and charted for a total of 19 weeks, nine of them in the top ten.
Track listings 7" single "Ella, elle l'a" (4:49) "Dancing Brave" (3:06) 12" maxi "Ella, elle l'a" "Papillon de nuit" "Dancing Brave"
Charts
Weekly charts + 1987–1988 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"Chart (1987–1988) PeakpositionDenmark (IFPI)2Europe (European Hot 100)6Europe (European Airplay Top 50)9Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)19Quebec (ADISQ)1
+ 2012 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"Chart (2012) Peakposition + 2013 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"Chart (2013) Peakposition + 2018 weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"Chart (2018) Peakposition
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a"Chart (1988)PositionAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)19Europe (European Hot 100)32Europe (European Airplay Top 50)23Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)17West Germany (Media Control)5
Certifications
Kate Ryan version
Kate Ryan's version of "Ella, elle l'a" is the third single of her album Free. It was released on 6 May 2008 in Belgium and on 9 May 2008 in the rest of Europe as a CD single. It had already topped number one on the Spanish Download Chart, and number seven on the Belgian Singles Chart. It also reached the top ten in Germany. It had entered the Swedish Singles Chart at number twelve, peaking at number two. In the Netherlands, "Ella, elle l'a" also peaked at number two.
English version "Ella, elle l'a" was sung live by Ryan during her 2008 UK tour and it was released on 25 May 2009 as first single from the UK version of Free. UK release date.
Track listing German CD single "Ella, elle l'a" (radio version) - 3:06 "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07 "L.I.L.Y." (radio edit) - 3:15 Belgian CD single "Ella, elle l'a" (radio version) - 3:06 "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07 European 12" single "Ella, elle l'a" (extended version) - 6:07 "Ella, elle l'a" (Bodybangers remix) - 6:05 "Ella, elle l'a" (club remix) - 4:50
Official versions Extended version - 6:08 Bodybangers remix - 6:05 Club remix - 4:50 Club remix short - 3:12 Fugitive's Elle La Tout Remix Jorg Schmid Remix
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" by Kate Ryan Chart (2008) PeakpositionCanada (Canadian Hot 100)63Europe (European Hot 100)Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales27Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)2 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 23
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "Ella, elle l'a" by Kate Ryan Chart (2008) PositionBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)38 CIS (TopHit) 76Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)45Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)20 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 22 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 94Spain (PROMUSICAE)2Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)14
Certifications
References