Wednesday 14th July 2004

Va Va Voom

It's made it into the dictionary

---

When Hélène Mahieu uttered the immortal phrase 'Va Va Voom' back in 1998 whilst launching the Clio Renaultsport 172 in a new advertising campaign, Renault had no idea it had introduced a phrase that would become so ingrained in modern culture that even the Concise Oxford English Dictionary would include it (11^th edition).

Since 2001, footballer Thierry Henry has uttered the phrase in numerous ads. The Concise Oxford has defined the term as ' the quality of being exciting, vigorous and sexually attractive'.

The 'Va Va Voom' advertising campaign was created by Publicis on behalf of Renault and has been running for six years. The latest advert which is currently on air, is set in a jazz club and showcases the new Clio Renaultsport 182 with its Variable Valve Timing (VVT) engine.

Links

• Renault Links
• PH Dictionary

[LRdriver II]

Yep, the country is going down the drain and being invaded by EU..
Thin edge of the wedge with the inclusion of french words in the dictionary anglais

[mrmaggit]

LRdriver II said:

Yep, the country is going down the drain and being invaded by EU.. Thin edge of the wedge with the inclusion of french words in the dictionary anglais

Yes, but the French are much more annoyed with English/Americanisms in their language than we are Frenchisms in ours!

[ultimasimon]

mrmaggit said:

LRdriver II said: Yep, the country is going down the drain and being invaded by EU.. Thin edge of the wedge with the inclusion of french words in the dictionary anglais Yes, but the French are much more annoyed with English/Americanisms in their language than we are Frenchisms in ours!

Yet another reason why it shouldn't have been entered into our dictionary.

God I hate the French

[JohnL]

Never said, for eg,

Rendezvous
Restaurant
Toilet
Battalion
Brigade
Force Majeur

- to name a few!

In the middle ages, from the Norman invasion up until the Tudors, French was the "official" language of England.

Any modern language is a mixture of lots of influences from other countries. Can't stop the tide! (And Canute was Danish!)

I always thought that bloke was just some actor!

[cotty]

I thought that in the advert he says "whats the French for va va voom" implying that its not a french saying. If you think about it its an english add it just happens to be about a French car.

>> Edited by cotty on Wednesday 14th July 12:59

[kingr seven]

Ah, the irony : (advert dialog) "What is Va Va Voom? Is it.....? Is it....?".

Well actually Thierry, I think you'll find that it's "the quality of being exciting, vigorous and sexually attractive".

Kind of takes the edge off the whole campaign really.

Kingr

[jackthedog]

It could be a lot worse.

'Spafe' could have made it in there...

[the fury]

jackthedog said:

It could be a lot worse. 'Spafe' could have made it in there...

Calm down boys, I don't think we need to worry about an invasion...

[size13]

Don't worry...



... it's only a comercial

[D-Angle]

What monumental idiot's idea was it to replace Hélène Mahieu with Thierry bloody Henry anyway? I know which one I'd sooner buy a Clio from!

[b10]

Who is Thierry Henry?

[edc]

cotty said:

I thought that in the advert he says "whats the French for va va voom" implying that its not a french saying. If you think about it its an english add it just happens to be about a French car. >> Edited by cotty on Wednesday 14th July 12:59

Exactly, it's not in their dictionary it just happened to be a nonsense 'phrase' said in a French accent.

[beano500]

edc said:

Exactly, it's not in their dictionary it just happened to be a nonsense 'phrase' said in a French accent.

Strangely enough so is my attempt at communicating when I'm in the land of the Frogeaters.........

[FunkyNige]

BBC are saying it's a US phrase from the 50s (Link.
Rather more worringly, 'Congestion Charge' is now in there.

[Alex]

Bring back Nicole.