Nicole Croisille, a renowned French singer celebrated for her contributions to the music scene, has died at the age of 88 in Paris.

Her long-time friend, Jacques Metges, confirmed her passing, noting that she fought valiantly until the end.

Croisille was well-known for her songs such as 'Parlez-moi de lui', 'Téléphone-moi', and the memorable 'dabadabada' from the film 'Un homme et une femme'.

Born on October 9, 1936, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Croisille developed an early passion for performing.

However, her father dissuaded her from pursuing a career as a ballet dancer, insisting she focus on a more stable path.

Despite initially studying typing, she continued to dance within the classes of the Comédie-Française, eventually joining their ballet troupe at the age of 17.

She made her theatrical debut in 'L'amour médecin' and quickly gained prominence by landing the lead role in Jean Marais' musical 'L'Apprenti fakir'.

Her career took a significant turn in 1958 when she joined the troupe of the legendary entertainer Joséphine Baker.

A pivotal moment came when she toured the United States with mime artist Marcel Marceau, enhancing her love for jazz and performing as a soprano at the Playboy Club in Chicago.

In 1961, Croisille released her debut single, an adaptation of Ray Charles' work.

That same year, she opened for Jacques Brel at the historic Olympia and met fellow artist Claude Nougaro, although initial attempts to break into the music scene, then dominated by the yéyé pop phenomenon, were challenging.

As a result, she relocated to New York, where she starred in two productions of the Folies Bergères on Broadway.

In 1966, Croisille's collaboration with director Claude Lelouch and composer Francis Lai proved to be a turning point in her career.

She became known for her distinctive 'dabadabada' sound, which featured prominently in several of Lelouch's films, including 'Vivre pour vivre' and 'Itinéraire d'un enfant gâté'.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Croisille produced a series of hits, including 'Parlez-moi de lui' in 1973 and 'Téléphone-moi' in 1975. By then, she earned the title of the 'most beautiful voice of 1975' and solidified her standing as a key figure in French variety music.

Reflecting on her life in a 2017 interview, Croisille expressed her commitment to love songs, stating, 'I have sung only love songs and I know what I have brought to people.' A single woman without children, she was noted for her dedication to her craft, humorously referenced to have 'only songs and her greyhounds in her heart.'

Her adaptation of 'Blues du businessman' for 'Itinéraire d'un enfant gâté' marked her last major commercial success in 1985. As her voice matured, she returned to jazz with albums like 'Jazzille' (1987) and 'Black et Blanche' (1991), as well as exploring bossa nova with 'Bossa d'hiver' in 2008.

Croisille continued her theatrical pursuits, performing in various Parisian theaters.

In 1992, she fulfilled a longtime dream by portraying the titular role in the American musical 'Hello, Dolly!'.

At the age of 83, she took on a role as an elderly mistress of Michel Sardou in a Sacha Guitry comedic play, expressing her joy in continuing to perform, stating, 'I have as much fun as I could wish for! At my age, I only like challenges.'