Nicole Croisille, Iconic Voice of French Song, Dies at 88

The singer, actress, and dancer passed away in Paris during the night of June 3 to 4, following a long illness.

A prominent figure in French performing arts, Nicole Croisille has died at the age of 88, her agent announced on Wednesday, June 4. “She fought with great strength and courage until the very end,” said Jacques Metges to AFP. The artist died in Paris after battling a long illness.

A Multitalented Career Devoted to the Stage

Known for her powerful, warm voice, Nicole Croisille was also an actress, revue leader, dancer, and mime. Born on October 9, 1936, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, she was drawn to the stage at an early age. At 17, she joined the ballet of the Comédie-Française, launching her career in the 1950s with musicals and international tours, notably in the U.S., where she led Folies Bergère revues on Broadway.

The “Dabadabada” and a Breakthrough with Lelouch

Her 1966 encounter with director Claude Lelouch and composer Francis Lai proved pivotal. She became the voice of A Man and a Woman, singing the unforgettable “Dabadabada,” which gained global acclaim. She went on to collaborate with Lelouch on Live for Life, Bolero: The Movie, and Itinerary of a Spoiled Child.

The 1970s: Her Golden Era in French Pop

Croisille rose to prominence in the 1970s with a series of hits including Parlez-moi de lui (1973), Une femme avec toi (1975), Téléphone-moi, La Garonne, and Dansez pour moi. In 1985, she recorded her last major hit, Le Blues du businessman, a song from Starmania, reinterpreted for the Lelouch film Itinerary of a Spoiled Child.

A self-declared single woman without children, Croisille dedicated her life to her craft. “I’ve only ever sung love songs, and I know what they meant to people,” she told Paris Match in 2017.

A Final Passion: The Theater

In the 2000s, she shifted her focus to theater, embracing the stage once again. In 1992, she fulfilled a dream by playing the lead in Hello, Dolly!. Even at age 83, she continued performing in Parisian plays. “I’m having the time of my life! At my age, I only go for the boldest challenges,” she said with her signature wit.