Of course, Jordan Bardella hasn’t actually turned into a 1960s pop singer: it’s a parody montage. But the juxtaposition is incredibly effective. The costume, the retro TV atmosphere, the innocent melody and that repeated refrain: ‘Never admit it’. Everything suddenly seems to take on a whole new meaning.
The original song, written by Françoise Dorin and composed and performed by Guy Mardel, represented France at the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest in Naples and came third. More than six decades later, its title retains almost all its comic power when transplanted into the political arena.
The parody comes, above all, at a time particularly ripe for such reimagining. Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, is currently contesting the authenticity of old anti-Semitic messages that Mediapart attributes to him. He has rejected these accusations and initiated legal proceedings against the media outlet, whilst Mediapart maintains that it has had the published material authenticated. The dispute must therefore be presented for what it is: accusations published by a media outlet, formally contested by the person concerned.
This is precisely where the mechanics of parody come into their own. It does not claim to prove anything. It is no substitute for an investigation or a judgement. It simply takes a phrase, ‘Never admit it’, and sets it against current events. The viewer makes the connection for themselves.
And this is often how the best political satire works: the less it explains, the more effectively its comic mechanism hits the mark. There is no need for a long speech, a complicated impersonation or a barrage of commentary. A song dating back to 1965, a few carefully repurposed images and a title that has unwittingly become contemporary are enough.
There is also something delightfully anachronistic about this encounter between Jordan Bardella and the polished world of the ORTF. The television of yesteryear – with its applause, its orchestras and its slightly stilted elegance – clashes with the conventions of politics, which has now been transformed into a constant stream of images, controversies and social media.
The result is almost like a clip unearthed from the archives of a parallel television channel: Jordan Bardella, microphone in hand, offering his definitive advice to the whole of France: Never confess.
One thing is certain: Guy Mardel probably never imagined, back in 1965, that the title of his song might one day become such a perfect vehicle for political parody.
Watch the song on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkfYnT1X5Ys
