Edith Piaf was in the public’s eye long before I was born, and she died in 1963 when still in her 40’s. Even so, she was played on the radio in England during my teen years, which was how I was introduced to her. She did not have an easy life (massive understatement***), and her songs tended to be autobiographical and focused on love, loss and sorrow.
In an earlier Post, I noted that a song in a foreign language is not much different to an instrumental in that you have no words to guide you and yet, just like some instrumentals, you can still be moved by them. This song is an excellent example, in that while you may not understand what she is singing about, it is certainly a very emotional experience … a passing love perhaps?
The last verse translates to:
Enjoy.
*** Following is courtesy of wikipedia.org:
Piaf’s mother abandoned her at birth, and she lived for a short time with her maternal grandmother, Emma (Aïcha). When her father enlisted with the French Army in 1916 to fight in World War I, he took her to his mother, who ran a brothel, where prostitutes helped look after Piaf.
Below is a link to all the lyrics in English
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/l039hymne-l039amour-hymn-love.html
She sang from her soul.
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Yes, she certainly could express herself, and inject her own experiences, into a song. Regardless of who wrote the songs, they suddenly became Piaf’s life story.
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Great voice. I often break out into song like this, while at French restaurants. And I don’t even speak French. Must be something in the food.
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……. or the wine!
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“…while you may not understand what she is singing about, it is certainly a very emotional experience…” This is so true. I melt every time I hear Edith Piaf sing. I wasn’t aware of her early abandonment. I can relate – maybe that’s why I am so moved by her singing. Thanks for sharing her story 🙂
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My pleasure … and it is so rewarding when other people can connect at an emotional level, so thank you. 🙂
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Extremely, painfully beautiful.
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I cannot add to that D. Thank you so much. 🙂
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She was beloved in her lifetime and now beyond.
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She certainly left her “mark” didn’t she. Considering her very questionable start in life, I hope that she was very proud of her achievements and her subsequent impact around the world … although history would suggest a very troubled soul.
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Beautiful, but yes, what a heartbreaking story she had. Like you said, you can feel the emotion coming from her Heart in her words, even though you can’t understand the words. Music is definitely a powerful expression of emotion!
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Glad you enjoyed it. Her life was the subject of the movie “La Vie en Rose” and produced in French and English, but I have not seen it yet.
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I can imagine that would be an interesting movie to watch but thinking it would be s movie thst may need tissues too!
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Maybe! 🙂
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