"Dominique" is a popular song in French by Soeur Sourire, the Singing Nun from Belgium, about Saint Dominic and his fight against the Albigensians. The song was co-written with Noel Regney.

A remarkable fact is that it reached and stayed at #1 on the USA charts for over four weeks, above groups such as the Beatles and others.

The artist who performed it, Jeanine Deckers, never again reached the same success and continued to lead a colourful, but tragic life. She and her lesbian girlfriend committed suicide in 1985.

The song

"Dominique" became a worldwide hit in 1963 and to this day is still the only Belgian number one hit single in the American Billboard charts. (Technotronic's Pump Up The Jam reached number two in 1989).

It is remembered chiefly for its refrain, which went:

Dominique -nique -nique s'en allait tout simplement,

Routier, pauvre et chantant.

En tous chemins, en tous lieux,

Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu,

Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu

In English:

Dominique travelled around simply,

a poor singing traveller.

On every road, in every place,

He spoke only about the Good Lord,

only about the Good Lord.

Cover versions and other appearances

The Cuban artist La Lupe recorded a Spanish language version of this song.

Spike Jones recorded a version in which he first gave it a jazz-like interpretation, with trumpet and banjo; then he melded it with "When the Saints Go Marching In," which fit perfectly!

(Tony) Sandler and (Ralph) Young revived the song in late 1966, in a version that appeared on the Billboard easy listening chart. The performance was a medley including other religiously-themed songs including "Deep River" and "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen".

The song was referenced in The Simpsons episode Bart's Friend Falls in Love (1992), where Milhouse van Houten visits his girlfriend in an all-girls convent school. A nun playing guitar and singing "Dominique" passes along, followed by several equally happy little girls.

Also, Debbie Reynolds starred in "The Singing Nun" movie, which has an English version of this song.

External links

• The lyrics in full (French)

Preceded by "I'm Leaving It Up to You" by Dale & Grace

Billboard Hot 100 number one single December 7, 1963

Succeeded by "There! I've Said It Again" by Bobby Vinton

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Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Dominique". Image Credit.

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