On this beautiful afternoon in September, Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés is getting ready to share some of its space with one of its most emblematic muses.
Singer Juliette Gréco passed away just a year ago, leaving behind some iconic songs from the French repertoire.
The "Jolie Môme" will henceforth have her name attached to that of a district that she loved and brightened up so much.
“Place Juliette Gréco” borders the square adjoining the Saint-Germain church.
The sign is discreet, perched high between the yellowing leaves of the tree that shade the sidewalk.
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Some local politicians made the trip for the inauguration, which took place on September 23. The mayor of Paris, of course, Anne Hidalgo, also socialist presidential candidate, but also the deputy of the second district of Paris, Gilles Le Gendre and the mayor of the 6th arrondissement Jean-Pierre Lecoq. The family of the late performer was also in the front row. Gréco's granddaughter, Julie-Amour Rossini, sits behind the desk for a short tribute to her grandmother. Before her, one of its authors, Marie Nimier, had read a text written especially in honor of the muse of Saint-Germain. Because Gréco has walked its streets for a long time since arriving in Paris in 1943. Friend of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Jacques Prévert,Lover of Sacha Distel and Miles Davis, "the Juliet" was known to be a figure of the intellectual world of the left bank.
Photo exhibition at the Hotel Louisiane
A few notes still echo before the mayor of Paris in turn comes forward.
She thanked Jean-Pierre Lecoq for his visit, saluted the work of his assistants, addressed Julie-Amour Rossini.
"We are women and we are many I believe to have been inspired by Juliette Gréco"
, she begins before praising the character
"free, sensitive and rebellious"
of the interpreter.
The city councilor tells how the artist escaped deportation thanks to her young age, after being arrested by the Gestapo with her mother and sister, resistance fighters who returned from Ravensbrück after the Liberation in 1945.
Read also Juliette Gréco, the death of a rebel
The socialist also recalls the genesis of the melancholy
Javanaise
by Serge Gainsbourg,
"born of a drunken night in 1962"
during which the author of
Poinçonneur des Lilas
had tried his luck with the beautiful brunette, whom he had known since just a few hours.
It is moreover with the interpretation of
La Javanaise
that the trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf finally closes this ballet of tributes.
Ibrahim Maalouf performed
La Javanaise
composed by Serge Gainsbourg for Juliette Gréco in 1962. Zabulon Laurent / ABACA
The town hall also took the opportunity to recall the opening on Friday September 24 of the Juliette Gréco photo exhibition at the Hotel Louisiane - called "Gréco à La Louisiane" -, where the singer stayed while Jean-Paul Sartre lived there.
It is also between these walls that she lived her affair with Miles Davis.
An exhibition open until October 14, 2021.