Guesch Patti, a French singer who achieved international success in the 1980s with “Étienne”, one of the most iconic and provocative songs of the decade, has died. The artist passed away in Paris on the night between 21 and 22 June at the age of 80, after a long illness, as announced by her representative Sébastien d'Assigny.
Born Patricia Porrasse on March 16, 1946 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, just outside the French capital, Guesch Patti came from a family linked to the world of entertainment. Before dedicating herself to music she built a solid career in dance, joining the Paris Opera as a child and working with leading choreographers such as Roland Petit, Carolyn Carlson and Pina Bausch.
The first attempts in the world of song date back to the 1960s, but success only came in 1987 with “Étienne”. Thanks to his hoarse and unmistakable voice and lyrics full of erotic allusions, the song became an international phenomenon, exceeding one and a half million copies sold in France and establishing itself as one of the symbols of European pop of the 1980s. The black and white video clip also contributed to building the nonconformist and provocative image of the French artist (see below).
In the wake of that triumph Patti won numerous awards, including the Prix Vincent Scotto and a Victoire de la Musique as a female revelation. She also obtained awards in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany and participated as a guest at the Sanremo Festival, where she was awarded revelation of the year.
In 1988 he released “Labyrinthe”, an album that addressed issues such as marginalization, prostitution and drug addiction, confirming his desire to follow artistic paths far from the more commercial formulas. In the following years, works such as “Nomades” (1990), “Gobe” (1992) and “Blonde” (1995) were released, the latter enriched by the collaboration of artists such as Étienne Daho, Matthieu Chedid and Françoise Hardy.
Even without replicating the commercial success of “Étienne”, Guesch Patti continued to follow a personal path, also dedicating herself to reinterpretations of classic French songs and publishing “Dernières nouvelles”, her last important recording project, in the 2000s.
At the same time he carried out an intense activity in theatre, dance and cinema, returning in 2006 to his origins as a member of the jury of a popular television program dedicated to dance. In recent years she had remained a highly respected figure in the French cultural landscape, appreciated for her artistic independence and a career built without compromise. With his passing, one of the most original personalities on the French music scene of recent decades passes away.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
