‘I’m Deranged’: Françoise Hardy’s favourite David Bowie song
The cultural boom that illustrated the 1960s has a lot to answer for. During this time, few nations had as much impact on the development of this cultural revolution as France. From the revolutionary cinema of the ‘nouvelle vague’ to the pop mastery of Disques Vogues, France was at the peak of its cultural output during the 1960s. By extension, few artists had the same impact on the era as the iconic chanteuse Françoise Hardy.
At the forefront of the yé-yé movement, Hardy is among the finest exports ever produced by France. Her unforgettable tones proved equally applicable to slow, heartfelt ballads as adolescent and modern pop classics. Even her later material, such as 2018’s Personne d’Autre, is uncompromising, emotionally effective and deeply infectious. A career like Hardy’s does not go unnoticed, providing inspiration for a wealth of incredible musicians. It is fitting, therefore, that the singer never lost her appreciation for her contemporaries.
Hardy should be noted for her hugely varied and vast range of musical influences, ranging from Édith Piaf to Bob Dylan. Included within that mix is, of course, David Bowie. There are few artists who are immune to the influence of Bowie, given his position as one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. His incredible body of work transcended genre, style, and even language.
Speaking to Pitchfork in 2018, Hardy revealed her appreciation for the Brixton-born songwriter, saying, “I’ve always been fascinated by David Bowie, but I’m not what you call a fan because fans have all the records and know everything. I’m not like that.” Despite her apparent lack of credentials, the singer added an unexpected adoration for an often overlooked Bowie record, sharing, “His album Outside impressed me most.”
According to France’s favourite pop star, the album contains her all-time favourite Bowie track, “There are other good tunes on this album,” she shared, “but I prefer ‘I’m Deranged’.” Explaining her love for the song, she said, “When you don’t speak English well like me, it doesn’t matter so much not to understand the lyrics. Of course, it can bring something more, but it’s more about the whole musical atmosphere, the production by Brian Eno, and also the melody, which are all tremendous.”
In the context of Bowie’s discography, the record is far too often forgotten in favour of his earlier work. “Outside is not as famous as it should be,” Hardy agrees, adding, “I was on a show with David Bowie about 15 years ago, and I told him that Outside was my favourite album by him, and he was stunned. He couldn’t believe it. I think he was quite happy to hear that.”
It certainly aligns with the career of Françoise Hardy. Throughout her work, she always attributed great importance and power to themes and feelings that often go underappreciated within the broader context of pop music. Perhaps that is why her work is so effective and why she holds a candle for the undervalued sounds of David Bowie’s Outside.