Digging Our Own Crates: BB – Brigitte Bardot

Digging Our Own Crates: BB – Brigitte Bardot  // Phillips Records, 1964

“It was a photo of Brigitte Bardot, with her big blonde hair, wearing a simple A-line pink dress and nothing on her feet, that pretty much determined my fashion sense. It feels quite odd writing about fashion seeing as I hate shopping for clothes and have only accumulated lots of dresses because I buy a few each year and never ever throw anything away.” – Sheila Burgel

As a Francophile and die-hard Serge Gainsbourg fan, it was about time I listened to Brigitte Bardot’s solo efforts, and her second studio album, BB, was the perfect place to start. The record was highlighted by Dust & Grooves interviewee Sheila Burgel, who has an affinity for 1960s pop culture. Her apartment is a mid-century modern marvel, and her record collection is filled with music of the time from US girl groups, British and Japanese beat girls, and French Yé-Yé singers like Françoise Hardy and Brigitte Bardot.

Bardot may not be known for her musicianship or vocal chops. Still, what makes this album so captivating is the same thing that makes her acting and celebrity so compelling: she personifies the concept of “French cool” and possesses more style, personality, and showmanship than the majority of her contemporaries. The album presents a fun blend of theatrical melodrama and playful chanson, characteristic of Yé-Yé from this era. Additionally, it incorporates aesthetics inspired by the ultra-chic London swinging 1960s. Album highlights include “Moi je joue,” “Ça Pourrait Changer,” and “Une histoire de plage,” the latter of which I was already familiar with through an obscure but very whimsical cover by the criminally underrated Japanese songstress, Sonoko.

BB stands as a far too under-appreciated, groovy gem. It’s the complete package, from its alluring cover art to its ultra-groovy collection of songs—all wrapped up in a sonic aesthetic that translates Godard’s images into music. You’ll have it on repeat and be humming the catchy melodies for days to come.

Check out our full interview with Sheila Burgel. 

Watch our video version of this post on YouTube Shorts.