JOHNNY HALLYDAY...LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Hey there, remember me? Thought not. It's been precisely a zillion years since my last blog (y'know, the whole crash thing....let's not talk about that). Fear not, we've resurrected Culturethèque from the dead - more about that in part II of today's programme.

For now, let's just admire these gems that I found whilst procrastinating, er no sorry working terribly hard. No joke, I was working really hard.

Johnny Hallyday, if you don't know, is a French hidden hero. I say 'hidden' because no one wants to admit that they love him, but has a secret stash of cassettes including hits such as Comme un roc

(which was my summer anthem of 1996).

During my very important research, I stumbled upon some...let's say...gold dust. Here's a conclusive countdown [N.B. I'm not taking the micky, I genuinely love Johnny Hallyday, however these are just too much]:

5. "I'm so happy, look at my biceps!"

Here we have a classic Johnny pose (you will taste the correlation later on): arms in the air like you just don't care.

I would also like to point out his very risky position on that cliff, oh and the obvious relation between the sea and the Olympia in Paris. Not.

4. Blue is the Warmest Colour

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...is the current song going through Johnny's head. Never mind the serious pose, look at the title!

Mixing up the languages like nobody's business.

Reminds me of that song "Papa loves mambo, Mama loves mambo"

3. It's all about precision

What do I love about this cover: is it the ridiculous pipe? Is it the libertines-style jacket? Or maybe those side burns?

The answer to all the above is oui - but most of all, I love the precise dates. It's that what that History degree drilled into me.

2. Johnny Mallyday?

Ever wished that your winning moment in an arm wrestle was captured and slapped on the front of a vinyl? And "c'est pas facile" translates to "it's not easy". Cough modest cough.

1. Quelque part un aigle

This combines everything: the moon, the mullet and the madness. I announce this winner of all album covers ever made. Come on, where else have you seen a broken guitar being flown away by a human David Bowie eagle?

The Mighty Boosh doesn't count.

p.s. thanks for finding this Lisa

I know you want more, so here's the funny few that didn't make it into my top 5.

And here's my favourite song of his...just after 'Comme un roc'

#FrenchMusic