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Bardot A Go Go consists of chapters focusing on a specific artist, a particular style of music or a particular phenomena of the 60s French music scene. Short animated sequences are used to introduce new chapters and to bind them together. The style of the animation echoes the illustration work of Guy Peelaert, a popular artist of the time.
History of French Music to 1960 Specifically deals with the tradition of language and word play in French songwriting.
The Birth of Rock and Roll and the British Invasion These two phenomena were the catalysts for the explosion of musical expression and creativity worldwide. What did this phenomena look like from France’s point-of-view?
Brigitte Bardot Possibly France’s greatest export, Bardot was quite the success in her own country. Aside from her dynamic screen persona, she had a singing career of her own. While not endowed with a great voice, Bardot was an irresistibly charismatic performer and a model for many young French performers of the time.
From Twist to Yé-yé The early years of French pop saw a plethora of bands doing music in the style of The Twist and covering American pop tunes. The yé-yé scene was the beginning of a music style that was uniquely French.
Salut les copains! This magazine was at the center of the excitement in the world of French pop music and pop music in general. It was the Rolling Stone of France sans politics and predated the American publication by five years. Images from the magazine as well as interviews with photographers, editors and fans re-create its importance to the scene.
Françoise Hardy Still popular today, Françoise Hardy is the most successful French artist of the period who enjoyed considerable success outside of her own country, appearing in several international movies. Her 1962 debut hit "Tous les garçons et les filles" struck a chord with the baby boomer youth of France. Unlike the other yé-yé stars of the time she wrote most of her own material.
Nino Ferrer Successfully interpreting rock and roll into French was not always an easy task. The French language lacks the hard consonant sounds present in English, which fit the highly syncopated music. Nino Ferrer began breaking down this barrier with the release of such songs as ‘Mirza’ and ‘Le téléfon’, two immensely popular songs that today still move bodies on the dance floor today.