France Gall had been editor-in-chief of a number of Gala, our reporter remembers Gala

france gall

It was the summer of 2012. It was beautiful. France Gall was the editor-in-chief of a special issue of Gala. Our reporter Nathalie Baumgartner tells.

It is the day of the first editorial conference. France Gall arrives surrounded by his staff, which she has always been faithful. She smiled. We meet them one by one. Professional. She is already invested in his task. For the topic of fashion, I want to explore the looks of his life, and to re-interpret it as a model. His period of “Sacré Charlemagne”, kilt, tartan and knee high socks; his “Doll of wax, doll of sound” with a biker jacket and beret; the eighties, embodied by “Music” or “Unplug”, in look electric blue or overalls and navy stripes borrowed from Jean-Paul Gaultier.

I had prepared a retrospective in images so that it gives me his agreement on the styles mentioned. It is projected on the big screen. Error of manip. Is found on the screen a picture of her on the coffin of his girl… In this big meeting room, I am placed next to it, I ask, instinctively, my hand on his thigh. I feel his pain. His thrill is imperceptible by those who did not touch it up close. France Gall is worthy. France Gall believes in life. France Gall is aware that its mission is not fulfilled, it must resist to his son Raphael. For others, too.

In this issue, another issue – cover and interview – must be photographed by the star photographers, Gilles Bensimon. At the request of France Gall, I’m also on this project : four days in Saint-Paul – de-Vence. Upon my arrival, we find ourselves in his room for the fittings. It has planned to enhance the styling of the keys of the country of his heart, that of Babacar, Senegal. From her suitcase, she came out of trinkets in wax, djellabas embroidered, beaded jewelry, wonderful treasures african. We mix the styles for a beautiful result : France Gall, true and authentic.

For shooting, it would only be ready at noon : she doesn’t like the morning… Its team of makeup artist and hair stylist, a good listener, follows the finger and the eye. They are professionals, but beyond. They monitor every photo as the milk on the fire. They do not support the idea of the disappoint : they like it.

In the evening, we have dinner all to our hotel, the Colombe d’or. Around the table, she leads the evening. “You have to taste it! And then, you, it!” “Sir, please, give a little wine to this person, his glass is empty,” she said. She coaxes. France Gall is a mamma, attentive and sensitive to everything.

One evening, she invited us into her room to follow a football match, France/Italy. France Gall like soccer. I ask him why ? She replied : “I like to see the effort to defeat it. “This evening, Italy won. But France is a good player…

The next day, on the shooting, I received several strokes of the sons of Paris. I have a concern family. I digress, concerned. France looks at me. Concerned. And then she asks me what’s happening. I tell him that everything is going well, even if this is not true… in The evening, she returned to the charge. “That is what happens to you ? I want to know ! I’m your editorial in’ chief, don’t forget ! “she said, caring. Here, I breaks down and tells him. She wants me to come back to Paris. She insists. I explained to him that it will not change anything. I rest ! Then, each day, she watches over me. Every moment. Every second of it. She poses in front of the lens but me not let go of the gaze. The shoot ends. It leaves you shaking. Fort. For looping, it will go back to the newspaper, in charge of the necklaces of beads of Africa for the entire team. France… generous and grateful.

Last year, she invites the entire editorial to a performance of his musical ” Resists “, a title which is, unfortunately, echoing, at the same time, the terrorist attacks in Paris. Backstage, she receives us after the show. It has been two years that I have not seen. It does not change. France… true. Sensitive. Strong.

It is rare to meet people like her. France Gall has to face a series of tests unsustainable. Hard. Too hard. The death of Michel Berger, his love, and mentor. His daughter, Pauline. Then the disease… If she has survived it all, it is for the other. Aware to still have roles to play, help.

France Gall was a fighter, human, two words that fight each other normally… But France Gall embodied the two strength and determination. Because France Gall : “She, she… “

Photo credits : Domine Jerome/ABACA

France Gall

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