"Joe le taxi" (English: "Joe the Taxi Driver") is a French song written by Franck Langolff and Étienne Roda-Gil for French singer Vanessa Paradis. It was later included in her debut album, M&J, which was released in 1988.

Paradis recorded the song in 1987, at the age of fourteen. It went on to top the singles chart in France for eleven weeks,^[1] and, uncommonly for a French-language song at that time, was released in the United Kingdom the following year, where it peaked at number three. The song was included in her debut album, M&J (short for "Marilyn & John"), which, although peaking at number thirteen in France, drew limited interest in the UK when it was issued in August 1988. The music video for the song was produced by Lili Balian, Jake Hertz, and Addie Calcagnini.

Song information[link]

"Joe le taxi" is a song about a taxi driver, Joe, who works in Paris. The song emphasizes the notion that Joe seems to know all there is to know about the French capital including the whereabouts of all the little bars, all of the Parisian streets, the Seine, and bridges. The song's lyrics suggest that Joe enjoys drinking rum, has a passion for Latin music and his saxophone, and dreams of going to the Amazon. Spanish-Cuban bandleader Xavier Cugat and Peruvian exotica singer Yma Súmac are also referenced in the lyrics.

Music video[link]

The video was directed by Jean-Sébastien Deligny in 1987, and begins by glimpsing the side of Joe's taxi (Chevrolet Nova), which is a New York taxi (dollar denominated taxi rates can be seen in black ink). The silhouettes of two men playing the saxophone in unison can be seen as well. The video then shows Joe in his taxi and afterwards, Paradis dancing to the beat of the song, next to a big yellow taxi similar to Joe's (she is wearing an oversized peach sweater with the words "Gross Stage" and the number twenty-six emblazoned across the front; she is also wearing grey pants).

Joe seems to be driving around town, either looking out for customers or simply enjoying a scenic journey across a bright and beautiful Paris.

The camera switches between Joe, Vanessa, and the two shadows playing their saxophones in perfect unison (in colour when focused on Paradis, in black-and-white when on Joe); it ends with a front view of Joe's taxi. Joe is of African descent.

Another music video of the song features Vanessa riding on top of a blue jeep with Joe around Martinique while singing the song.

Remixes and cover versions[link]

"Joe le taxi", in its French version, exists in a 'single version' 3:54 and a 'long version' 5:30.

When it was issued in South America and in Spain in April 1988, Vanessa recorded a Spanish version : "Joe el taxi".

"Joe le taxi" has been remixed and covered several times by somewhat notable artists including Japanese singer Hanayo, Japanese singer Jun Togawa, Hong Kong Cantopop singer Priscilla Chan, and Brazilian singer-actress and television personality Angélica (whose version, "Vou de Táxi"—Portuguese for "I'm Going by Taxi"—, became a radio hit in Brazil, as well as her signature song). It was also remixed by Sharlene Boodram of Trinidad and Tobago featuring Mista Vybe. Several different versions of the song are available on popular video-sharing website, YouTube. "Joe le taxi" has also been covered in its original language by the Japanese Electropop singer Immi on her 2009 EP, WONDER.

Chart performance[link]

"Joe le taxi" debuted at number twenty-one on the French Singles Chart, reaching number one in its fourth week, and remaining there for eleven weeks. It was also number one in Belgium (for 13 weeks), Canada and Israel. It reached the top five in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Norway and the top ten in Germany and Sweden.

In France, "Joe le taxi" is the eighty-fourth best-selling single of all time.^[2]

Track listings[link]

7" single

1. "Joe le taxi" – 3:54
2. "Varvara Pavlovna" – 3:28

References[link]

This article's lead section may not adequately summarize its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (August 2009)

Vanessa Paradis
Background information
Birth name	Vanessa Chantal Paradis
Born	(1972-12-22) 22 December 1972 (age 39) Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Val-de-Marne, France
Genres	Rock, pop
Occupations	Vocalist, actress, model
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Barclay Records (from 2000) Polydor (from 1987 to 2000)
Website	www.vanessaparadis.fr

Vanessa Chantal Paradis (French pronunciation: [vanɛsa ʃɑ̃tal paʁadi]) (born December 22, 1972) is a French singer, model and actress. She became a child star at 14 with the worldwide success of her single "Joe le taxi". Since then, she has accomplished a career in music, movies and modelling.

