Jordy Lemoine, the French singer who became a global sensation at the age of four with his song "Dur Dur D'être Bébé," is remembered today as the record holder for the youngest performer ever to reach number one on a singles chart.
The song, whose title translates as "It's Hard to Be a Baby," was released on September 5, 1992. Within a short time it became a worldwide phenomenon, climbing into the top positions of charts across half the world.
Jordy reached number one in France with the track and entered the Guinness World Records as the youngest singer to achieve a number one hit on a singles chart, a title tied to the fair-haired, blue-eyed toddler whose lisping delivery captivated audiences everywhere.
A follow-up hit and five weeks at number one
The success of "Dur dur d'être bébé!" was so large that a few months later a second single, "Alison (c'est ma copine à moi)," followed the same formula: a catchy melody, simple lyrics and young Jordy singing about his friend Alison.
That song repeated the feat, reaching number one in France and staying at the top of the chart for five weeks. Millions of people recognized his face and knew the words to his songs, and he began making guest appearances on music programs.
As is common with children who become famous overnight, Jordy's success did not last. He was growing up, and the small child's voice and image that had made his songs so charming were inevitably changing.
Life away from the spotlight
Jordy kept a low profile through his teenage years. The small boy audiences had known from television grew into a teenager largely out of public view.
In 2005, at the age of 17, Jordy returned to television screens. He took part as a contestant in the second edition of "La Ferme Célébrités," a French reality show in which a group of celebrities lived together on a farm for several weeks.
He won the competition. Jordy competed on behalf of France Parkinson, a French association that supports people affected by Parkinson's disease, and his victory secured the organization a prize of 180,000 euros.
The song makes a comeback
While Jordy took part in the reality show, many viewers were reminded of the child star who had triumphed in the early 1990s. His signature song, "Dur dur d'être bébé!," was played on television again more than a decade after its release.
The song's original release came the same year Spain hosted the Barcelona Olympics, an event remembered for an opening ceremony that introduced Cobi, the Games mascot designed by the Spanish artist Javier Mariscal.
