- Album This song officially appears on the Flowers In The Dirt Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
"Flowers In The Dirt" session #2
January 2nd-21st, 1988
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Song facts
“Où Est Le Soleil?” is a dance tracked released as a bonus track on the CD & cassette editions of “Flowers In The Dirt“. Quite wacky, as Paul described it by himself ; and nonetheless multiple remixes have been published.
“A very wacky thing where we decided to make something up…Trevor said ‘Have you got anything for one of the verses?’ I said ‘Well I’ve got this really silly idea…’, which is like just some French words that say ‘Ou est le soleil? Dans la tete. Travaillez.’ Those are the complete lyrics…So we’ve got this silly French dance track now, which I love!
From “In Their Own Words: The Producers discuss McCartney’s Flowers in the Dirt“, by Super Deluxe Edition blog:
[…] Trevor Horn: I thought we’d done pretty well, very short bursts and everything was good but if I’m honest, by I think by the time it got to Ou Est Le Soleil I’d been sucked into it a bit. I always see part of it was his personality, he was such good fun to work with him and he was so full of beans. But it sort of developed from a jam I think. I think Steve had a little bit of writing on it. Not officially, but I think he did.
Stephen Lipson: The night before, he said “well why don’t we come in tomorrow morning and just see what happens.” We came in the next day and he goes “anyone got any ideas?” I went “yes, I have”. I hit play on my computer and, forgetting the vocal and backwards guitar – [Steve plays the track from the start for about 50 seconds] – that came out from beginning to end. Which is why Trevor says what he said. And then Paul put seven words in French on one note on the top and said he had written the song, which actually, [as] he said it is lyrics and melody, you can’t really argue. I had a discussion with him about it and you know what… it worked out fine. I think I got an arrangement credit or something, and we did some deal. Whatever. But it is fine, he didn’t want to give me a writing credit and I think that is his prerogative. It would have been nice, but it is his prerogative. And it doesn’t make me think any less of the man.
Trevor Horn: You know I had a reasonable idea of how good, how much value a track had and something like Ou Est Le Soleil I’d forget about it [because] the problem with this one was always that it wasn’t a proper song. Really, it’s like a little piece of entertainment.
Stephen Lipson: We didn’t spend that much time on it. I had it. It was all there. We over-dubbed a few things. I think he might have played drums on it. He got Hamish [Stuart] to play guitar and we might have developed one bit. […]
- [A] – released on Flowers In The Dirt
- [B] – 12″ Mix
- [C] – Tub Dub Mix
- [D] – 7″ Mix
- [E] – Instrumental mix
- [F] – Disconet Edit by Dennis Muyet
Last updated on April 16, 2017
Lyrics
Ou est le soleil
Dans la tete
Travaillez
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1989
4:54 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
CD Single • Released in 1989
4:50 • Studio version • D • 7" mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
12" Single • Released in 1989
7:02 • Studio version • B • 12" Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
12" Single • Released in 1989
4:27 • Studio version • C • Tub Dub Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
12" Single • Released in 1989
4:25 • Studio version • E • Instrumental Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
Flowers In The Dirt - Special Package
Official album • Released in 1990
4:54 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
Flowers In The Dirt - Special Package
Official album • Released in 1990
4:50 • Studio version • D • 7" mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
Official album • Released in 1993
4:54 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2017
4:47 • Studio version • A.2017 • 2017 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes :
- Assistant engineer
- Sam Okell :
- Remastering
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2017
7:05 • Studio version • B • 12" Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
Bootlegs
Flowers In The Dirt - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
4:44 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
Flowers In The Dirt - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
7:01 • Studio version • B • 12" Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
Flowers In The Dirt - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
4:30 • Studio version • C • Tub Dub Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart :
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten :
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein :
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson :
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn :
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Goh Hotoda :
- Remixing
- Tony Shimkin :
- Further production work
- Shep Pettibone :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio :
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 20, 1989
- Studio :
- Sound Works, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Apr 21, 1989
- Studio :
- Prime Cuts, New York, USA
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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