Harley Davidson (song)

Last updated
"Harley Davidson"
Single by Brigitte Bardot
from the album Show
B-side "Contact"
Released1967 (1967)
Label Philips
Songwriter Serge Gainsbourg
Audio
"Harley Davidson" on YouTube

"Harley Davidson" is a 1967 song by Brigitte Bardot. It was written by Serge Gainsbourg. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

The song was written by Gainsbourg during his short affair with Bardot. [1] According to the Swiss 24 heures , those were extremely prolific "inspired days and sleepless nights" for Gainsbourg, when he wrote several cult songs including this one. [2]

The lyrics "echo the imagery of Bonnie and Clyde, James Dean, and Marlon Brando". [2]

Gainsbourg recalled in a 1972 interview to Paris Match :

I suggested we listen to "Harley Davidson". At her place, we were like two cats, observing each other, almost in confrontation. We were overwhelmed by utter shyness and riddled with stage fright. [1]

He continued:

When she sang "Que m'importe de mourir en Harley Davidson" ("What do I care about dying on a Harley-Davidson"), those words hit me like a ton of bricks; they were incredibly sensual. On the night of the recording, our lives merged into a continuous current that nothing could divide. The flash was blinding, and our passion was magnificent. [1]

Reception

The French TV station BFM TV, the French radio station Delta FM, and the Swiss daily newspaper 24 heures included the song in their top lists of « Brigitte Bardot's best cult hits » [1] [3] [2] .

Covers

"Harley Davidson"
Single by Serge Gainsbourg
from the album Enregistrement public au Théâtre Le Palace
B-side "Docteur Jekyll et Monsieur Hyde"
Released1980 (1980)
Label Philips
Songwriter Serge Gainsbourg

Serge Gainsbourg covered the song live. He notably included it on his first two live albums, Enregistrement public au Théâtre Le Palace (1980) — also releasing the album cut as a single (c/w "Docteur Jekyll et Monsieur Hyde)" [4] — and Serge Gainsbourg Live (1986). [5]

Charts

Chart (1967)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [6] 11

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mort de Brigitte Bardot: de "Je t'aime... moi non plus" à "Harley Davidson", sa riche carrière musicale résumée en cinq chansons cultes". BFM TV. 2025-12-28. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Brigitte Bardot: ses 9 tubes cultes des années 60 revisités". 24 heures. 2025-12-28. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  3. ↑ "Brigitte Bardot : le Top 10 de ses chansons cultes". Delta FM. 2025-12-28. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  4. ↑ "Gainsbourg – Harley Davidson – Vinyl (7", 45 RPM, Single), 1980 [r4013529]" – via Discogs.
  5. ↑ "Serge Gainsbourg – Live" – via Discogs.
  6. ↑ "Brigitte Bardot – Harley Davidson" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
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