Io si, tu no - France Gall

France Gall represented Luxembourg with 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son' at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965, and won. She went on to record the song in various languages. So far, I've been able to find the Japanese and German versions, and now there's the Italian version too.

This one comes in a  generic record company sleeve, but on the plus side: it's a promotional single. It's always a surprise to hear an artist sing in another language, and I think France does it well. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7407
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 9 November 2024
Tracks: 'Io si, tu no' / 'Se agli amici dirai'

Les aveux - Elton John & France Gall

While Elton John was recording what would become his 1980 album 21 at 33, he recorded about a dozen extra songs. Five of them would appear on his next album, The Fox. Two other songs were French-language songs as duets with the French singer France Gall. 'Les aveux' and 'Donner pour donner' appear on this single, released in France

I'd never heard of this release, but when I saw this single it intrigued me enough to want to buy it. It turns out that 'Les aveux' actually made the Dutch Tipparade, peaking at number 4, just missing out on the Dutch Top 40. Personally I think the B-side is better...

My collection: 7" single no. 7222
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 1 June 2024
Tracks: 'Les aveux' / 'Donner pour donner'

Das war eine schöne Party - France Gall

In September 2021 I wrote: "France Gall only recorded a French and Japanese version of ['Poupée de cire, poupée de son'], as far as I know", but how wrong I was. She also recorded the song in Italian and German. It's the German version that landed in my collection last week.

It was released, obviously, in Germany, but confusingly, the sleeve was very similar to the German sleeve of the original version. Fortunately the title of the song is printed prominently next to the photograph, otherwise buyer would never have known the difference. Listening to this version, it's quite impressive how France Gall managed to pronounce German in this song.

My collection: 7" single no. 7152
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 13 April 2024
Tracks: 'Das was eine schöne Party' / 'Meine erste grosse Liebe'

夢みるシャンソン人形 日本語盤 - France Gall

It ain't easy to decipher the title on this particular single, but that's because it is written - and sung! - in Japanese. If you use Google Translate on this one, you get 'Dreaming Chanson Doll Japanese Edition' as the result, but fortunately we can listen to the track and find out that this is the Japanese version of 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son', the Serge Gainsbourg-penned track that propelled France Gall to worldwide stardom. 

France Gall only recorded a French and Japanese version of the song, as far as I know, but quite why she recorded the song in Japanese remains unknown. We do know, however, that the song was covered numerous times and in no less than 20 different languages. Thank you Wikipedia!

My collection: 7" single no. 6446
Found: Discogs.com, received 9 September 2021
Cost: £7.99
Tracks: '夢みるシャンソン人形 日本語盤' (France Gall) / 'ドナ・ドナ・ドーナ 日本語盤' (Claude François)

Poupée de cire poupée de son - France Gall

In 1965, French singer France Gall represented Luxembourg with the song 'Poupée de cire poupée de son'. It was composed by Serge Gainsbourg, also from France, and inspired by the Piano Sonata No. 1 by Beethoven. As is common with Gainsbourg's lyrics, the words are filled with double meanings, wordplay, and puns. The title can be translated as "wax doll, rag doll" (a floppy doll stuffed with bran or chaff) or as "wax doll, sound doll" (with implications that Gall is a "singing doll" controlled by Gainsbourg).

At the time of her performance, France Gall was too young to understand all these double meanings. In later years, she disassociated herself with the Eurovision Song Contest, and refuses to discuss it in public or perform her winning song.

Finding this single was a feat in itself. This original French pressing has become very rare and it's hard to track down such a good copy. I'm happy that I finally managed to get this one, in what I would call mint condition. 

My collection: 7" single no. 5614
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, August 10, 2014
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son', 'Un prince charmant' / 'Dis a ton capitaine', 'Le coeur qui jazze'

Ella elle l'a - France Gall

Written by Michel Berger, 'Ella elle l'a' is a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. France Gall, who was married to Berger, recorded the song for her 1987 album 'Babacar'.

The single reached number 2 in France. In Germany, it became a number 1 hit (which is rather rare for a French song), while in the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 30.

My collection: 7" single no. 4279
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Ella elle l'a' / 'Dancing brave'

Il jouait du piano debout - France Gall

France Gall was born on October 9, 1947 in Paris, France. She started her career in music in 1963. Two years later she was asked to represent Luxembourg during the Eurovision Song Contest. It meant that she would become wellknown in the whole of Europe after winning with 'Poupée de cire, poupée de son'.

In the Seventies she became inactive for a few years after marrying with French artist Michel Berger and giving birth to two children. She returned to the fore with the 1980 album 'Paris France' and the single 'Il jouait du piano debout', a hit in many European countries including the Netherlands, where it peaked at number 22.

Searching for a translation of the title, I came up with 'He played the piano standing up'. But it might as well mean 'He played the upright piano'. Language can be a barrier sometimes.

My collection: 7" single no. 3734
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 23, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Il jouait du piano debout' / 'La chanteuse qui a tout donné'