If you are like me, then you have seen all of the photos of the Beatles in when they were in France in 1964, where they are obviously flirting with a pretty French girl. You might even have known that she was a French singer named Silvie and that was about it. And yet her photos with the Beatles have been in countless magazines, bubblegum cards and books over the years. Since I am American, and know next to nothing about French recording artists, I looked up a little information about her.
Silvie Vartan was considered a "ye-ye" singer at the time. Basically she sung danceable pop music. She started to gain popularity in France and Italy in 1963 so by the time the Beatles arrived in her country in January 1964, the young people would have been familiar with her. Silvie along with Trini Lopez were the opening acts during those French performances. She would have been around the same age as the Beatles .....well a bit younger at 19, but still in their age-range.
In the photos it just appears that they are flirting like crazy with her and she back with them. I wondered if this girl "hooked up" (as the kids say) with one of the Fabs. While these things rarely get talked about, I think the flirtation was just for publicity sake. Silvie announced her engagement over the radio just a month before. And I am sure she knew that cute photos of her with Britain's #1 group were going to help her record sales.
I know she went on to have a successful career in Europe, but wow....she got to hold Paul's bass and be photographed with all four Beatles. What an experience!