Childhood[link]

Vanessa Paradis was born on December 22, 1972, at Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, near Paris. She spent her childhood in Villiers-sur-Marne with her parents, André and Corinne Paradis. She was attracted to cinema early on. Her admiration for Marilyn Monroe led her to take dance and piano lessons. Paradis spent a lot of time with her uncle, Didier Pain, and his musician friends.

Career[link]

1981–1986[link]

Her first TV appearance was on the show L'École des fans in 1981. She recorded her first single, "La Magie des surprises-parties", in 1983 and performed it in an Italian festival in 1985 but failed to win the first prize.

1987–1991[link]

Vanessa Paradis at the 1991 César Awards.

Although "La Magie des surprises-parties" was not a hit, it paved the way for the song with which she became internationally famous, "Joe le taxi", in 1987, while she was still only 14 years old.^[1] It was #1 in France for 11 weeks^[2] and, unusually for a song sung in French, was released in the United Kingdom year (25 January), where it reached #3. It was taken from her first album M&J (it stands for Marilyn & John) which, although it gained a number 13 placing in France, drew little attention in the UK and did not enter the chart. In March 1989, aged 16, she decided to leave high school in order to pursue her career.

She released the album Variations sur le même t'aime in 1990, containing a remake of the Lou Reed song "Walk on the Wild Side". The album was written by acclaimed French composer Serge Gainsbourg, whom she met when she received the best singer award at Les Victoires de la Musique, on 4 February 1990. In 1990, Paradis won the 1990 César Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in Noce Blanche.

In 1991, Paradis promoted a fragrance for Chanel, titled Coco. In the advertisement, she was dressed in all black and feathers, portraying a bird swinging in a cage. The advert was shot by Jean-Paul Goude. Paradis spoke of her continued admiration of Chanel in 2010 saying, "The more I know them, the more I love Chanel."^[3]

1992–1993[link]

In 1992, she moved to the United States to work with Lenny Kravitz. Paradis started working on a new album in English, a language in which she was now fluent. Written and produced by Kravitz, the album, titled Vanessa Paradis, topped the French chart and briefly made the UK listings (number 45). One of the singles from it was "Be My Baby", which made number 5 in France and gave her another Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6.

In March 1993, Paradis started her first international tour, the "Natural High Tour"; she performed in France, England and Canada. The tour was canceled, for health reasons, before she could perform in Japan and in the United States.

1993–2011[link]

Vanessa Paradis in January 2012.

In February 1994, Live was released in France.

In April 1994, Paradis filmed Élisa, under the direction of Jean Becker. Elisa was a big success in France, and was released internationally.

In 1997, Paradis played in Un amour de sorcière with Jeanne Moreau and Jean Reno, before filming Une chance sur deux, with Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo. In March 1999, La fille sur le Pont, by Patrice Leconte was released. This movie was shot and released in black and white. In 2004, she promoted Chanel's new handbags called Ligne Cambon. In 2005, she modeled for Chanel again for The New Mademoiselle handbag. In 2008, she modeled for Miu Miu.

On the musical side, she was included in the French children's album and concert Le Soldat Rose in 2006. Paradis released a new album (Divinidylle) in 2007 which was released in the UK on 11 December (September in France). There are three versions (regular, limited edition, and the Christmas edition). She started the Divinidylle Tour in October. Some concerts were filmed and a DVD/CD of the tour was released. Paradis won two 'Les Victoires de la Musique' awards for this album in February 2008. Some of her later projects include a greatest hits CD (Best of Vanessa Paradis) which includes the commercial jingle "I love Paris in the Springtime"; she also starred in the animated film Un monstre à Paris, released in 2010.

