TMS Muse of the Week: Françoise Hardy
(Giancarlo Botti)
What is it about mid-20th century Paris that appeals to American teenage girls? Not Rome, not London, not even Manhattan, but specifically Paris. Anytime a high school girl goes through a retro phase, it’s usually with a beret, tights, cashmere sweater and black saddle shoes. Let’s not forget the cat eye look as well. Her idol is either Anna Karina or Catherine Deneuve and her favorite music is by French female popstars referred to as ‘yé-yé’ girls. These young women included France Gall, Sylvie Vartan, Chantal Goya, Gillian Hills and probably the most famous yé-yé girl, Françoise Hardy. Singer, songwriter, actress and fashion icon, Françoise had that cool, unaffected vibe similar to Sofia Coppola three decades later. You were more likely to see her in pants, suede jacket and her long brown hair naturally down than in any of the cutesy aesthetics usually associated with 1960s French culture. Much like Jane Birkin and Romy Schneider, Françoise has a timeless beauty that was also contemporary and attainable to both young men who wanted to with her and girls who wanted to be her. She was poised and mellow during TV appearances and performances, and was rarely in the tabloids for any sort of gossip, though she knew how to have fun. If any French starlet fit the term ‘effortless’ in the ‘60s, it was Françoise.
The vocalist broke through with her 1962 debut LP, ‘Tous les garçons et les filles,’ including the title track, which was an international hit single, as well as the fan favorites ‘Le temps de l’amour’ and ‘Oh, Oh, Cheri.’ My introduction to Françoise’s music was ‘Le temps de l’amour,’ through discovering April March’s 1996 English language cover ‘While We’re Young,’ and not much later the original version which was featured prominently in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012). Françoise would be a huge superstar in her home country, but also enjoy fame globally with recordings in both French and English, such as ‘All Over the World’ and ‘Only Friends’ from her 1966 record ‘Françoise Hardy in English’ and ‘Message personnel’ off her 1973 album of the same title.
(via pinterest.com)
In 1968, Françoise released her own interpretation of Kathy Kirby’s classic 1965 ballad ‘The Way of Love,’ which would be sung most famously by Cher in 1972. Françoise was also hit by the acting bug at the prime of her stardom, making an appearance opposite Peter Sellers and Woody Allen in Clive Donner’s sex comedy What’s New, Pussycat? (1965); and with her most significant co-starring role in John Frankenheimer’s racecar epic Grand Prix (1966) with James Garner and Eva Marie Saint.
Despite being a celebrity, the brunette also has an independent, loner tendency as well. She was sought after by classic rock legends like Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Richard Thompson and Nick Drake in the ‘60s-’70s, but chose to keep to herself. Her longterm partner, fellow singer-songwriter Jacques Dutronc, proposed to her multiple times after dating in 1966-1972 and moving in together in 1973. The pair finally tied the knot in 1981 until officially separating in 1988. The relationship did produce a son, Thomas [b. 1973] who also went into music. Part of this might be due to Françoise growing up with an absentee father and her younger sister who sadly passed from suicide after experiencing undiagnosed schizophrenia. Françoise has also had her share of health battles with lymphoma that she managed to overcome while keeping her career active until 2018 with the album ‘Personne d’autre.’ In many ways, Françoise is the Garbo for the golden age of popular music. Beauty, brains and talent, with very little drama in between. Mystique and allure that can’t be imitated. No matter what language, this French lady has got that certain oomph.