Not only does Brigitte Bardot feature in a lot of pop songs... she also gave her name (or soundalikes) to any number of groups. Here's a brief selection (not all of them, by any means).
Some of these may tax the patience of even the most mild-mannered Portuguese farmers... but I'm guessing there's not much to do on the land in January.
BARDOT #1
We start today with an English Bardot from 1978. They had a stab at some CSNY-esque harmonies and scraped into the Dutch Tipparade (the "bubbling under chart") with the song below. They also sang backing vocals for Graham Bonnet.
The 1982 UK Eurovision entry got to #2 in the charts... but didn't win the contest. After Bucks Fizz, we had high expectations.
Bardo (no T - the first of many) had an interesting dance routine that began with them on all fours like two dogs. Singer Sally Ann Triplett also represented the UK two years earlier as part of the band Prima Donna (they did even worse than Bardo). That does put her in a category with Ronnie Carroll, Cliff Richard and Cheryl Baker as the only artists to have represented the UK twice.
Australia's best-selling girl band ever, this Bardot was active for a short time around Y2K, then split up due to (as Paul Heaton would say) musical similarities.
Of course, I am waiting for some know-it-all to tell me that the spelling without the T on the end doesn't actually refer to Brigitte, but instead the Tibetan Buddhist concept for an intermediate, transitional state, literally meaning "between two," most famously describing the 49-day period between death and rebirth, but also encompassing gaps in everyday life like sleep, dreams, and any moment of significant change.
But I'm going to let that pass.
BARDO #8
From Rio in 2015, a folky duo who we have to dub "The Brazilian Bardo".
I like it when bands save me the job and write their own descriptions as this lot from Houston have done...
"Power trio Bärdo hustles up an all original repertoire of high energy music variously described as “Anger Pop” and “Zeppunk.” Complex, snaking arrangements, accomplished technique and eclectic song writing create fresh, engaging dynamics which engender a ’70’s Punk and Rock flavor, plus. Lyrically acerbic and often seedy, the band gorges itself on tongue-in-cheek social critique."
Melancholic indie from Brigitte's home country in 2023. Or, to use their own words...
"Originaire d'Evreux, Bardo est un groupe influencé par des groupes français comme Kid Pharaon, Marquis de Sade mais aussi par des groupes anglais et américains comme Lloyd Cole, New Order...
Nous faisons un rock adulte avec des compositions tantôt sombre, tantôt mélodique."
And finally, from the Camp of Bands, an LA Bardo who likes to cover all the bases: alternative, r&b soul, hiphop, psych, synthpop... but sadly no "sludge metal".
There was another One D... band I could have chosen to illustrate the final edition in the Hot 100 Countdown... fortunately, Swiss Adam saved me from having to go there when he suggested One Dove.
I've been dreading this week since I started this countdown, way way back in January 2018. (Yes, I've been at this for more than two years.)
Partly because I knew there would be thousands of potential ONE songs.
Partly because I knew it'd be impossible to find them amidst all the BlutONES and UndertONES songs, and all the songs about bones and phones; everyone, anyone and no one; money and baloney.
I didn't dread it because I wondered what the winner would be though. I've known that since January 2018.
Before you dismiss it completely, let's not forget that it was written by Nik Kershaw, and came from a movie in which Roger Daltrey played Chezzer's dad.
And, while we're on the subject of Ones & Only... and Only Ones, for that matter... I may as well re-direct you back to this, from way back in 2013...
George will be disappointed to see that Huey Lewis only got to #2 in that countdown. And he was beaten by The Charlatans, for Pete's sake... what was I thinking?
I think it's fair to say I haven't heard that since 1982. However, I was 10 in 1982, and I seem to recall being quite a fan. If you'd asked me, I'd have said this actually won Eurovision that year, but it didn't. It was beaten by Nicole. Still, neither of them were in the same league as the 1981 winners. Witness my nascent sexual awakening at 1 minute 32 seconds on that video.
You may have noticed I'm holding off on the lists this week, folks. There's a reason for that. Over to C...
Blimey Rol, incredible stuff. This must be like a full-time job - perhaps you should charge us for your services to blogging? I'm not even going to add anything, happy just to see what comes up.
The truth is, C, last week nearly broke me. And the prospect of copying and pasting all the one suggestions... and then finding links for the bloody things... I just couldn't take it!
And then Lynchie said this...
Rol - I think you should turn this series into a book.
I would ask who'd read it... but I guess you guys have answered that question over the past two and a half years. For which, I will be eternally grateful... but not so grateful that I could face the colossal workload of this final post.
And then, after whittling his shortlist down to 600, The Swede came to my rescue...
Here's what's left from my hard-drives. Sorry there are so many - for gawd's sake don't post them all!
Do you know what, Swede? That's the best advice I've been given in all my blogging career.
What I'm going to do instead is choose ONE song from each contributor... beyond the ones suggested above.
If anybody cares to see the full list of suggestions, you can do so here.
(Part of me thinks I should have instituted a filtration policy such as this weeks ago.)
Finally, as seems only fitting, here's my Number One contributor... at least in terms of the number of suggestions he's submitted during the lifetime of this series... The Swede.
Just pitching the one this week, mostly because it must surely be the winner...
How right you are, Martin.
(Special mention to Lynchie who guessed the original version, a worthy runner-up.)
As I said at the start, I knew this song would be the winner of the final week of my Hot 100 even before I published the first post. It is, quite simply, perfect...
Which brings us to the end of this feature.
I sometimes wondered if I'd ever reach the end, but I'm glad I did. Chalk it up as another of life's little accomplishments... and thank you all again for playing along. It wouldn't have been half as much fun... and I definitely wouldn't have made it this far... without your contributions.
Final word goes to The Swede...
A thought occurred whilst mulling... I trust you'll be doing a final entry the week after next for zeroes?
Now I don't like to be one to disappoint, Swede, but I just can't face that right now. (Neither can I face "Half Songs" or "Quarter Songs" or anything else, for that matter. If I never see another number again, it'll be too soon.)
However - that's not to say I won't welcome your contributions. If anyone wants to compile a Top Ten Zero Songs and submit it for Guest Post Thursday, I will be happy to let you have the space.
I have got an idea for a feature to replace this one, and I'll be kicking that off in a couple of weeks' time. I've been itching to get to it for at least a year now... and it will require your suggestions (though I'm hoping it won't lead to quite so many as the last few weeks of the Hot 100 has). I hope you'll join me and play along...
