Hardy signed her first contract with the record label Vogue in November 1961. In April 1962, shortly after finishing school, her first album, "Oh oh Chéri", appeared, with the title song written by Johnny Hallyday's writing duo. The flip side of the record, "Tous les garçons et les filles" became a huge success, which sold 2 million copies. She had long hair and usually wore jeans with a leather jacket, while accompanying her songs on the guitar.
She sang in English, Spanish, and German occasionally. In 1963, she represented Monaco in the Grand Prix d'Eurovision de la Chanson with "L'amour s'en va" and emerged in fifth place. In 1968, she received the Grand Prix du Disque Académie Charles Cros.
In 1981, she married her long-time companion Jacques Dutronc, with whom she had already had a son (Thomas Dutronc) in 1973. In May 2000, she had a comeback with the album "Clair Obscur". Her son played the guitar, and her husband sang the duet "Puisque vous partez en voyage". Iggy Pop and Etienne Daho participated, as well. She currently lives near Paris.
In 2006 she released a new duets album entitled "Parenthèses" which included a song with her son Thomas.
In 2021, Hardy announced that her health had worsened and that she would not be able to sing again owing to the effects of cancer therapy.
Bowm Bowm Bowm
Françoise Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dans le soleil couchant
j'ai fait Bowm Bowm Bowm
le bruit des vagues
mêlé au bruit de vent
faisait Bowm Bowm Bowm
Et même si les vagues
ma voix faisant Bowm Bowm Bowm
le dieu de la merm'exaucera
Bowm Bowm Bowm
J'avais pris des roses pâles
pour nous deux
j'ai jeté en offrande au Dieu
de la mer avec mes vœuxles pétales
pour nous Bowm Bowm Bowm
pour nous Bowm Bowm Bowm
Rienque des fleurs
et deux ou trois rubans
peut-être Bowm Bowm Bowm
et nous serons
bien plus fort que le temps
peut-être Bowm Bowm Bowm
Rien que des vœux
que l'on fait en priant
commeça Bowm Bowm Bowm
et quelque part
quelqu'un les entend
tu sais Bowm Bowm Bowm
J'avais pris des roses pâles
pour nous deux
j'ai jeté en offrande au Dieu
de la mer avec mes vœuxles pétales
pour nous Bowm Bowm Bowm
Bowm Bowm Bowm...
The lyrics of Françoise Hardy's song, "Bowm Bowm Bowm," paint a vivid picture of a woman standing alone on a rock during a beautiful sunset. As waves crash behind her and the wind blows, she makes the repeated sound "Bowm Bowm Bowm." She sings about the power of the god of the sea in potentially granting her wishes as she has brought pale roses as an offering to the deity. The "Bowm Bowm Bowm" refrain is utilized throughout the song to emphasize the importance of her prayers and desires.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea that simple things such as flowers and ribbons, along with prayers and hope, can provide the strength needed to overcome difficult times. The overall feeling conveyed is one of peace and contentment, and the belief that no matter how small or powerless one may feel, their wishes and desires can be heard and fulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
Seule sur un rocher
Alone on a rock
dans le soleil couchant
in the setting sun
j'ai fait Bowm Bowm Bowm
I made Bowm Bowm Bowm
le bruit des vagues
the sound of the waves
mêlé au bruit de vent
mixed with the sound of wind
faisait Bowm Bowm Bowm
made Bowm Bowm Bowm
Et même si les vagues
And even if the waves
et le vent couvraient
and the wind covered
ma voix faisant Bowm Bowm Bowm
my voice making Bowm Bowm Bowm
le dieu de la mer m'exaucera
the god of the sea will grant my wish
Bowm Bowm Bowm
Bowm Bowm Bowm
J'avais pris des roses pâles
I had taken pale roses
pour nous deux
for the two of us
j'ai jeté en offrande au Dieu
I had offered them to the God
de la mer avec mes vœux
of the sea with my wishes
les pétales pour nous Bowm Bowm Bowm
the petals for us Bowm Bowm Bowm
Rien que des fleurs
Only flowers
et deux ou trois rubans
and two or three ribbons
peut-être Bowm Bowm Bowm
maybe Bowm Bowm Bowm
et nous serons
and we will be
bien plus fort que le temps
much stronger than time
peut-être Bowm Bowm Bowm
maybe Bowm Bowm Bowm
Rien que des vœux
Only wishes
que l'on fait en priant
that we make while praying
comme ça Bowm Bowm Bowm
like this Bowm Bowm Bowm
et quelque part
and somewhere
quelqu'un les entend
someone hears them
tu sais Bowm Bowm Bowm
you know Bowm Bowm Bowm
J'avais pris des roses pâles
I had taken pale roses
pour nous deux
for the two of us
j'ai jeté en offrande au Dieu
I had offered them to the God
de la mer avec mes vœux
of the sea with my wishes
les pétales pour nous Bowm Bowm Bowm
the petals for us Bowm Bowm Bowm
Bowm Bowm Bowm...
Bowm Bowm Bowm...
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.