Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf (French: [edit pjaf]; 19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963; born Édith Giovanna Gassion) was a French cabaret singer, songwriter and actress who became widely regarded as France's national chanteuse, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars.

Her music was often autobiographical with her singing reflecting her life, with her specialty being of chanson and torch ballads, particularly of love, loss and sorrow. Among her well known songs are "La Vie en rose" (1946), "Non, je ne regrette rien" (1960), "Hymne à l'amour" (1949), "Milord" (1959), "La Foule" (1957), "L'Accordéoniste" (1955), and "Padam ... Padam ..." (1951).

Since her premature death in 1963 and with the aid of several biographies and films including 2007's Academy Award winning La Vie en rose Piaf has cultivated a legacy as one of the greatest performers of the 20th century where her voice and music continues to be celebrated globally.

Family

Despite numerous biographies, much of Piaf's life is unknown. She was born Édith Giovanna Gassion in Belleville, Paris. Legend has it that she was born on the pavement of Rue de Belleville 72, but her birth certificate cites that she was born on 19 December 1915 at the Hôpital Tenon, a hospital located at the 20th arrondissement.

Mon légionnaire

"Mon légionnaire" is a French song introduced in 1936 by vocalist Marie Dubas, with lyrics by Raymond Asso and music by Marguerite Monnot. Marie Dubas toured the United States with this song in 1939.

Writer

Raymond Asso was a veteran of the French Foreign Legion, who also wrote "Le Fanion de la Légion" (The Flag of the Legion), which was taken up by Dubas and afterwards by Piaf, but with less success.

Edith Piaf version

The song is now mainly identified with Édith Piaf, who took it up as a central element of her repertoire. It appears in most collections of Piaf's songs. The romantic theme of a woman's longing for an embittered Legionnaire who refuses to reveal his name, with whom she has a brief affair, fits well with Piaf's image.

Cover

"Mon légionnaire" was recorded by Serge Gainsbourg in 1987; the male voice singing the lyrics made famous by Piaf gave the song a strong homoerotic undertone. The new version of "Mon légionnaire" was a hit on French dance floors, both gay and heterosexual.