''Je suis et je resterai'' (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

: I Am and I Will Remain) is the debut studio

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

R&B and

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop! (British group), a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Album ...

singer

Leslie Leslie may refer to: * Leslie (name), a name and list of people with the given name or surname, including fictional characters Families * Clan Leslie, a Scottish clan with the motto "grip fast" * Leslie (Russian nobility), a Russian noble family ...

, released on 13 November 2002, released through the label M6 Interactions. The album was produced by Cutee B, Maleko, David "Little D." Adet, and Georges Padey, with lyrics being co-written by Leslie herself and producers. Lyrically, the songs explore emotional experiences common to adolescence and early adulthood—such as heartbreak, personal growth, and the quest to remain true to oneself despite outside influences. The albums' themes are rooted in themes of self-identity,

love Love is a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment (psychology), attachment to a person, animal, or thing. It is expressed in many forms, encompassing a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most su ...

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, and youthful

introspection Introspection is the examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings. In psychology, the process of introspection relies on the observation of one's mental state, while in a spiritual context it may refer to the examination of one's s ...

. Upon release, the album did commercially well. ''Je suis et je resterai'' debuted at number 61 on the French Albums Chart, then reached its peak position at number 41. Overall, the album lasted 37 weeks on the chart, establishing Bourgouin as a well known R&B singer, and paved the way for other artists to popularize R&B as well. The album was certified

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by the

Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

(SNEP) for French sales of 130,000 copies. The album featured four singles; " Le bon choix", " Je suis et je resterai", " On n'sait jamais" and " Pardonner". The lead single, "Le bon choix," achieved notable commercial success in France, peaking at number 11 on the French Singles Chart and selling approximately 200,000 copies. The second single, "Je suis et je resterai," reached number 13 on the

French Singles Chart SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

and remained on the chart for 22 weeks. The third single, "On n'sait jamais," featured the group Magic System and solo artist Sweety, blending R&B with tropical influences. The fourth and final single, "Pardonner," peaked at number 18 in France and also charted in

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and

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

. Collectively, the success of these singles and the album established Leslie as a prominent figure in early 2000s French pop and R&B music.

Background and composition

Prior to working on her debut studio album ''"Je suis et je resterai",'' she participated in the show Graines de Star (Stardust in English) in 2001, leading to her winning the musical category for the show. Shortly after this, it led to her being discovered by producer(s) Maleko, Georges Padey, Cutee B, David "Little D" Adet (who were associated with EMC Records and M6 Interactions) and produced her debut studio album, and wrote some of the lyrics on the album. Recording sessions took place in Studio EMC, and Master Studio.

Commercial performance

Upon release, the album achieved commercial success, selling approximately 130,000 copies in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and earning a

Gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...

certification from the

Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

(SNEP). It debuted at number 61 on the French Albums Chart and reached a peak position of 41, remaining on the chart for 37 weeks. This sustained chart presence underscored Leslie's growing popularity and the album's resonance with audiences. The success of ''Je suis et je resterai'' not only established Leslie as a prominent figure in French R&B but also paved the way for the genre's increased visibility in the early 2000s. The album's blend of introspective lyrics and contemporary R&B sounds contributed to its enduring appeal and commercial performance.

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Personnel

Credits adapted from ''Je suis et je resterai'' liner notes. * Arranged By, Producer ealization Programmed By eyboards– David Adet (Little D.)*, G. Padey*, M. Kool Louis* * Bass – David Picard (tracks: 7, 10) * Coordinator oordination Artistique– Christiane Ancinon * Design – Arsenic (7) * Graphics – Chiffon (3) * Guitar – David Marescaux (tracks: 7, 10), Henri Deschamps (tracks: 7, 10), Jean Pierre N'Diaye (tracks: 7, 10) * Lyrics By, Written-By – D. Adet* (tracks: 4, 6, 11), L. Bourgouin* (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15), S. Sebaï* (tracks: 3, 10, 13) * Management – David Adet * Mixed By – Christian Lieu * Music By, Written-By – D. Adet* (tracks: 2, 3, 6 to 11, 13 to 15), David Adet (tracks: 5), L. Bourgouin* (tracks: 4, 6, 11, 12, 15) * Other ultimedia– L.E.G. * Photography By – Big Master Flash * Photography By aleidoscope– Enzo Minardi * Producer – Georges Padey, Kool* * Recorded By – Georges Padey, Kool*, Wanceslas

Certifications and sales

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Je Suis Et Je Resterai 2002 debut albums Leslie (singer) albums