Chantal Kelly

Many French girl singers of the 1960s contented themselves with cover versions of UK and US hits. However, Chantal Kelly had a seemingly endless supply of original catchy tunes at her disposal. Unfortunately, she failed to rise into the French premier league of pop princesses. Even a new wave-styled comeback as Chantal Bassi in the early 1980s failed to secure her rightful place in the history of French pop.

Chantal Kelly was born Chantal Bassignani in Marseilles, in south France, on April 8th in 1950. She had an interest in music from an early age, and as a teenager she took singing lessons. Her vocal coach was the mother of Cris Carol, a singer who had issued a number of records herself. Chantal’s teacher was so impressed by her protégée that, in 1965, she sent a recording of her performances to the Philips label. The record label powers that be were keen to sign up the young singer – with Cris Carol as her chief songwriter.



I am sure the influence of her vocal coach had helped her to jump start her musical career. I am also sure her vocal coach was more than happy to live vicariously through her young protégé, as vocal coaches often do. I can see why Chantal didn't quite set the French Pop music world on fire but one thing she had going for her was that she was astonishingly cute. Just look at her signature hair bow that just seems to wrap her up in a perfect little package. her cuteness and petite figure is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Apparently this is enough to find your way onto the official Yé-yé music blog.

She disappeared from the music scene after a short lived music career, and opened a fashion boutique in Corsica. However, in 1980, she won a new contract with CBS in 1980 under the name Chantal Bassi, and issued an album and a single, A peine inhumaine, though without success. It just goes to show that looks can only take you so far in this world. It just goes to show how some girls got it, and some girls never will. Whatever "it" might happen to be.