Véronique

Guestpost! Jean-Luc on Véronique Jannot, who sang on an absolute gorgeous French eighties-classic. Get your shoulderpads out!

Véronique Jannot is a French actress whose star shone brightest (in France) at the beginning of the 80's. She starred in the popular tv-series Pause Café as a social worker in a highschool, much loved by both pupils and teachers. At the time, she was the right face at the right time and place. She also starred in a big-screen movie called Tir Groupé, with then-popular actor Gérard Lanvin. Like many of her female colleagues (Isabelle Adjani, Catherine Deneuve, to name but two), she decided to sing and recorded a bunch of so-so songs written by Pierre Bachelet. Let's just say not everybody had the opportunity to work with Serge Gainsbourg.
In the mid-seventies, she recorded a duet with my favourite French composer, Laurent Voulzy. The song was called Désir, Désir, and was an instant hit in France. In 1988, Voulzy composed another song for her, with lyrics by Alain Souchon, one of my favourite French songwriters (Souchon and Voulzy have been writing songs together since 1974). Voulzy, as a composer is musically influenced by Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney (no less). The song was called Aviateur, and tells the story of a young woman attracted by aviators, flying jackets, etcetara. Perhaps a metaphor for the French expression 's'envoyer en l'air', which means having delightful sex ;-). This song is absolutely lovely, the quintessence of the Souchon/Voulzy collaborative power to my ears. Of course, Alain Souchon has written better lyrics since, and Laurent Voulzy has composed better music since, but I DO LOVE that song!!! Waaaay better than Ouragan by Princess Stephanie de Monaco. [True, but Steph sure looked good - Gzbrg] See Aviateur-video here.

Veronique Jannot - Aviateur