Sarkozy's Bling Bling rapping video hit

Even when the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, isn't trying to make the headlines, it's hard to keep him out of the news.

This time around it's in a video that has become all the rage in France, in which his animated "double" does a presidential rap.

The video has had more than 800,000 hits (and counting) and points fun at Sarkozy's Bling Bling reputation by putting lyrics to music "inspired" by his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

It's the brainchild of a small production company, Mixus, and has created a buzz on the Net not just here in France, but has also been picked up by sites in Belgium and Switzerland and according to the weekly news magazine, L'Express has even made it across the channel to Britain.

And over the past week, the music channel MTV has also added the video to its prime time playlist.

The video opens to the strains of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, and then it's quickly into the presidential rap with, with a "Yo how are you doing my fellow citizens" (all right so it loses a little in translation).

Donning a pair of his almost trademark mirrored Ray-Bans and with a plump cigar in hand, Nicolas Bling raps and gyrates his way through lines that parody some of the most memorable headlines of his presidency - so far.

"I promised to increase purchasing power and as far as that goes - well I've done all right. Thanks," he sings with a shot of a vault stuffed full of gold bars.

There's a reference to the shake up of public television, with the suggestion of full presidential control by appointing a "minister of information" and both are neatly combined with his now infamous retort to a man who refused to shake his hand during a visit to this year's agricultural show with the line

"If you don't like the idea, then switch channels 'pauvre con'."

Throughout there's the constant reminder in the chorus of who exactly is "the big boss....the king of Bling Bling."

Carla fans (she's the former model-turned singer and now presidential wife for those of you who may have forgotten) might be a little disappointed as she makes just two fleeting appearances, and we see nothing more of her than brief arm waving.

The video is of course just pure parody with the original intention being a challenge the studio set itself to combine creativity with technology and a way of promoting its work.

It certainly seems to have hit a button, and perhaps it's only to be hoped that Sarkozy doesn't take offence in the way he has about the voodoo doll (appeal decision expected at the end of this month).

The company that made the video has been rather overwhelmed with all the coverage it has received, and there is already talk of making a second one.

"We're amazed by the buzz the video has generated," admits Thierry Soret the creative director of Mixus.

"At this rate we'll have to think about a follow-up."

So for those of you out there who haven't had a chance to watch and listen, simply click on the video (in French) accompanying this post.

It doesn't really matter whether you understand French - you should quickly get the general gist.

If you would rather see the whole thing with English subtitles, click on the company's site here, then "entrez dans le studio" wait a few moments and then, when it comes up, on "animation 3D and finally "Le clip qui déchire".

Watch, listen, enjoy.....and remember "who is king of Bling".

Le clip qui déchire