This is a great song--written by Charles Dumont-- that comes at the climax to the 2007 Edith Piaf film biography, "La Vie En Rose". Abandoned by her father and raised in a brothel just after World War I, Edith Piaf had a great voice that carried her out of poverty and degradation. She had a street-wise attitude that meshed with a vulnerability on stage. I'm not a French speaker but the songs of hers I've heard need no translation--the emotion is there and its authentic. To me, she is a French Billie Holliday--Piaf was a fan of the American singer--and her life was sadly just as grim at times as "Lady Day".
Translation in English (by Wiki Answers Website)
n, Je ne regrette rien" = "No, I regret nothing".
(The song begins with the refrain, which repeats over and over:)
No, nothing of nothing,
No, I regret nothing!
I feel sorry of nothing,
(then add:)
not the good, not the bad,
it's all the same to me.
(repeat refrain, then add)
It's paid for, removed, forgotten
I am fine with the past.
With my memories,
I lit my fire,
with troubles, with pleasures,
I need them no more!
Sweeping away my past lovers
and all their troubles (or issues, or petty annoyances)
Swept away forever more,
I start at zero!
(Repeat refrain, then add:)
For my life, my joys
begin today with you!
Her voice is haunting and distinctive and this song--recorded late in her career--is a summation of her life and attitude in a way that Frank Sinatra's "My Way" seemed to merge the artist and his persona in one song.
I went with the original artist on this one. The performance by Marion Cotillard as "The Little Sparrow" won her numerous awards, including an Oscar last year for Best Actress.
Very nice... And the flame does still stay alive...
ReplyDeleteAn old favourite from my childhood, it was often on BBC radio when I was a kid, I also have it on a single which I can't play since my turntable gave up the ghost. Piaf is the voice of the existentialist Left Bank of 50s and 60s Paris, you have drawn parallels with Billie Holiday....I also think of her in a similar way to Marlene Dietrich. All three of these women impressed me during my formative years.
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice, thanks for posting it Doug
Hello Doug! Anything that has something to do with Edith Piaf will automatically attract my attention. Edith Piaf was and is my favorite singer. I visited her grave site at Pere Lachaise in Paris. People still bring fresh flowers to her grave. She was referred to as the Sweetheart of France. Thank you for posting the above. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it does. Seeing the actress playing her and then seeing archival footage of the real Piaf is truly uncanny how remarkable the performance by Ms. Cotillard really is.
ReplyDeleteThank you, AA. I'm sure there's a lot more about Piaf the film couldn't cover that is worth knowing.
ReplyDeleteI saw an interesting documentary about Marlene Dietrich a few years ago, and how much she did to entertain Allied troops crossing France and into Germany well up in the front lines...even with her mother living in Berlin! (Her mom survived the war.) She was a brave lady, and of course she paid a price with many fellow Germans afterwards--those who either hated the Nazis but couldn't get out of Germany or lived with Hitler's mad dreams until their country was nearly buried in fire and rubble.
They were all three truly amazing women. Dietrich's recording of "You Go to My Head" still goes to mine.
How nice to know she is at rest where so many admirers and pilgrims can come and pay tribute. Thanks for dropping by Amy.
ReplyDeleteDoug, as I mentioned earlier, am a bona fide fan of Edith Piaf. To supplement your blog, I wrote more info on my favorite singer. I hope you don't mind. I can never get tired listening to her voice. Pere Lachaise cemetery is constantly visited by tourists from all over the world. Thank you again for featuring Edith Piaf in your page.
ReplyDeleteI'm an 80-y-old Frenchman, one of a generation that knew Edith Piaf well, so I'm moved reading a Multiply fellow from America who doesn't speak French, but has always been touched by Edith Piaf's very particular, popular way of singing and, above all, of feeling the songs she sang... of living the part. She used to feel like she had really lived the stories the songs told.
ReplyDeleteThe song "Je ne regrette rien" is very difficult, if not impossible, to translate into English. Yes, the meaning of the lyrics can translate, but their idiomatic turns of phrase, the impression a Frenchman has of them can't, I'm afraid. We French speak a tongue as idiomatic as yours, American friends, but unfortunately we don't have the same idioms... You seem like you had got the emotion of them very well, however. A big cheer for you Doug!
I as a young man was lucky enough to meet her. In those days I was the boyfriend of a then well-known ballerina (we were madly in love with each other, but I a science student and she a ballet dancer...). She knew Edith Piaf and she introduced me to her on some night at the Olympia, Paris. We spoke for about one hour in a bistro (pub or bar) nearby. She was as natural in everyday life as on the stage with a Paris street urchin way of talking, cheeky, cocky, funny, also very emotional and apparently loving hitting the sauce...
Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing those priceless memories Michel. Your description of Edith Piaf reminds me of how she was portrayed in the film, so I guess the screenwriters got it right. Two cheers back to you for adding so much to my brief remarks!
ReplyDeleteThank you Doug. This is another song that has stood the test of time. I can only relate to it if the great Eith Piaf is singing, it is HER song. Good choice there, Doug!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
I have to agree, Cassandra. Edith Piaf sang many great songs, but I think this one must have meant the most to her toward the end of her life. Glad you enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteI always liked this song and the singer, never knew what it meant before though. Thanks for the translation and the clip.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Iri Ani. I should admit I had not heard this song before seeing the film "La Vin En Rose". I enjoyed so many of her other songs I was not surprised that she "nailed" this one.
ReplyDeleteMarvellous!! I am a teacher and wanted to show this to my year 10 class. Sadly they were too naughty.Their loss!! I loved it. I'm going to try to show it to them next week ....if they're good!Thank you so much for making it so simple to access! Anna Taylor (Teacher)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Anna.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, she had a great voice and talent
ReplyDeleteIndeed, and an amazing life story to boot!
ReplyDeleteIt has well turned out:)
ReplyDeleteIt has well turned out:)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Silagra.
ReplyDelete