the icon in five songs of sadness and love

In nearly 60 years of career, this emblematic artist of French song has offered her audience 28 albums.

She was an icon of French song. Françoise Hardy died at the age of 80, announced her son Thomas Dutronc on Tuesday June 11. Author, performer and composer, she has offered her audience 28 albums in nearly 60 years of career. From 1962 to 2018, she sang of melancholy, love and the passing of time. A look back at five songs that marked his career and his life.

1 “All the Boys and Girls My Age” (1962)

First big success, the title All the boys and girls my age was released the year Françoise Hardy turned 18. In this sad-sounding ballad of which she is the author and composer, the young singer evokes the pain of an adolescent who has never known love and sees all around her so many young people loving each other. A feeling of melancholy which ensures posterity.

2 “My friend the rose” (1964)

On a bolero and its few arpeggios on the guitar, My friend the Rose is among the best-known titles in his repertoire. Written by Cécile Caulier during the sudden death of actress Sylvia Lopez in 1959, Françoise Hardy takes this song which could not find an interpreter and gives voice to this text on the fragility of things, the life of a flower that only lasts from morning until evening.

3 “How to Say Goodbye” (1968)

Adaptation of the American song It Hurts to Say Goodbye, the text of How to say goodbye to you is written by Serge Gainsbourg whose pen we undeniably recognize. With only the sounds “ex” and “eu” put into rhyme, Françoise Hardy sings on an instrumental with a syncopated rhythm the sadness and quarrels of ex-lovers.

4 “Personal Message” (1973)

For a minute and a half, Françoise Hardy’s voice speaks to a person to whom she does not dare to express her love, but simply speaks. She then rises in song to words by Michel Berger which follow, like an invitation, the text written by the singer. Around the themes of difficulty in communicating and emerging relationships that run through the work of Françoise Hardy, Personal message was often understood as a wink from Michel Berger to Véronique Sanson from whom he had just separated.

5 “So many beautiful things…” (2004)

Françoise Hardy wrote this song for her son Thomas Dutronc, born from her union with the singer Jacques Dutronc. Seriously ill, she composed So many beautiful things… to console him when he was very affected by his health problems. She evokes the strength of their bonds, the things to still live and closes the text with advice, almost a prayer: “In this time which links heaven and earth hides the most beautiful mysteries. Think about it when you go to sleep, love is stronger than death”.