Artist: The Delta Rhythm Boys
Song: Allouette
More About Artist & Song
The song from this Target commercial is called: Alouette. This song is an old children’s song that originated in France. This song became more widely known in America after World War I, when american soldier learned the song while serving in France. Many brought it home with them and sang it to their children. The first known publishing of the song was in 1879 in a book called “Pocket Song Book for the Use Of Students & Graduates.” Such a catchy title! What is an Aloutette? An Alouette is actually a bird, a lark to be specific. It’s about plucking feathers of a lark. The song actually informs the lark that you are going to pluck it’s head, nose, eyes, wings, and tail. And it’s customary to point to the part of the body you are singing about.
I do not know the singer of this particular version of the song. If you have any ideas, let me know in the comments. I’ve heard some people suggest that the singer is a band called “Children”, but I can’t find any evidence of that other than their suggestion. Of course, if you just like the song, there are tons of versions of this song by other people online. Rdio appears to have 444 songs called “Alouette” that members can listen to. Update: Thanks to the commenters for letting me know that the song is by the Langston, Oklahoma based vocal quartet: Delta Rhythm Boys.
Target Commercial Description
2012 Target commercial for their colorful spring line of clothing. The ad starts out with a red hot air balloon flying through the city. French song, “Red Balloon” get it? Eh? If you’ve never watched that movie, you should. It’s beautiful, prepare to cry. The red balloon lands, and loads of people dressed like colorful acrobats jump out of the basket and run through the streets. A man in an orange suit jumps up a balcony and climbs into someones house and runs through, jumping on the couch as he goes. And a woman in yellow comes down the chimney of this place, she makes some cool lamps appear on end tables by the couch.
Next we see these people, (I’ll call them an invading army of colorfully dressed French people, WHO MUST BE STOPPED) jumping into someones backyard, and jumping into the pool. Picking up a leaf blower, turning it on and blowing peoples clothes off, to reveal spring and summer clothes. Next, this invading army of colorfully dressed psychopaths run into a woman’s house as she is applying makeup, they spin her mirror around and we see her dressed more colorfully now, with colorful makeup. Next the invading army of colorful acrobats run through the streets, creating color wherever they can. Finally they jump back into their hot air balloon. The view from above the balloon shows that the top of it is the Target Symbol.
Text on Screen
#TargetColor
Color Changes Everything
@TargetStyle
Expect More Pay Less
Song Lyrics in Commercial
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai la tête
Et la tête, et la tête
Alouette, Alouette
delta rhythm boys is the artist
I don’t think this is the original version. I’ve listened to both and this is in a different key and the music is not exactly the same.
Woo, what an incredible ad! The artist is, like Matthew says, The Delta Rythm Boys!
I’ve been looking in iTunes, and you can find it in this album; Vintage Vocal Jazz / Swing No. 124 – EP: Allouette by The Delta Rythm Boys!
Alouette, gentille Alouette!!
Recordando la infamcia
Allouette by The Delta Rythm Boys!
You’re right, thanks! I’ll update the post.
It’s a catchy ad, visually, and the song gives a lot of energy. But I do not see what the song has to do with color. I am not quite sure why Target chose that particular song. Love The Delta Rhythm Boys!
Hinchess, I think it’s a different take on the verb plumer. Plume means feather and in the original alouette, plumer means to pluck, but in this version could mean to feather as in to decorate with beautiful colors like bird feathers. We also have the english expression to feather one’s nest which goes nice with a Target Ad.
Very well said Amelie
You obviously know what you are talking about.
(My French teacher called me Amelie all 4 years of highschool ~~hehe)
Oh, boy. I think that’s a big stretch. I think we are over thinking reasons now.
Not to mention, it’s a clever riff on the Targét French affectation
Doesn’t anybody care that this song is about killing a bird? it talks about plucking feather,eyes etc. It even talks about breaking the birds neck not cool.
Married to a french Candian? you mean Canadian? LMAO. Doesn’t affect me in the slightest, in fact I love it more because I am a longtime bird hunter. (Dove, Duck, Quail, Pheasant, etc) Now I know of the perfect song to sing as I’m going bird hunting.
LMAO! Sorry you are married to a french candian.
Stupid song- has nothing to do with the ad.
Jeanine, look at Amelie’s Reply… I think she got it just right.
Amelie~ I vote your Reply #1
….A gang of androgenous rainbow clad Pee-Wee Herman followers suddenly drop out of the sky and invade home, workplace, & city. All while a song about plucking defenseless birds ’til bald plays in the background. I’m not sure, but I think I should feel afraid.
I’m with you!
Just thought I’d mention that you misspelled the group’s name here…. it’s Rhythm
(you have: Artist: The Delta Rythm Boys)
Just sayin’ ….
Doh!
When I first saw this commercial i laughed hysterically!!!!!!!!! yes yes the colors and the hot air balloon- cool, the dancing around- engaging. But my classmates and I Iearned and laughed at our childhood song while in high school french, when we learned what the words meant !!! LOLOLOL
” Lark, nice lark, Lark, I shall pluck you, I shall pluck your head, (I shall pluck your head), And your head, (And your head), Lark, O-o-o-oh …… ” and subsequent verses go on to the poor birds beak and neck and back and wings and feet and tail !!!!!!!!!
Very Visually Compelling commercial and ad theme re color……. BUT POOR BIRD!!!!!!!!!! (LOLOLOLOL)
I still smile and hum along whenever the commercial comes on!!
AND, Amelie, I agree with you as well~~very well said.
The Delta Rythm Boys did the original song. This version is in a different key and the music is different from the original as well. Any way to find out who did this version?
We used to sing this with our music teacher in grade school (1940′s) So good to hear it again.
The words to the song are about plucking the feathers off a lark. So what does this have to do with the song? Yes it is a catchy tune but has no meaning or reference to the song
Has any else noticed that the logo colors on the balloon are reversed? The bullseye is white instead of red, and there is an extra outer ring. Because of this, it took me a while to figure out that it was a Target ad. Could it be that part of the message of the ad is that the logo colors are changing?
Little skylark, lovely little skylark
Little lark, I’ll pluck your feathers off
I’ll pluck the feathers off your head
I’ll pluck the feathers off your head
Off your head – off your head
Little lark, little lark
O-o-o-o-oh
And adding:
Off your beak
Off your neck
Off your back
Off your wings
Off your feet
Off your tail
English translation. really disgusting. Horrible ad. terrible clothes. Does not make me want to shop there. At All!
Thanks for posting the lyrics
Why does the voice remind me of nina simone?
Does anyone have anything to say about nina simone …. singing a “classic” french chrildrens song that is so far in the past animal rights activists have no effect
Agree with married-to-french-canadian — why this song? It’s sung in French so there wouldn’t be a hue and cry about the real lyrics. There are plenty of songs out there which speak about color (“Color My World”). Plucking about body parts of little birds is not cute.
I’m so glad I found this info, lyrics and translation. My 12 month old daughter LOVES this song, she loses all composure when the commercial comes on. Its the cutest/funniest thing ever. Now I know what we’re singing about. I’m totally gonna download this song for her. Simple things like this are what great memories are made of.
My grandmother used to sing this song. It brought back good memories!
Since Target is French owned….perhaps this choice of lyrics means the French owned Targets are plucking money from Americans who buy at their stores!!!!