MONTREAL – Patrick Watson’s seemingly simple French-language song, “Je Te Laisserai Des Mots,” has defied expectations, amassing over a billion streams on Spotify and becoming a global phenomenon, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Pandemic Soundtrack
Originally created for the 2009 French film Mères et Filles (released as The Hidden Diary), starring Catherine Deneuve, the track’s journey to viral stardom was unexpected. Watson, a Quebec-native English speaker, was commissioned to compose the score. He found inspiration for the song’s title, meaning “I will leave you some words,” in a scene where a character leaves a letter.
“I came up with what I thought was a nice little melody,” Watson recalled. He opted to sing in French, a language he cherishes despite its linguistic challenges. The initial recording featured wordless vocalizations, a deliberate choice to avoid clashing with potential dialogue at the end of the film. The string arrangement, he humorously admitted, was done by musicians who were “half-drunk.” At the time, he never imagined the song would gain traction beyond the film.
The song first appeared as a bonus track on Watson’s debut album. Its viral resurgence began during the pandemic lockdown. Unable to tour, Watson engaged in live Instagram sessions, which led to a fan-created video of “Je Te Laisserai Des Mots” garnering a million views. This sparked a chain reaction, with algorithms amplifying its reach.
Watson observed how shifts in the music industry, such as the rise of sync licensing and streaming, paved the way for a different kind of hit. “Je Te Laisserai Des Mots” now boasts approximately 200,000 TikTok videos and over 60 billion TikTok plays. Its success as the first French-language song to surpass a billion streams on Spotify is a testament to its widespread appeal.
Collaboration and Charm
Mélanie Vaugeois, a violinist who played with Watson’s string quartet for 15 years, affectionately nicknamed “Mommies on the Run” by Watson due to their young children during early tours, shared her perspective on the song’s creation.
“We’d go to Patrick’s place, there would be things everywhere and you’d put your violin case on the ping-pong table,” Vaugeois recalled. “Patrick would play on the piano and we’d improvise around that.” She recounted Watson’s excitement about singing in French for the first time, noting that his pronunciation errors added to the song’s charm.
The recording session, fueled by Jameson whiskey, was a creative process that eventually led to the song’s distinctive, rhythm-less quality. “It’s a beautiful song that makes your heart melt, and during the pandemic, when we were all very lonely, it touched a lot of people’s hearts,” Vaugeois said. She first realized the song’s massive popularity when her children recognized it on TikTok, exclaiming, “That song’s everywhere.”
While not obligated to provide songwriting royalties, Watson annually gives his quartet a symbolic amount as a gesture of gratitude, fostering a deep respect among the musicians for their collaborative efforts.
Patrick Watson’s new album, Uh Oh, is set for release in the UK on September 26. He is scheduled to perform at the Troxy in London on November 7.
