Zora sourit

"Zora sourit" (meaning "Zora smiles") is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion from her sixteenth studio album, S'il suffisait d'aimer (1998). It was written by Jean-Jacques Goldman and J. Kapler, and produced by Goldman and Erick Benzi. The song was released as the album's lead single on 7 September 1998. "Zora sourit" topped the chart in Quebec for five weeks. Elsewhere, it peaked at numbers seven in Poland, 12 in Belgium Wallonia, 20 in France and 25 in Switzerland. It was also certified Gold in France and Belgium. The song's lyrics and music video denounce racism and advocate tolerance.

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Background and release

After D'eux became the best-selling French-language album of all time, Dion reunited with Jean-Jacques Goldman to record another album together.^[1] S'il suffisait d'aimer was recorded between September 1997 and July 1998, and produced by Goldman and Erick Benzi.^[2] "Zora sourit", written by Goldman and his brother J. Kapler, was chosen as the lead single and premiered on the radio on 3 August 1998.^[3] Commercially, "Zora sourit" was released on 7 September 1998 in Belgium and Switzerland, and 14 September 1998 in France and the Netherlands.^[4] It was planned to be released in the UK as part of a double A-side single with "To Love You More" on 21 September 1998, but this release did not materialise.^[5]^[6] In 2005, it was included on Dion's greatest hits album, On ne change pas.

The song is dedicated to Algerian women. According to Dion, for her Zora represents not only Algeria, but all the women of all these countries who do not have the chance to be free and happy. The lyrics put in light the example of a woman who fights for her and for the others, who resists to the insults, who keeps her dignity in spite of the difficulties.^[7]

Commercial performance

In Quebec, "Zora sourit" entered the chart on 15 August 1998, topped it for five weeks and spent 33 weeks there in total.^[8] It also reached number seven in Poland.^[9] Commercially, the single was released one week after the album S'il suffisait d'aimer in Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and two weeks after the album in France. It reached numbers 12 in Belgium Wallonia,^[10] 20 in France,^[11] 25 in Switzerland,^[12] 48 in Belgium Flanders^[13] and 67 in the Netherlands.^[14] It was certified Gold in France^[15] and Belgium.^[16] On the airplay charts in these countries, it peaked at numbers 1 in Belgium Wallonia,^[17] 2 in France,^[18] 13 in the Netherlands^[19] and 20 in Belgium Flanders.^[17]

Music video

"Zora sourit" music video was directed by Yannick Saillet^[20] and released on 1 September 1998.^[3] The scenes with Dion were filmed on 30 July 1998 in Miami, Florida, while others were shot in Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis. The video is dedicated to Algerian women. It shows the titular character Zora walking down the street with a package, meeting with different reactions of people passing by. At the end, Zora sends her package to Algeria.^[21] The music video denounces racism and advocates tolerance.^[7] In 2005, it was included on Dion's greatest hits DVD collection, On ne change pas.

Track listing and formats

French CD single

"Zora sourit" – 3:52
"Sur le même bateau" – 4:25

French 12-inch and CD maxi single

"Zora sourit" – 3:52
"Sur le même bateau" – 4:25
"Pour que tu m'aimes encore" – 4:14

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Zora sourit"
Chart (1998)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[13]	48
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[10]	12
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)^[22]	54
European Radio Top 50 (Music & Media)^[23]	34
Finland (Suomen virallinen radiosoittolista)^[24]	8
France (SNEP)^[11]	20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[25]	14
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	67
Poland (Music & Media)^[9]	7
Quebec (ADISQ)^[26]	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[12]	25

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Zora sourit"
Chart (1998)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[27]	94

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "Zora sourit"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)^[16]	Gold	25,000^*
France (SNEP)^[15]	Gold	250,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

"Zora sourit" release history
Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Belgium Switzerland	7 September 1998	CD	Columbia	^[4]
France	14 September 1998	12-inch CD		^[3]
Netherlands	14 September 1998	CD		^[3]

