France Gall

France Gall was a French singer who rose to fame in the 1960s as one of the leading figures of the yé-yé movement, a style of pop music influenced by British and American rock and roll. She collaborated with several renowned songwriters, such as Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Berger, and Luc Plamondon, and recorded many hit songs that are still popular today. She also represented Luxembourg in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest and won with the song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", written by Gainsbourg. She was known for her sweet voice, her innocent image, and her catchy melodies. Gall was born in Paris on October 9, 1947, to a musical family. Her father, Robert Gall, was a lyricist who wrote songs for Édith Piaf and Charles Aznavour. Her mother, Cécile Berthier, was a singer and the daughter of Paul Berthier, the co-founder of Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois. She had two brothers, Patrice and Philippe. She started singing at a young age and recorded her first single, "Ne sois pas si bête", at the age of 15. It was a success, selling 200,000 copies. She then signed with Philips Records and began working with Gainsbourg, who wrote many songs for her, such as "N'écoute pas les idoles", "Laisse tomber les filles", and "Les sucettes". The latter song caused controversy because of its suggestive lyrics, which Gall claimed she did not understand at the time. In 1965, Gall participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", a song that broke the mold of the traditional ballads that dominated the contest. The song was a pop-rock tune with witty lyrics that compared Gall to a wax doll singing whatever Gainsbourg wanted her to sing. The song was a huge success, winning the contest and becoming an international hit. It also marked the beginning of Gall's popularity across Europe, especially in Germany, where she recorded several albums in German. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gall's career slowed down as she struggled to find her own musical identity and to cope with the pressures of fame. She also had personal problems, such as her breakup with singer Claude François, who inspired the song "Comme d'habitude", later adapted into "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. She also suffered from breast cancer and had to undergo a mastectomy. In 1973, Gall met Michel Berger, a singer-songwriter who became her artistic partner and husband. They married in 1976 and had two children: Pauline (born in 1978) and Raphaël (born in 1981). Berger wrote many songs for Gall that showcased her vocal range and emotional depth, such as "La déclaration d'amour", "Il jouait du piano debout", "Résiste", and "Ella, elle l'a". They also collaborated on the rock opera Starmania, written by Berger and Plamondon, which was a huge success in France and Canada. Gall also sang duets with Elton John ("Donner pour donner" and "Les aveux") and Peter Gabriel ("Babacar"). Gall faced several tragedies in the 1990s. In 1992, Berger died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 44. In 1997, their daughter Pauline died of cystic fibrosis at the age of 19. Gall was devastated by these losses and withdrew from public life for several years. She returned to the stage in 1993 and 1994 with a tribute concert to Berger, and again in 1996 with a new album, France, which was her last studio album. She also devoted herself to humanitarian causes, such as Action Écoles, which supported education in Africa. Gall died on January 7, 2018, at the age of 70, from an infection complicated by cancer. She was buried next to Berger and Pauline in Montmartre Cemetery. She left behind a legacy of songs that are part of the French cultural heritage and that have influenced many artists. She was also remembered as a generous and kind person who touched the hearts of millions of fans.