View source for Dur dur d'être bébé !

{{Infobox song
| name       = Dur dur d'être bébé !
| cover      = Dur_dur_d'être_bébé.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Jordy Lemoine|Jordy]]
| album      = [[Pochette Surprise (Surprise Package)|Pochette Surprise]]
| B-side     = Remix
| released   = September 1992
| recorded   = France, 1992
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      =
* [[Pop music|Pop]]
* [[Eurodance]]
* [[children's song]]
| length     = 3:23
| label      = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| writer     =
* Patricia Clerget
* Alain Maratrat
* Frédéric Taïeb
| producer   = Claude Lemoine
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Alison (C'est ma copine à moi)]]
| next_year  = 1993
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|7IiLZ0dvDWU|"Dur dur d'être bébé!"}}}}
}}
"'''Dur dur d'être bébé !'''", which was retitled "'''Dur dur d'être bébé! (It's Hard to Be a Baby)'''" for its American audience, is a 1992 song recorded by [[France|French]] singer Jordy Lemoine, credited as [[Jordy (singer)|Jordy]]. The first [[Single (music)|single]] from his debut album, ''[[Pochette Surprise (Surprise Package)|Pochette Surprise]]'' (1992), it was released in September 1992 by [[Columbia Records]] and achieved success across the world, particularly in France. The single reached number one in Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Greece, Mexico and Spain. In the US, it reached numbers 58 and 49 on the [[Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and [[Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles|''Cash Box'' Top 100]].
==Background==
After having tried to involve Jordy in TV [[advertisement]]s for [[nappies]] where the baby should repeat "hard, hard to be wet", Claude Lemoine, Jordy's father, had the idea of using dance music and simple lyrics to create a catchy song. The result was well received in [[discothèque]]s, which convinced Lemoine to release it as a commercial single.<ref>{{cite book |first=Elia |last=Habib |title=Muz hit.tubes |publisher=Aliné Bis |year=2002 |language=French |page=250 |isbn=2-9518832-0-X}}</ref>
==Charts performance and records==
Because of this song, Jordy was listed in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' as the youngest singer ever to reach number one on a singles chart.  He achieved this feat in France in October 1992 at the age of four and a half, beating the previous world record held by [[Osamu Minagawa]] and French record held by [[Elsa Lunghini]]. Jordy was also the youngest artist to chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reaching number 58 with the song.
"Dur dur d'être bébé !" entered the French chart at number four on 26 September 1992, rose to number two for two weeks, and then topped the chart for 15 weeks, which was the record at the time.  The previous record for the longest stretch atop the French chart had belonged to Images' "[[Les Démons de minuit]]" (1986) and Licence IV's "[[Viens boire un p'tit coup à la maison]]" (1987), at 13 weeks apiece. Following its stay atop the chart, Jordy's single held the number two slot for another four weeks, eventually totalling 26 weeks in the French top ten and 30 weeks in the top 50. "Dur dur d'être bébé!" was also a dance hit across Europe, Latin America, Hong Kong and Japan. An English-language version and a mix version were also recorded and are available on the album ''[[Pochette Surprise (Surprise Package)|Pochette Surprise]]''.
==Critical reception==
[[Larry Flick]] from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' wrote, "Here's an artist who can make the members of [[Kris Kross]] look like old fogies." He added, "Five-year-old rapper/singer from France has topped the charts in almost every country in the free world (and a few that aren't). The concept is simple: Jordy chirps and rhymes in French about the rigors of childhood over a bouncy [[Dance-pop|pop/dance]] beat. Top 40 pundits who regularly indulge in wacky novelty items will be salivating after the first chorus."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date= 15 May 1993 |page= 84 |accessdate= 26 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-05-15.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref> Troy J. Augusto from ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' said, "Jordy, the hardest-working kindergartener in show biz. A novelty to be sure, his American intro is catchy enough that he may actually score a chart-topper here, too."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Troy J. |last= Augusto |title= Pop Singles: Reviews |magazine= [[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |date= 5 June 1993 |page= 13 |accessdate= 3 November 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-06-05.pdf}}</ref> British magazine ''[[Music Week]]'' commented, "Jordy is an impossibly cute French kid, aged four, whose vocal efforts have earned him a number one hit at home and abroad." They also named the song "a serviceable [[House music|house]] track".<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-11-28.pdf |title= Mainstream: Singles |magazine= [[Music Week]] |date= 28 November 1992 |page= 7 |accessdate= 2 October 2020}}</ref>
==Cover versions==
In 1993, the song was adapted into Portuguese by [[Ana Faria]] to be performed by [[children]]/[[teenpop]] group [[Onda Choc]], known thus as "Que Vida A De Um Bebé!" It's featured on their thirteenth album ''Viva o Verão!''<ref>{{cite web |title=Information on ''Viva O Verão!'' album by Onda Choc |url=http://ondachoc.blogspot.pt/2009/09/1993-viva-o-verao.html |language=Portuguese |accessdate=21 August 2014}}</ref>
In 2010, the song was covered by [[Bébé Lilly]] and released as single in France, where it hit number 15 for two weeks on the singles chart.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bébé Lilly - "Dur dur d'être bébé", French Singles Chart |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=B%E9b%E9+Lilly&titel=Dur+dur+d%27%EAtre+b%E9b%E9&cat=s |publisher=Lescharts |language=French |accessdate=23 May 2010}}</ref>
==Track listings==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* '''7" single'''
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (single mix) — 3:23
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (techno mix) — 4:07
* '''12" maxi'''
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (single mix) — 3:23
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (techno mix) — 4:07
* '''CD single'''
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (single mix) — 3:23
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (techno mix) — 4:07
{{col-2}}
