France Gall - Baby Pop

One of the most revered of the French Ye-Ye Girls (read "Yeah! Yeah!" in English), France Gall epitomized the Continental European pop style of the early '60s -- particularly with its emphasis on comely, young vocalists. Born on October 9, 1947, Isabelle Genevieve Marie Anne Gall was the daughter of Cecile Berthier and performer/producer Roger Gall, who had written tunes for the likes of Piaf and Aznavour.

In 1962, Roger Gall took his 15-year-old daughter into the recording studio, resulting in her debut album "Ne Sois pas Si Bete" ("Don't Be So Stupid"). Following it's first airplay on France Gall's 16th birthday, the recording became a huge hit (selling more than 200,000 copies) attributed to not only the catchy title tune, but also due to the stunning cover photo of the teenage beauty. Ms. Gall continued to record hits through the '60s, many penned by French musical icon, Serge Gainsbourg -- including Gall's 1965 Eurovision Song Contest winning "Poupee de ciri, poupee de son", a huge international hit which France recorded in French, German, Italian and Japanese.

Then in 1966, Ms. Gall recorded the highly controversial hit written by Gainsbourg, "Les Sucettes", which appeared on the surface to be a sweet little tune about a young girl and her lollipop (but which, of course, alluded to oral sex) and it's follow-up "Baby Pop" (immortalized in this Scopitone). Under Gainsbourg's tutelage, France moved into a distinctly psychedelic period… recording the likes of "La Petite", a duet with Maurice Biraud which documents an older man's infatuation with the daughter of a friend; "Teenie Weenie Boppie", a tune about a deadly LSD trip (which strangely involves Mick Jagger); and "Qui se souvient de Caryl Chessman?" ("Anyone Remember Caryl Chessman?"), about the convicted robber, kidnapper and rapist who was "the first modern American executed for a non-lethal kidnapping".

As the '60s drew to a close, Ms. Gall's career began to slow down -- as was the case with most of the Ye-Ye Girls as they moved out of their teens. In addition, Gainsbourg's attention became focused on his own recordings and those of his wife, Jane Birkin. Then, in 1974, France began to work with songwriter/producer Michel Berger… and the musical relationship blossomed into marriage in 1976. Berger took over his wife's career and revitalized her popularity throughout Europe with a new soft rock style. Gall and Berger's careers intertwined and flourished, and from the point of their marriage, France has only sung Berger's songs.

Tragically, Berger died of a heart attack in 1992 (at age 46) and following his death, Ms. Gall only made periodic appearances, primarily to promote Berger's songs. In 1996, France released her eighth and final studio album, "France" as a tribute to her husband and mentor. Then in December 1997, their daughter Pauline, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, died and Gall retired from public life.

So here is "Baby Pop" -- one of France Gall's grooviest psych-pop hits -- complete with back-up girls singing the "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"s (or more properly, "Ye! Ye! Ye!"s) requisite in a French pop hit of the period. Throughout, Ms. Gall is adorable, even as she sings of "the threat of war" and "bullets swishing". And she more than holds her own amidst the super-groovy lighting fixtures. And just dig her modder-than-mod 'doo.

But ultimately, Gainsbourg's tune and lyrics inhabit the fabulous Ms. Gall and raise her to Ye-Ye heights. "Sing and dance, Baby Pop, as if tomorrow you had to die." Mais oui.

Ye! Ye! Ye!