Sylvie Vartan, born Sylvie Georges Vartanian on August 15, 1944, is a multifaceted Armenian-Bulgarian-French singer and actress renowned for her remarkable yé-yé performances, which often featured elaborate show-dance choreography, and her numerous appearances on French and Italian television.
With an impressive 50 million records and CDs sold worldwide, 2000 magazine covers, and being the number one French female singer with concerts and audience worldwide, Sylvie Vartan is considered a true legend and icon.
Yearly shows with her then-husband Johnny Hallyday drew full houses at the Olympia and the Palais des congrès de Paris throughout the 1960s and mid-1970s. After a break in performances, she resumed her career in 2004, recording and giving concerts of jazz ballads in francophone countries.
Sylvie Vartan was born in Iskrets, Sofia Province, in the then Kingdom of Bulgaria, to a family with a rich cultural heritage. Her father, Georges Vartanian, was born in France to a Bulgarian mother and an Armenian father, and worked as an attaché at the French embassy in Sofia. Her mother, Ilona Mayer, was of Hungarian-Jewish descent.
The Vartanian family faced significant challenges during the postwar period, including the nationalization of their home and the Soviet Army's invasion of Bulgaria. In 1952, they relocated to Paris, where Sylvie's father found work and the family settled into a small apartment.
Sylvie's early life in Paris was marked by difficulties, including her struggles to adapt to a new language and culture. Despite these challenges, she found solace in music, which became her primary passion. Her favorite genres were jazz and rock 'n' roll, and she was heavily influenced by artists such as Brenda Lee, Bill Haley, and Elvis Presley.
In 1960, Sylvie's family moved to a new apartment, and her brother Eddie, a music producer, began to play a significant role in her career. He offered her the opportunity to record her first song, "Panne d'essence," with French rocker Frankie Jordan. The EP was a surprise hit, and Sylvie's subsequent appearances on French television earned her the nickname "la collégienne du twist."
After completing her education, Sylvie signed a contract with Decca Records and released her first EP, which featured the title song "Quand le film est triste." Her subsequent releases and performances solidified her position as one of the most successful and popular yé-yé artists of her generation.
Sylvie Vartan's remarkable career has spanned multiple decades, and she continues to be celebrated as a true legend and icon in the world of music and entertainment.
