Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

"Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" is the debut single of French house duo Modjo, written and performed by vocalist Yann Destagnol and producer Romain Tranchart. It was released on 25 June 2000 as the lead single from the duo's self-titled debut studio album. It became a major worldwide success, topping at least 10 music charts, including the national charts of Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It also topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in January 2001.
Content.
The song is written in B flat minor; there is also an acoustic version recorded in G minor. It features a guitar sample of "Soup for One" performed by Chic, as written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. In 2011, Chic added the song to their concert setlist, which is performed as a mash-up song with "Soup for One".
The single includes the original version of the track, plus an acoustic version, both performed by Modjo. Remixes have been provided by Harry Romero, Roy Davis, Jr. and Danny Tenaglia.
Release.
The song debuted at number one in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2000, where it stayed for two weeks to become the sixteenth best-selling single of 2000. It also reached number one in seven other European countries and became a top-ten hit in several others, as well as in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In the United States, the song peaked at number 81 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. As of 2017 the single has sold 2 million copies worldwide.
Critical reception.
"Daily Record" wrote that it is a "brilliant" house track.
Impact and legacy.
Australian music channel Max placed the song at number 790 in their list of "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2012. "Mixmag" included "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" in their list of "The 30 best vocal house anthems ever" in 2018. "Insider" put the song on their list of "102 songs everyone should listen to in their lifetime" in 2019.
Music video.
The music video for the song was directed by François Nemeta and was filmed in June 2000 in various locations in Quebec, Canada.
The video details the various shenanigans of three teenagers, one girl and two boys. The video starts off with a boy with a shaved head who walks into a restaurant to meet the other two. The three then pool all their money together. They make it to a used car dealership, where they buy a car and drive it to a country fair. The three watch a band playing in a bar and then grab their instruments during a break. Their efforts aren't appreciated, and the teenager with the shaved head is hit with a bottle thrown from the crowd, after which they are chased out. They then sneak into a motel, where they proceed to sing and dance while in the shower, all while still clothed. The boy with the shaved head imagines that he is alone with the girl in an exotic location. The next morning, they are chased out by the hotel manager, and they make their escape until their car breaks down. The girl leads the boys into the woods, and they come across a cliff with a view of the city, which they gaze at in awe. The video ends after this scene.
Track listings.
European CD single
European 12-inch vinyl
UK enhanced CD single
UK cassette single
Australasian maxi-single
US enhanced CD single