# Marcia Baila

"Marcia Baïla" is a 1984 song recorded by the French duo Les Rita Mitsouko. It was the band's third single from their first album, Rita Mitsouko, and was released in April 1984.
Dedicated to a dancer with the band who died in 1983, the song was a big hit in France and abroad, and is considered one of the band's signature songs.

## Background and writing

Composed by band members Catherine Ringer and Fred Chichin, the song is a tribute to Argentine dancer and choreographer Marcia Moretto, who participated in the band's tours before her death from breast cancer in 1983 at the age of 36.
With this song, Les Rita Mitsouko received extensive media coverage; indeed, "the music video for the single [was] a success which result[ed] in repeated and enthusiastic broadcastings on the television, the extravagance of the group express[ing] itself as well in concerts as during its cathodic performances."
Philippe Gautier directed the widely viewed music video that accompanies the song. Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler's costumes are featured in the video, as well as Xavier Veilhan's set design and graffiti art from the Figuration libre movement. Despite its Spanish title, the lyrics are in French.

## Chart performance

In France, the song had a long chart trajectory, remaining on the Top 50 charts for 29 weeks. It debuted at #33 on April 27, 1985, and climbed regularly until it peaked at #2 for three consecutive weeks. (The song "Live is Life" by "Opus" remained at #1 and blocked any further rise in the chart.) In all, it spent 17 weeks in the Top Ten.

## In the media and cover versions

The song can be heard in several films, including The Witnesses (produced by André Téchiné, 2007), La Tête de maman (Carine Tardieu, 2007), Le Pornographe (Bertrand Bonello, 2001), Belle Maman (Gabriel Aghion, 1999) and Sans toit ni loi (Agnès Varda, 1985).
The song is also a PAL region exclusive for Just Dance 3.
In 1997, the song was covered in Spanish by Los Del Sol. Gloria Lasso covered the song under the title "Baïlando con Marcia". In 1998, Ricky Martin covered the song on his album Vuelve, on which it features as the 11th track. Christer Björkman also made a version of the song, released as a single in 2002. The French band Nouvelle Vague covered this song for their fourth album Couleurs sur Paris, released in 2010. It was played at 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

## Track listings
### 7" single

* "Marcia Baïla" — 4:30
* "Jalousie" — 3:40

### 12" maxi

* "Marcia Baïla" — 5:34
* "Jalousie" — 3:40
* "Marcia Baïla" (Instrumental) — 6:15

### U.K. 12" single

* "Marcia Baïla (Extended Version)" — 7:21
* "Marcia Baïla (Extended French Version)" — 5:55
* "Marcia Baïla (7" English Version)" — 4:30

### U.S. Sire Records 12" maxi

* "Marcia Baïla (English Version)" — 7:21
* "Marcia Baïla (French Version)" — 5:55
* "Jalousie" — 3:40
* "Marcia Baïla (Single Version)" — 4:09
* "Marcia Baïla (Instrumental)" — 6:15

### Canada 12" maxi

* "Marcia Baïla (Extended Version)" — 7:21
* "Andy (7" French Version)" — 4:15
* "Marcia Baïla (Extended French Version)" — 5:10
* "Andy (Extended French Version)" — 5:15

### Remixes
#### Produced by Conny Plank and Les Rita Mitsouko

* Album Version — 5:35
* 7" Version — 4:30
* Extended French Version/French Version — 5:55 (remixed by Dominique Blanc-Francard)
* Instrumental — 6:15 (remixed by Dominique Blanc-Francard)
* Re album version (1990) (remixed by Tony Visconti and Les Rita Mitsouko)

#### Produced by Ivan Ivan

* Extended Version/English Version — 7:21
* 7" English Version — 4:30
* Single Version — 4:09

## Charts

| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 13 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 27 |

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 500,000$^*$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. |||