Les trois cloches
Encyclopedia
"Les trois cloches" was a Swiss song written by Jean Villard Gilles
written in French
. Edith Piaf
and Les Compagnons de la chanson
started their US-Tour in 1945/46 with this song, which was one of Ms. Piaf's greatest hits. The song was covered by The Browns
in 1959 in English as "The Three Bells
" (with words adapted by Bert Reisfeld
)." Dutch singer/comedian André van Duin
had a Dutch Top 40
number one hit in 1982 with his Dutch comedy version of the song titled "Bim bam".
n singer Tina Arena
released her version of the song as a single from her 1997 album In Deep.The song became a huge hit in Belgium (Wallonia) where it topped the chart for three weeks and remained in the top 40 for 20 weeks, and in France, where it was charted top ten for 13 weeks and peaked at #4 for 2 weeks. The single was certified gold by the SNEP.
Jean Villard Gilles
Jean Villard a.k.a. Gilles, was born on June 2, 1895 in Montreux , and died on March 26, 1982 in Vevey, next to his vineyard village of residence Saint-Saphorin that is reputed for its quality Swiss white wine.- Biography :...
written in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Edith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
and Les Compagnons de la chanson
Les Compagnons de la chanson
Les Compagnons de la chanson were a French vocal group from Lyon, France, founded during World War II. Before 1946, they were part of a larger choir called the 'Compagnons de la musique'. The group met Edith Piaf in 1952 at an event in Paris, and recorded a French language song, "Les trois...
started their US-Tour in 1945/46 with this song, which was one of Ms. Piaf's greatest hits. The song was covered by The Browns
The Browns
The Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie Brown, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also...
in 1959 in English as "The Three Bells
The Three Bells
"The Three Bells", also known as "Jimmy Brown" or "Little Jimmy Brown", is a song made popular by The Browns in 1959. The single reached number one on the U.S. country and pop charts,. outperforming a competing version by Dick Flood. The version by The Browns also hit number ten on the Hot R&B...
" (with words adapted by Bert Reisfeld
Bert Reisfeld
Bert Reisfeld was a lyricist, noted for adapting lyrics to well-known songs either to or from English. The songs he wrote English lyrics for include:...
)." Dutch singer/comedian André van Duin
André van Duin
André van Duin is a Dutch actor , singer, writer and program creator.-Television, radio and theatre:...
had a Dutch Top 40
Dutch Top 40
The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...
number one hit in 1982 with his Dutch comedy version of the song titled "Bim bam".
Tina Arena version
AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n singer Tina Arena
Tina Arena
Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena is an Australian singer, songwriter and musical theatre actress. She has won several awards, most notably 6 ARIA Awards and in both 1996 and 2000 she received the World Music Award for the world's best selling Australian artist...
released her version of the song as a single from her 1997 album In Deep.The song became a huge hit in Belgium (Wallonia) where it topped the chart for three weeks and remained in the top 40 for 20 weeks, and in France, where it was charted top ten for 13 weeks and peaked at #4 for 2 weeks. The single was certified gold by the SNEP.
Sales
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Gold | March 15, 2000 | 250,000 | 270,000+ |
Charts
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 1 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 15 |
| French Singles Chart | 4 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 49 |
| End of year chart (2000) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 17 |
| French Singles Chart | 28 |
Other versions
- The BrownsThe BrownsThe Browns were an American country and folk music vocal trio best known for their 1959 Grammy-nominated hit, "The Three Bells". The group, composed of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie Brown, had a close, smooth harmony characteristic of the Nashville sound, though their music also...
went to the top of the charts with "The Three Bells" in the United States, in 1959. - Micheline Calmy-ReyMicheline Calmy-ReyMicheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey is the President of the Confederation in Switzerland, head of government. She is also Switzerland's foreign minister as head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. She has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2003, and was President of the...
who is a member of the Swiss Federal CouncilSwiss Federal CouncilThe Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
and was President of Switzerland in 2007. - Ben KeithBen KeithBennett Keith Schaeufele , better known by his stage name Ben Keith, was an American musician and record producer...
, for the Christmas album "Seven Gates: A Christmas Album by Ben Keith and Friends" in 1994 (re-released in 2008 on Vapor Records as "Christmas at the Ranch." - Neil YoungNeil YoungNeil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
and Pegi Young, for the Christmas album "Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In (2010).