RIP Françoise Hardy

Art & Hue extends condolences to the family & friends of Françoise Hardy following the news of her passing at the age of 80.

Françoise Hardy was an icon of 1960s pop and the epitome of French chic. From her debut in 1962 with “Tous les garçons et les filles”, Françoise moved from yé-yé and representing Monaco in the 1963 European Song Contest, through to collaborating with Blur and Malcolm McLaren.

In the 1963 contest, Françoise represented Monaco with the song “L’Amour s’en Va” (Love Goes Away) which she composed and performed.

Held at Television Centre, as the previous year’s winner France had declined to host it, Françoise’s song was a hit in Europe and went on to win the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque award.

Still recording up until recently, Françoise released her 28th studio album in April 2018 as well as a new compilation in 2020. In addition to music, Françoise has acted in cult films including a cameo in “What’s New Pussycat?” (the madcap romp with Peter Sellers, Capucine, and the song by Sir Tom song) and inspired many fashion designers as a muse, from Paco Rabanne & André Courrèges to Nicolas Ghesquière & Rei Kawakubo.

Françoise Hardy was the embodiment of French cool whose iconic style will live on and continue to inspire.

R.I.P. Françoise Hardy
17th January 1944 – 11th June 2024