You know, I’ve been on trips
I saw other beaches
I forgot them
You know, I’ve seen storms
We see them at all ages
At the end of summer
So, I would like to know why
Who makes me stay here, close to you
In the rain tonight
Yet this beach is the same
I am no longer the same
What has changed?
Brigitte Bardot
Words Jean-Max Rivière, Music Gérard Bourgeois. From the album « B.B. » 1964
Images from the film “To your heart’s content” (by Serge Bourguignon, 1967), with Laurent Terzieff
Brigitte Bardot just celebrated her 90th birthday on September 28, 2024.
First a dancer and model or photo model, she became the icon of French cinema, known worldwide with the filming of some 40 films in 20 years from 18 to 38 years old, starting in The Norman Hole with Bourvil starring, becoming legendary in 1956 with And God created woman of Vadim and his incredible mambo, all the difference between eroticism and pornography. But it is In case of misfortune with Gabin, The truth by Clouzot with Sami Frey, or Contempt by Godard with Piccoli who give him his letters of nobility. Nor does she forbid comedies with Babette goes to war or Long live Mary! where she sings several songs in duet with Jeanne Moreau including this Paris, Paris, Paris full of self-deprecation. Still very prominent with Boulevard du Rhum of Enrico ou Don Juan 73 of Vadim, she decides to stop acting after The very good and very joyful story of Colinot Trousse-Chemise by Nina Companeez in 1973, to devote herself to the defense of animal rights.
In parallel with her acting career, Brigitte Bardot is also a singer who recorded more than 70 songs mainly in the 1960s, with a predilection for South American music.
His songs are largely written by the duo Jean-Max Rivière (on the lyrics), and Gérard Bourgeois, who died in 2016, on the music, like the famous Madrague. Invitangoso sensual, was composed by Claude Bolling, it was also sung by its author, these two songs appearing in the first two vinyls, Brigitteet Brigitte Bardot both in 1963.
It was Rivière who also co-wrote the music for Sidonia (poem by Charles Cros) heard in Privacy by Louis Malle, originally intended for the film Do you want to dance with me?
Twelve tracks on this third album B.B. where we also find, to stay in one of Bardot’s favorite themes, A beach story « a story of a beach mixed with sand and water / in a shell, the sail of a boat / which rocked on the edge of the sun / carrying away who knows our illusions born from the day before” or I play.
It was in 1968 in the eponymous album that for the Bardot Show, passage from 1967 to 1968, appeared as songwriter Serge Gainsbourg on Harley Davidson et Contactthe start of a collaboration in an electro pop style tinged with science fiction (even if in 1963 for a special Happy New Year he had already written to her The slot machine et I give myself to whoever pleases me) and a short romantic passion but that is another story. L’album Bonnie and Clydein 1967, is alternately sung by Bardot and Gainsbourg except the title song as a duet, and Gainsbourg, after she left him, dedicates a song and a farewell record to her, Initials BBin 1968 with the takeover of Bonnie and Clyde as a duo. The first version recorded with Bardot of I love you neither will only be published, at the request of Brigitte Bardot, in 1986.
In May 2025 a documentary on Brigitte Bardot directed by Alain Berliner will be broadcast during the Cannes Film Festival.
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