Sylvie Vartan

Originally from Iskretz, Bulgaria, where she was born on August 15, 1944, Sylvie Vartan (born Sylvie Georges Vartanian) was one of France's first rock'n'roll singers in the early 1960s. A prototypical "yé-yé" artist, she succeeded in breaking free from this label to build a long-lasting career, consolidated by numerous hits. Married to Johnny Hallyday in 1965, from whom she divorced in 1980, David Hallyday's mother followed the evolution of French chanson, from the variety of the 1970s to the new wave of the 2000s, surrounding herself with the songwriters, composers and arrangers of the moment. She tinges her style with rock or country, as she moves to Los Angeles or Nashville, without forgetting to return to her Bulgarian roots. Her hits include "La Plus belle pour aller danser" (1964), "La Maritza" and "Comme un garçon" (1968) and "Qu'est-ce qui fait pleurer les blondes?"(1976), as well as adaptations of American standards, not forgetting the landmark duet "J'ai un problème" (1973), with J. Hallyday. Throughout a career that spans six decades of stage, recording, film and theater, the long blonde-haired singer renews her repertoire with each album: La Vague (2007), Toutes Peines Confondues (2009) and Soleil Bleu (2010), followed by a tour celebrating half a century of concerts and its review in Live à la Salle Pleyel (2011). In 2013, the country album Sylvie in Nashville refers to a namesake opus from her early days, while Une Vie en Musique : Sofia - Paris - Los Angeles (2015) sees the singer update some of her hits. A year after Johnny Hallyday's death, Sylvie Vartan paid tribute to him with the album Avec Toi... (2018). Three years later, her fiftieth studio album, Merci pour le Regard, saw her collaborate with new songwriters, including Clara Luciani and Joseph d'Anvers. In November 2024, Sylvie Vartan embarked on a farewell tour, starting at the Paris Dome and finishing at the Palais des Sports in January 2025. The following month, the French chanson icon received an honorary Victoire de la musique award. At the end of the year, the live album Je Tire Ma Révérence is released.