References

^ "Histoire de culte: comment l'album D'eux de Céline Dion est devenu le disque francophone le plus vendu de tous les temps". Elle (in French). 30 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ "S'il suffisait d'aimer by Céline Dion". Apple Music. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Celine Dion - Zora sourit (1998, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ ^a ^b "New Releases This Week". Sony Music Belgium. Archived from the original on 1 August 2001. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
^ "Céline Dion - To Love You More (Tony Moran Remixes) (1998, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 12 September 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
^ ^a ^b "S'il suffisait d'aimer". celinedion.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ "Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes" (PDF) (in French). Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. 3 October 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Céline Dion – Zora sourit" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Céline Dion – Zora sourit" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Céline Dion – Zora sourit". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Céline Dion – Zora sourit" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Céline Dion – Zora sourit" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
^ ^a ^b "French single certifications – Celine Dion – Zora sourit" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
^ ^a ^b Sam Jaspers (2006). Ultratop 1995-2005. Book & Media Publishing. ISBN 90-5720-232-8.
^ "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. 7 November 1998. p. 31. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 October 1998. p. 31. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ "Celine Dion - Zora sourit (1998)". imvdb.com. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ "Céline Dion - Zora sourit (Clip officiel)". YouTube. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 10 October 1998. p. 16. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^ "European Radio Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 October 1998. p. 26. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Celine Dion". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 63. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
^ "Celine Dion - Zora sourit - Top 40" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
^ "Palmarès reconstitués de la chanson au Québec" (in French). Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
^ "Rapports annuels 1998" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 30 September 2014.

External links

Celine Dion - "Zora sourit" (behind the scenes) on YouTube
"Zora sourit" at Discogs (list of releases)

v t e Celine Dion songs
Singles discography
1980s singles	"Ce n'était qu'un rêve" "La voix du bon Dieu" "Tellement j'ai d'amour pour toi" "D'amour ou d'amitié" "Mon ami m'a quittée" "Ne me plaignez pas" "Une colombe" "Mon rêve de toujours" "Un amour pour moi" "Vois comme c'est beau" "C'est pour toi" "C'est pour vivre" "Dans la main d'un magicien" "La ballade de Michel" "L'univers a besoin d'amour" "Fais ce que tu voudras" "On traverse un miroir" "Incognito" "Je ne veux pas" "Lolita (trop jeune pour aimer)" "Comme un cœur froid" "La religieuse" "Ne partez pas sans moi" "Délivre-moi" "Jours de fièvre" "D'abord, c'est quoi l'amour" "Can't Live with You, Can't Live Without You"
1990s singles	"(If There Was) Any Other Way" "Unison" "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" "The Last to Know" "Beauty and the Beast" "Je danse dans ma tête" "If You Asked Me To" "Nothing Broken but My Heart" "Love Can Move Mountains" "Water from the Moon" "Un garçon pas comme les autres (Ziggy)" "When I Fall in Love" "The Power of Love" "L'amour existe encore" "Misled" "Think Twice" "Only One Road" "Calling You" "Pour que tu m'aimes encore" "Je sais pas" "Next Plane Out" "To Love You More" "Falling into You" "Because You Loved Me" "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" "The Power of the Dream" "All by Myself" "Call the Man" "J'attendais" "Tell Him" "Be the Man" "The Reason" "My Heart Will Go On" "Immortality" "Zora sourit" "I'm Your Angel" "S'il suffisait d'aimer" "On ne change pas" "Treat Her Like a Lady" "That's the Way It Is"
2000s singles	"Live (for the One I Love)" "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" "I Want You to Need Me" "Sous le vent" "A New Day Has Come" "I'm Alive" "Goodbye's (The Saddest Word)" "I Drove All Night" "One Heart" "Tout l'or des hommes" "Have You Ever Been in Love" "Et je t'aime encore" "Je ne vous oublie pas" "Tous les secrets" "Tout près du bonheur" "I Believe in You (Je crois en toi)" "Et s'il n'en restait qu'une (je serais celle-là)" "Immensité" "Taking Chances" "Eyes on Me" "A World to Believe In" "The Prayer" "Alone" "My Love"
2010s singles	"Parler à mon père" "Le miracle" "Qui peut vivre sans amour?" "Loved Me Back to Life" "Incredible" "The Show Must Go On" "Encore un soir" "Recovering" "L'étoile" "Si c'était à refaire" "Je nous veux" "Les yeux au ciel" "Ashes" "Imperfections" "Lying Down" "Courage"
Promotional singles	"Have a Heart" "Des mots qui sonnent" "Quelqu'un que j'aime, quelqu'un qui m'aime" "Did You Give Enough Love" "Plus haut que moi" "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" "Le ballet" "Les derniers seront les premiers" "You've Got a Friend" "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" "En attendant ses pas" "God Bless America" "At Last" "Stand by Your Side" "Faith" "Contre nature" "You and I" "Beautiful Boy" "Je lui dirai" "Ma Nouvelle-France" "In Some Small Way" "Voler" "Breakaway" "Water and a Flame" "Celle qui m'a tout appris" "L'hymne" "Flying on My Own" "Love Again" "I'll Be"
Other songs	"Destin" "J'irai où tu iras" "Send Me a Lover" "Miles to Go (Before I Sleep)" "Dans un autre monde" "O Holy Night" "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" "On s'est aimé à cause" "How Does a Moment Last Forever"
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This page was last edited on 20 March 2024, at 07:57

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