Sylvie Vartan - French Classics 1962-1963 (2014)

Sylvie Vartan is an iconic, award-winning Bulgarian-French pop singer and actress whose signature singles "La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser," "Si Je Chante," "Zoom Zoom Zoom," and "Irresistiblement" are classics of 20th century European pop. She established herself as a yé-yé idol and transformed herself into a superstar show-woman during the '70s covering British and American rock hits in French; she developed into a fine interpreter of works by songwriters from Alain Goraguer and Jacques Brel to Serge Gainsbourg, Pierre Barouh, Charles Aznavour, and her late ex-husband Johnny Hallyday. She is a French national treasure known simply as "Sylvie" and renowned for her elaborately staged concerts, sequined costumes, adventurous choreography, and no-nonsense professionalism. She is as beloved as Edith Piaf. The emotional resonance in her reedy contralto is one of pure commitment. She inhabits lyrics as if they are transpiring around her. Her delivery is bold, authoritative yet vulnerable, whether delivering albums full of bubblegum pop (1964's À Nashville) and sultry ballads (1971's Sympathie) or showtunes (1974's Je Chante Pour Swanee), elegant jazz-pop (2004's Sylvie), and rock (2018's Avec Toi...).