Her latest film in theatres is the romantic comedy Heartbreaker alongside Romain Duris and Andrew Lincoln, which grossed over €30 million in France and has also been well-received by critics. It was released in the UK in July 2010.^[4][5]

Canadian film director Jean-Marc Vallée cast Paradis in a starring role in his film Café de Flore, in which she plays a single mother in the 1960s with a down syndrome child.^[6] The film was released in 2011, and Paradis garnered a Genie Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2012 Genie Awards.^[7]

She released an acoustic album in November 2010 entitled Une nuit à Versailles. The album was recorded at L'Opéra of the Palace of Versailles during her Vanessa Paradis Concert Acoustique Tour.^[8] She also released a set of DVDs in 2010 called Anthologie which collected rare live performances and interviews from 1987–2007.^[9]

In 2010, she became the face of Chanel's new lipstick, Rouge Coco, and also became the face of Chanel's new handbag line. Her 2011 international tour which included performances in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Turkey.^[10]

Personal life[link]

Paradis dated French singer Florent Pagny from 1988 to 1991. She was rumored to be dating American singer Lenny Kravitz from 1992 to 1996 and dated and lived with French-Slovenian actor Stanislas Merhar in 1997 and 1998.

Since 1998, Paradis has been in a relationship with American actor Johnny Depp. They have a daughter, Lily-Rose Melody Depp (born May 27, 1999), and a son, John Christopher "Jack" Depp III (born April 9, 2002).^[11]

Paradis and Depp divide their time between homes in Los Angeles and the village of Plan-de-la-Tour, France. They own a house in the Paris suburb of Meudon, an apartment in New York and an island in the Bahamas. Paradis has said that she longs for a house in England.

In 2000, Paradis released her album Bliss which was dedicated to Depp and their daughter.

In 2012, Vanessa Paradis, has officially denied the many rumors of possible separation,^[12] live on French TV.^[13]

Paradis has a sister, the actress Alysson Paradis, who is 11 years younger and has starred in many French horror films. The actor and film producer Didier Pain is their uncle.

Discography[link]

	Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le Taxi excerpt noicon An excerpt from Joe Le Taxi
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

• 1990: César Award of "Most Promising Actress" for Noce Blanche.
• 1990: Victoire De La Musique: "Female Performer of the Year".
• 1990: Prix Romy Schneider
• 1991: Victoire De La Musique: "Video of the Year" for Tandem, directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino.
• 1999: Nomination to César Awards for "Best Actress" for La fille sur le pont.
• 2001: Nomination to NRJ Music Awards of "Francophone Female Artist of the Year".
• 2001: Nomination to NRJ Music Awards of "Francophone Album of the Year" for Bliss.
• 2007: Named "Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres".
• 2008: Nomination to NRJ Music Awards of "French Album of the Year" for Divinidylle.
• 2008: Nomination to Trophy Women's Gold in the category "Shows".
• 2008: Victoire De La Musique: "Female Performer of the Year".
• 2008: Victoire De La Musique: "Pop Album of the Year" for Divinidylle.
• 2009: Victoire De La Musique: "Best Music DVD of the Year" for Divinidylle Tour

References[link]

External links and audio sample[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vanessa Paradis

• Official website
• Vanessa Paradis at Allmusic
• Vanessa Paradis at the Internet Movie Database

v t e Chanel Designers Coco Chanel · Karl Lagerfeld Owners Alain Wertheimer · Gerard Wertheimer · Jacques Wertheimer · Pierre Wertheimer Garments Little black dress · Pink Chanel suit of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Perfumes Bois des Îles · Chanel No. 5 · Chanel No. 19 · Chanel No. 22 · Coco Mademoiselle · Cuir de Russie Perfumers Ernest Beaux · Jacques Polge · Henri Robert Handbags Chanel 2.55 Watches Chanel J12 Spokesmodels Carole Bouquet · Catherine Deneuve · Inès de La Fressange · Nicole Kidman · Keira Knightley · Kate Moss · Vanessa Paradis · Audrey Tautou  · Gaspard Ulliel Films Chanel Solitaire · Coco Before Chanel · Coco Chanel · Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky