Françoise Madeleine Hardy pronounced [fʁɑ̃swaz aʁˈdi]) (born 17 January 194… Read Full Bio ↴Françoise Madeleine Hardy pronounced [fʁɑ̃swaz aʁˈdi]) (born 17 January 1944 in Paris) is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music style and personality in the Francophile world.

Françoise Hardy signed her first contract with the record label Vogue in November 1961. In April 1962, shortly after finishing school, her first record Oh Oh Chéri appeared, written by Johnny Hallyday's writing duo. Her own flip side of the record, "Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles" became a success, riding the wave of Yé-yé music in France, with two million sales.

Hardy sang in French, English, Italian, Spanish, and German. In 1963 she came fifth for Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest with "L'amour s'en va". In 1963, she was awarded the Grand Prix Du Disque of the Charles Cros Academy.

In 1981, she married her long-time companion Jacques Dutronc, with whom she had had a son, Thomas Dutronc, in 1973. In 1994, she collaborated with the British pop group Blur for their "La Comedie" version of To The End. In May 2000, she made a comeback with the album Clair Obscur. Her son played guitar and her husband sang the duet "Puisque Vous Partez En Voyage." Iggy Pop and Étienne Daho also took part. Hardy lives near Paris and Dutronc lives in Monticello, Corsica, although they remain a couple.[citation needed]

Grand Hôtel
Francoise Hardy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Si vous pouviez
Lire dans mes pensées
Mes vies passées...
Quelle est ma tasse de thé ?
N'allez pas en douter...
Dans l'hôtel déserté
Le temps s'est arrêté
Un temps compté...

Si je pouvais
Percer vos secrets
Trop bien gardés
Voir dans le marc de café
Qui vous fait de l'effet...
Les intentions larvées
Dont l'enfer est pavé
Vont me tuer...
A quoi dois-je imputer
Vos nombreux apartés
Qu'attendez-vous mon ami
Que sonne le tocsin ?
Faut-il pour décrypter
Vos quatre volontés
Vous mettre les points sur les i
Vous faire un dessin ?
Si l'on pouvait
Changer les données
Déprogrammer
D'ici la fin du dîner
Nos vies bien ordonnées
Comment vous désarmer
Est-il possible d'aimer
Encore une fois ?
Un pianiste inspiré
Joue mes airs préférés
Allez-vous bâiller d'ennui
Ou prendre ma main ?
Les reflets irisés
Des lumières tamisées
Vous donnent

C'est inouï
Vingt années de moins...

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Françoise Hardy's 'Grand Hôtel' ask if we could read each other's minds, what would we find? Would we be able to see into each other's pasts with clarity, or would we struggle to understand what truly makes the other tick? In the deserted hotel, everything is at a standstill and time is running out. Through these lines, Hardy explores the idea that we are all haunted by our pasts, and that understanding another human being is complicated and challenging.

The subsequent lines of the song seem to offer glimpses into Hardy's own thoughts and experiences as she pleads to understand the secrets of her partner, too well-kept to allow her to see beyond the surface. She notes that the way forward is paved with hidden intentions and that she feels powerless against the potential harm that might come from trying to uncover them.

The later verses of the song suggest that even if we could change the facts and rearrange our lives, love is still a challenge. We cannot control who we are or who we love, and often the most frustrating thing is not being able to understand them. The song ends with Hardy asking a question - Will you take my hand or will the reflections of light in the dimly lit room bore you?

Line by Line Meaning

Si vous pouviez
If you could

Lire dans mes pensées
Read my thoughts

Mes vies passées...
My past lives...

Quelle est ma tasse de thé ?
What's my cup of tea?

N'allez pas en douter...
Don't doubt it...

Dans l'hôtel déserté
In the deserted hotel

Le temps s'est arrêté
Time has stopped

Un temps compté...
A limited time...

Si je pouvais
If I could

Percer vos secrets
Uncover your secrets

Trop bien gardés
Too well-kept