Françoise Hardy | Artist
Françoise Hardy was a French singer-songwriter born 1944 in Paris, France. She made her musical debut in the early 1960s on Disques Vogue and found immediate success with her sultry voice at the hight of the yé-yé era. in the '60s she became "France's most exportable female singing star", recording in various languages, appearing in movies, touring throughout Europe, and gaining plaudits from musicians such as Bob Dylan, Miles Davis and Mick Jagger. At the peak of the British Invasion phenomenon, Hardy sought to modernize her music, opting to leave the poor quality of French studios and sound engineers to go record her songs at Pye Records studios in London, thus broadening her popular appeal internationally throughout the French and English speaking worlds. Hardy remained a popular figure in music and fashion and has a superb body of work. She released 35 studio albums and countless EP's and Singles. Outstanding albums include Tous les garçons et les filles (1962), Mon amie la rose (1964), Ma jeunesse fout le camp (1967), Comment te dire adieu (1968), La Question (1971), and Françoise Hardy (1972). The Vogue Years compilation from 2001 is also highly recommended. Hardy sings in French, English, Italian, German and has two interpretations in Spanish and one in Portuguese. Her recordings in Italian, completed in Paris in 1963 under the production of Ezio Leoni, remain highly acclaimed. In 1963 she represented Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fifth with "L'amour s'en va". Although Hardy's music covered a wide range of genres, she maintained a signature sound from the beginning of her career, which was defined by her breathy alto vocals and predilection for melancholic songs. Hardy herself stated in 2012 "In music, I like above all the slow, sad melodies.. Because it feels good that the pains of feelings turn into something beautiful: a beautiful text, a beautiful melody. I still aspire to find the heartbreaking melody that will bring tears to my eyes. A melody whose quality gives it a sacred dimension." Hardy passed away on June 11, 2024 at the age of 80. She was married to fellow French singer-songwriter Jacques Dutronc in 1981 until her death, and their only son, Thomas, is also a musician. Hardy remains one of the best-selling singers in French history, and continues to be regarded as an iconic and influential figure in both French pop and fashion.
Artist Website: francoise-hardy.com
Featured Albums: Françoise Hardy
Related Artists: Jacques Dutronc, Serge Gainsbourg
Collections: Women of Note
