B＊Witched - C'est la vie

What this video is

Released on 25 May 1998 as B*Witched's debut single on Epic/Glowworm Records, 'C'est la Vie' debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart on 31 May 1998, making B*Witched the youngest girl group ever to achieve a UK number one. The single reached #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and charted #1 in Ireland and New Zealand, going platinum in Australia. It was the fifth best-selling UK single of 1998. The song, built on cheeky…

Why it matters

A defining artefact of late-90s British-Irish bubblegum pop, 'C'est la Vie' crystallised the post-Spice Girls girl-group formula while injecting Celtic folk-pop identity. It launched the only girl group to have their first four singles debut at UK #1, and its outdoor pastoral video aesthetic —…

The director

Canadian director born in Nova Scotia; relocated to England at age 15. Completed an M.A. in Film Direction at the Royal College of Art (1995). Studied theatre writing, dance, and choreography; received a Paul Hamlyn Award for Choreography in 1995. Between…