When Joe the Taxi flooded the radios in 1987, his interpreter, Vanessa Paradis was only 14 years old. She is propelled, literally, into success. Europe 1 traces the success of this hit, which could not have known the same fate.
Joe the Taxi was ... a woman!
Because if Vanessa Paradis sings this song, it is thanks to her uncle, used to showbiz, who calls her friend Franck Langolff to convince her that she has potential. Franck Langolff is neither more nor less than the composer hidden behind Morgane de toi by Renaud, in particular. Etienne Roda-Gil signs the words of Joe Le Taxi … which really existed! "Joe the Taxi" is a woman, who transported celebrities at the time.
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The song is a hit and sells 3 million copies. Vanessa Paradis goes on TV shows, with her sway, her candid voice and her doll face. She becomes the image of the French lolita, but also irritates. So much so that during one of her performances at Midem in 1988, we hear the hoots behind her.
But Joe Le Taxi is quickly exported abroad. In the United Kingdom, the title became the first French song to reach the top three sales since Je t'aime moi non plus , by Gainsbourg and Birkin.