* '''CD maxi'''
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (single mix) — 3:24
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (club mix) — 5:21
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (dob mix) — 5:21
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (techno mix) — 4:07
* '''Cassette'''
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (single mix) — 3:23
# "Dur dur d'être bébé !" (techno mix) — 4:07
{{col-end}}
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1992–1993)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Australia ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="Lescharts">{{cite web |title=Jordy - "Dur dur d'être bébé !", in various singles charts |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?key=2574&cat=s |publisher=Lescharts |language=French |accessdate=7 September 2008}}</ref>
|align="center"|37
|-
|Austria ([[Ö3 Austria Top 40]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|3
|-
|Belgium ([[VRT Top 30]] Flanders)<ref>[http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/search/jordy Belgian peak] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/ |date=9 April 2012 }}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|Belgium ([[Ultratop]] Wallonia)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-10-10.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=9|issue=41|page=40|date=10 October 1993|accessdate=23 February 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref name="Book">{{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= fi |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki}}</ref>
|align="center"|2
|-
|France ([[SNEP]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Greece (''[[Pop & Rock magazine|Pop + Rock]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-02-13.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=7|date=13 February 1993|page=20|accessdate=23 February 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Hong Kong (HK Singles Chart)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-03-27.pdf|title=Marketing New Talent > How To Break New Talent - The Handbook To Radio Hits|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=13|date=27 March 1993|page=16|accessdate=27 October 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-01-23.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=4|date=23 January 1993|page=24|accessdate=23 February 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Mexico ([[AMPROFON]])<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Los Discos Mas Populares > Éxitos Internacionales En México|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=662886823897323&set=a.662886513897354|magazine=Notitas Musicales|date=10 April 1993|page=17|access-date=19 August 2024|via=www.facebook.com|language=es}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Netherlands ([[Dutch Top 40]])<ref name="Dutch">{{cite web |url=http://www.top40.nl/pdf/Top%20100/top%20100%20-%201993.pdf |title=Single top 100 over 1993 |publisher=Top40 |language=Dutch |accessdate=15 April 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|Netherlands ([[Single Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Jordy&titel=Dur+dur+d%27%EAtre+b%E9b%E9%21&cat=s|title=JORDY - DUR DUR D'ÊTRE BÉBÉ! (SONG)|publisher=swedishcharts.com|accessdate=21 February 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|New Zealand ([[RIANZ]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|8
|-
|Norway ([[VG-lista]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|5
|-
|Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-07-17.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=10|issue=29|date=17 July 1993|page=24|accessdate=1 March 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}<!--|accessdate=26 January 2011--></ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|Sweden ([[Sverigetopplistan]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|14
|-
|Switzerland ([[Schweizer Hitparade]])<ref name="Lescharts"/>
|align="center"|20
|-
|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref name="Billboard">{{cite web |title=Jordy singles, ''Billboard'' |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p39719/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=7 September 2008}}</ref>
|align="center"|58
|-
|US [[Hot Latin Tracks]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''<ref name="Billboard"/>
|align="center"|11
|-
|US [[Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles|''Cash Box'' Top 100]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1993/CB-1993-07-17.pdf|title=Top 100 Pop Singles|magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]|volume=LVI|issue=45|date=17 July 1993|page=10|access-date=20 April 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|49
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1992)
!Position
|-
|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-19.pdf|title=1992 Year-End Sales Charts|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=9|issue=51/52|date=19 December 1992|page=17<!-- 17 in PDF file -->|oclc=29800226|accessdate=17 September 2021|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
|align="center"|64
|}
{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1993)
!Position
|-
|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref name="Dutch"/>
|align="center"|89
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Dur dur d'être bébé !"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|title=Dur dur d'être bébé !|artist=Jordy|award=Platinum |certyear=1993|relyear=1992|certref=<ref name="certification">{{cite web |url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Chanson_Certifications.php |title=InfoDisc : Les Certifications Officielles d'un Artiste (Depuis 1973) |website=infodisc.fr |language=fr |accessdate=18 October 2019}}. ''Select "Jordy Lemoine" from the drop-down menu and click "OK"''.</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}
==See also==
*[[List of number-one singles of 1992 (France)]]
*[[List of number-one singles of 1993 (France)]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dur dur d'etre bebe!}}
[[Category:1992 debut singles]]
[[Category:Jordy (singer) songs]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Belgium]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Greece]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Italy]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Mexico]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Spain]]
[[Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:1992 songs]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs about childhood]]