Based on a famous children's counting rhyme, the song is primarily about confidence, secret, and confession and uses the lexical field of psychoanalysis; however, the many puns and double entendres can also provide another meaning explicitly referring to sexuality.

Inspired by the romantic comedy horror film A Chinese Ghost Story, the expensive eight-minute music video was shot by Hong Kong film director Ching Siu-Tung in Beijing and displays Farmer portraying twin sisters who have supernatural powers; the first being kidnapped by Chinese bandits and rescued by her sister, who dies in the process, causing the first twin to commit suicide.

[1] These rumours were incorrect; however, as early as February, the radio station NRJ aired Farmer's new single, titled "L'Âme-stram-gram".

"[3] Promotional envelopes were released in a limited edition respectively on 2 and 6 March and contained, in addition to the CD single, the song's lyrics written by Farmer.

[5] The remixes, deemed "rather successful" by French author Julien Rigal, were not produced by Boutonnat, unlike Farmer's previous singles, but by Perky Park and Lady B.

[6] The art cover of the various formats, made by Italian photographer Marino Parisotto Vay, showed Farmer behind blue veils.

[1] The song marked a change of influences by Farmer who "abandon[ed] the Slavonic and American universes to be interested in Asia", as noted by author Erwan Chuberre.

It contains numerous erotic puns[9] inspired by the Marquis de Sade's works:[10] "J'ouïs tout ce que tu confesses / Et l'essaim scande l'ivresse", "J'ouïs tout ce que tu susurres / L'essaim bat la mesure", "Immisce et glisse l'abdomen / Dans l'orifice à moi", "L'âme-stram-gram, pique-moi dans l'âme / Bourrée bourrée de nœuds mâles / L'âme-stram-gram pique dames".

[1] Psychologist Hugues Royer said the song evokes "pleasure in all its forms which is seen as a way out" and, with "many encryoted puns", talks about "many amusing sexual practices".

The video had a budget that reached 900,000 euro,[15] as the construction of scenery included a reconstruction of the Great Wall of China and digital special effects.

Suddenly, the women flick out their long tongues, producing a powerful magical effect, causing the bandits to fall from their horses.

On these occasions, she performed a self-made choreography – crouching at the beginning with many arms gestures, then standing with suggestive movements of the pelvis – with two male dancers and displayed a new hairstyle with curls.

[21] It was finally played on the Live 2019 tour in another completely reworked electro form with some new choreography this time but now lots of light and video effects.

According to French chart expert Élia Habib, many people thought at the time that Mylène Farmer could become the first artist to obtain a number-one single from four studio albums, the first three being "Pourvu qu'elles soient douces" from Ainsi soit je..., "Désenchantée" from L'Autre..., and "XXL" from Anamorphosée.

Then it fell slowly, and was eventually the best-selling single from the album Innamoramento in the country, with the longest chart trajectory and the highest peak position.