The second non-English song to reach #1 on the Hot 100 was Kyu Sakamoto’s ‘Sukiyaki,’ which I wrote about this past weekend. That was in June of 1963, five years after ‘Volare.’
It was later the same year that Soeur Sourire, also known as The Singing Nun, took the next non-English song to #1. Though Sourire was Belgian, she wrote and performed her chart-topping hit ‘Dominque’ in French.
Unlike ‘Volare’ and ‘Sukiyaki,’ this song isn’t instantly familiar to me. I’ll be interested to hear from my older readers if they recall ‘Dominique’ as a major hit.
The Singing Nun, born Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers, lived a fascinating and tragic life. She joined a convent in her mid-20s and achieved musical fame while there. She was later ejected from the convent after clashing with her superiors, and courted controversy when she contradicted the church’s teachings on contraception.
Deckers lived with “close friend” Annie Pécher for years, denying that their relationship was romantic (though her biographer suggests otherwise). The two women died by suicide in 1985, when Deckers was 51 and Pécher was 42. Their suicide note referenced financial difficulties tied to back taxes owed on the royalties from ‘Dominique.’
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
[Couplet 1]
A l’époque où Jean sans Terre
D’Angleterre était le roi
Dominique, notre Père
Combattit les Albigeois
[Refrain]
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
[Couplet 2]
Certain jour un hérétique
Par des ronces le conduit
Mais notre Père, Dominique
Par sa joie le convertit
[Refrain]
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
[Couplet 3]
Ni chameau, ni diligence
Il parcourt l’Europe à pied
Scandinavie ou Provence
Dans la Sainte pauvreté
[Refrain]
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
[Couplet 4]
Enflamma de toutes écoles
Filles et garçons pleins d’ardeur
Et pour semer la parole
Inventa les Frères Prêcheurs
[Refrain]
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
[Couplet 5]
Chez Dominique et ses frères
Le pain s’en vint à manquer
Et deux anges se présentèrent
Portant deux grands pains dorés
[Refrain]
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
[Couplet 6]
Dominique vit en rêve
Les prêcheurs du monde entier
Sous le manteau de la Vierge
En grand nombre rassemblés
[Refrain]
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
[Couplet 7]
Dominique, mon bon Père
Garde-nous simples et gais
Pour annoncer à nos frères
La Vie et la Vérité
[Refrain]
Dominique-nique-nique
S’en allait tout simplement
Routier, pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du Bon Dieu
Meet Me In Montauk 
I recall Dominique being about as popular as Volare and Sukiyaki, although I think Volare had by far the most staying power. At least in my mind. I was a serious record collector back in the day and one of the things I collected was Billboard #1 singles on 7” vinyl. I always loved those 45s; still do. I couldn’t really afford albums, but singles were more in my budget in my younger years. I have every #1 single from January 1955 through December 1989. So my own familiarity with those songs is probably not the average person’s.
I’ve never heard of the Singing Nun or this song, but quite the story about her! I also read that, apparently, the popularity of this song was attributed to American deejays wanting to play something soothing in the wake of JFK’s assassination. Not really sure this would have soothed me though.
I have sometimes wondered why my family knew and sang this song in the late 60s and 70s. I had thought it was because my mother was fluent in French, but had no idea that it had been a chart-topping hit. The idea that she and her friend/lover killed themselves in part due to ongoing tax issues related to this recording having been a hit many years earlier is astounding and sad.
I recall this song but never really was interested in it. Such a sad story about their ending.