One of my favorite songs is the signature song of my mother's namesake, Edith Piaf. It makes me want to learn French just so I can understand the words that she wrote and sang. There is an English version, but it just doesn't have the same je ne sais quoi. The movie "La Vie en Rose" (2007) is not always easy to watch, but Marion Cotillard's performance as the "Little Sparrow" is mesmerizing, and her Oscar for best actress was well-deserved.
I love Louis Armstrong's version, too, and always watch the credits at the end of "French Kiss" just so I can hear him sing it. Interestingly, when researching the song, Wiki gave a list of notable people who had sung it. Here are a few of the singers I would never have associated with this song:
- Aretha Franklin
- Barbara Feldon (Get Smart)
- Belinda Carlisle
- Brenda Lee
- Connie Francis
- Cyndi Lauper
- Donna Summer
- Grace Jones
- Jack Nicholson (I forgot about his karaoke scene in "Something's Gotta Give")
- KT Tunstall (Black Horse in a Cherry Tree)
- Petula Clark
Comments are not required. This is for your listening and learning pleasure only.
18 comments:
'Course that just means I'm going to leave a comment anyway. Something about swimming upstream...
I haven't seen this film, despite living where I do. I forget what happened exactly, but I think mFB wasn't interested, and so I didn't go on my own. Shameful, I know, and it's on my list of things to do on winter evenings when it's bucketing down outside. Marion Cotillard's brilliance is the main reason I want to see it - she sure got herself a nice career boost there!
Yes, it's hard to watch, yet so beautifully made. She is quite extraordinary.
Grace Jones? wow.
We loved The movie "La Vie en Rose" and Edith Piaf's songs. Have TiVo'd the movie and recorded the songs on Rhapsody.
Clearly a movie I must watch. I do so love this song--what a disparate list of folks who have sung it! Imagining Jack Nicholson doing so will now take up the better part of my weekend...
Beautiful! You sent me off to youtube to listen to Louis Armstrong's version. I love him.
I love having "The Very Best of Edith Piaf" on my iPod. So nice to hear it here on a quiet Sunday morning. I'm not surprised this song is covered by so many; I remember Pet Clark's version.
i love edith's version the best of the ones i've heard.
Deb, we never go out to see movies, and my hubby wouldn't want to see this one either. It is excellent though, and you should definitely see it. Cotillard disappears into Piaf's character.
Hmmmm, I need to catch up on your last post so I can find out what that "swimming upstream" is all about.
Ruthie, extraordinary is the word. One of the best performances I've seen in years, by anyone.
I was most intrigued by Barbara Feldon's cover of the song, but I couldn't find it on youtube.
Wanda, I think I will have to watch it again. I'm sure it's one of those movies you could see many times and still discover things you hadn't noticed before.
ds, clearly you must watch it! Maybe it will inspire a poem out of you!
Jack's version was surprisingly not awful. ;)
Bella, I glad you liked it! And Satchmo's version, too!
dutchbaby, you are far ahead of me! I need to do that as well. I still haven't listened to Petula's cover...been too busy. I love her voice though, and that gives me an idea for this week's post.
char, don't you love the way she rrrrolls her R's? I could listen to that all day.
I wanted to thank you for becoming a follower. I was just delighted.
...I LOVED that movie...I knew little about her until I watched it and appreciate her voice even more now...I have to go listen to Jack Nicholson now:)
Relyn, that's awfully sweet of you to say! I'm having a hard time keeping up with everyone these days, but I really like your blog and will visit as often as I can.
The same for me, Oliag. I knew virtually nothing until watching it. What a great introduction, eh?
Post a Comment