Discovering new music during quarantine: Françoise Hardy

With plenty of downtime during the Coronavirus quarantine, one of my favorite activities to
keep busy was discovering different musical artists. These stretched from rap to classical with everything
in between. Listening to music is both relaxing and interesting, especially if you delve deeper into the
meanings and history behind songs or the artists themselves.

One of my new personal favorite musicians, who is a bit off the beaten path, is Françoise Hardy,
a popular French singer from the 1960s. Even though she is not technically ‘new,’ her enchanting vocals
are not as well-known in America and you may have heard her before. Hardy’s music has been featured
in several popular shows and films including Moonrise Kingdom and The Ending of the F***ing World.

Hardy was one of the most prolific French singers of her time. She gained praise from notable
musicians such as Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger. As well as being a contributor to the music scene, she also
became a model and fashion icon soon after. She even covered Leonard Coen’s “Suzanne” in 1968. This
classic track is brought to life through French translation and stunning vocals. The cover is truly
haunting. Not only does she sing in French, but Hardy has also recorded songs in English, German, and
Italian; not something that every artist can say. Shortly after the end of the 60s, Hardy chose to drop her
reputation and to move on to a more mature era of her life. Some of her most acclaimed work came
from the early 70s.

After listening to her albums during the summer, I decided Françoise Hardy (Tous les garçons et
les filles) is my favorite. It encompasses catchy tunes and wonderful vocals that I can never get tired of.
This was also Hardy’s debut album, and it still shines amongst her later works. If you are interested in
listening to music beyond what you hear traditionally in the U.S., Françoise Hardy is an excellent choice.
Her music continuously hits the mark.

Hardy was one of the most popular female artists of her time and paved the way for those to
come. She showed that you do not have to focus on just one thing to be successful in life. Her music
stands out because of how interchangeable it is between languages and culture. I am not a French
speaker, yet her music continues to excite me. It is important to get outside of your comfort zone and
listen to things you normally would avoid; you never know what you could find.