Valotte

Album: Valotte (1984)
Charted: 55 9
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Songfacts®:

  • Lennon wrote this in 1983 at a French chateau called the Manor de Valotte, which is how the song got its title (the word "Valotte" does not appear in the lyrics). In our interview with Julian, he told the story:

    "The place where that was written, which was actually a beautiful little run-down chateau in the middle of France, which is where the label at the time decided was a good place to send their artists to work out their writing skills. I know that Thomas Dolby had been down there and a few other high-end acts at that point in time.

    It was just a really tranquil, beautiful spot in the middle of nowhere, where one could get a little lonely, I guess. The song initially came from that idea of just being in this beautiful landscape and dreaming of the idea that if you found that love of your life, this is something that you'd aspire to. It's as simple as that, really."
  • The album was dedicated to "My mother Cynthia and to my Father." Julian is John Lennon's first son. His mother is Cynthia Lennon, who John was married to before Yoko (they had a son named Sean). Julian sounds a lot like his dad, and a lot of people were surprised to learn it was not a John Lennon song when they first heard it.
  • This was Julian's first single in the US and his second in the UK. His next American single, "Too Late for Goodbyes," fared even better, going to #5.
  • Julian recorded this at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, which at the time was located along the Tennessee River in Sheffield, Alabama. According to Jimmy Johnson, who was one of the studio owners, Lennon's lyric "Sitting on a pebble by the river playing guitar" was inspired by his time there. Muscle Shoals is a tranquil place where artists could record in relative seclusion with some of the best musicians in the world available to back them up. Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett and Paul Simon all recorded in the Muscle Shoals area.

    On "Valotte," Lennon was backed by bass player David Hood, and keyboard player Barry Beckett, and drummer Roger Hawkins, who were the other owners of the studio.
  • The album was mixed at The Hit Factory recording studio in New York City on the same console John Lennon used to record the album Double Fantasy.
  • The music video had a high-profile director: Sam Peckinpah. In 1984, most filmmakers shunned music videos, but Peckinpah, whose movies include The Getaway and The Wild Bunch, directed Lennon's first two videos.
  • Most Americans got their first look at Julian Lennon on MTV, which gave his clips consistent airplay. In the UK, he often appeared in the gossip press, but his interviews to promote the Valotte album gave the first real insights into his personality and his feelings toward his dad. In these early interviews, he stressed that he was forming his own identity, and in no way trying to emulate his father's music. He also spent a lot of time disproving the notion that he was a coddled rich kid; he went to public schools and did not receive money from John Lennon's estate until he was older.

    As for the question of how he felt toward his dad, Julian explained that he was proud of his dad's work, but it was very difficult growing up with an absent father. In his first Melody Maker interview, he said, "I always had something against him, but I never knew what it was... apart from him leaving home and all that. It was because I went to visit him but he never came to visit me. That's the only thing that got me."
  • Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales, who played guitar on the album, co-wrote this song with Lennon.

Comments: 14

  • Rob T from AzI always thought the line was “sitting on a TABLE by the river…”, like a picnic table. Is pebble slang for something in British English? Does he mean he’s sitting on a pebble beach? Sitting on a single pebble, causing discomfort? Usually when I find out the correct lyrics to a song, it’s an “aha!” moment, but in this case they make even less sense than what I misheard.
  • Celeste from UnknownJulian was rejected and neglected by John so I think he had a lot of unresolved feelings to write about. Let's face it John wasn't a great parent because his own parents weren't great to him.
  • Jen W from OhioI love Julian Lennon's song, Valotte. It has a good rhythm to it, such a beautiful song! Julian sounds just like his father! I loved The Beatles music also. Such talented men!!! Julian is so musically talented, just like his father. Thank you Julian Lennon and The Beatles for such awesome, uplifting, and beautiful music.
  • Heidi Dietrich from MassachusettsNah, Mitch. People already expect him to be like his dad and he has spent time trying to have his own identity. On his Facebook page, he says that his page is NOT a Beatles page or something to that effect.
  • Mitch45 from New YorkJulian looked and sounded so much like John, it would have been nice if he could have recorded a few songs with the three other Beatles still alive in the ‘80s.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 5th, 1985, Julian Lennon performed "Valotte" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Three months earlier on October 14th, 1984 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on January 6th, 1985 it peaked at #9 (for 1 week)...
    It made two other Billboard charts; #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #4 on the Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    On the same 'Bandstand' show he also performed his Top 100 #5 hit, "Too Late For Goodbyes" (and on March 16th, 1985 it reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart)...
    Mr. Lennon, born John Charles Julian Lennon, will celebrate his 51st birthday in three months on April 8th.
  • John from Grand Island, NyPeople, his other hit is called "Too Late For Goodbyes"...let's at least get the title right...this is songfacts after all. His last real hit was "Stick Around" from 1986 "The Secret Value of Daydreaming" LP. He would never again reach the level of success as with his first 2 albums. Sad as he definitely had talent.
  • Bob from Port Leyden, NyNot sure what the meaning of this song is.
    Rated 5 for music only.
  • Erik from Bloomfield Hills, MiThis is a tragically underrated tune, a true classic.
  • Ruth from Indianapolis, InPoor Julian. This song was good in its own right, but everyone kept comparing him to his dad when it was released.
  • John from Buffalo, NyThe video was shot at Beartracks studio's in Suffern NY as was most of the album...
  • Kevin from Reading , PaThis is a good song, but it could have used a better title. I realize it was the name of the studio where it was recorded, but I don't believe it gets mentioned in the words of the song. If it does, it comes and goes pretty quick. Julian's other hit off this album was "Say You're Wrong," a good '80s rock tune that sounds dated now because of the somewhat silly sounding (at least by today's standards) synthesizer breaks. I think it was his last hit.
  • Madison from Norway, MeI love this song so much but for some reason it doesn't get a lot of airplay (not even on satellite). You usually hear "Its Much Too Late For Goodbye"
  • Ken from Louisville, KyPhil Ramone produced this album, but didn't have a lot of time to spend on it, so several "guest" arraigers did the arriagments on the individual songs.

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