She passed away at the age of 80 Françoise Hardy, French singer And icon of the sixties. Famous throughout the world for her contribution to the pop culture of that period, she indelibly marked the musical canons of the second half of the twentieth century. The news of his death was announced on social networks by his son Thomas Dutronc, also a singer, born from Hardy’s relationship with Jacques Dutronc, French singer and actor famous for his role in Van Gogh, as well as for his musical style tending towards pop rock.
Who was Françoise Hardy
Born in Paris on January 17, 1944, she began playing the guitar self-taught at just eighteen years old. In 1962 she recorded “All boys and girls”, a love song that became so popular that it sold over two million copies worldwide.
Thanks to the success of his music, in 1963 he participated in theEurofestival (precursor of the current Eurovision Song Contest) with “L’amour s’en va”, placing fifth. A career studded with successes and enriched by the publication of numerous albums, in France and abroad, with songs not only in French but also in English, Italian, Spanish and German.
In the 1966 he participated in the Sanremo Festival together with Edoardo Vianello with “Parlami di te”, a song that guaranteed her eighth place in the general ranking. Her discography also includes “La Maison où j’ai grandi”, a cover of “Il Ragazzo della Via Gluck” by Adriano Celentano. Only two years later, in 1968, she declared her career over, making public her decision not to hold any more live concerts.
From musical icon to style icon
Hardy, however, was not alone an international musical icon. In a society in turmoil like that of post-World War II Europe, the singer had established herself as a real one fashion icon and style by dressing, for example, in the creations of Emmanuelle Khanh, Paco Rabanne and Yves Saint Laurent. A decidedly multifaceted personality and career, making her an authentic point of reference for the evolution of pop rock and yéyé style. A success crowned by the production of 30 musical albums and the sale of over 60 million copies worldwide.
In June 2019, the French singer and actress announced to RTL that she had been struck by a new cancer and, in March 2020, he declared that he would never be able to sing again. His death marks the end of an era for French music, leaving an indelible legacy thanks to his songs and his unmistakable stage presence. A personality which, in 2023, earned her entry into Rolling Stone’s ranking of the 200 best all-time singers, thus making her the only French representative.
