Charles Aznavour
Aznavour who died at 94 today (1. October.2018), shortly after he returned from a tour of Japan, was the most prolific of all French song writers and singers. He is said to have composed 1400 songs. He started by writing songs for Edith Piaf, whose protégé he was. Inevitably he ended up singing his verses himself. At first, this immigrant from Armenia was deemed too small, too ugly and his voice too mediocre, but by sheer perseverance _ pig-headedness, some would say_ he began to make his mark. He made over twenty films, among which, Ne Tirez Pas Sur Le Pianist (Shoot the Pianist) for Truffaut, and Un Taxi Pour Tobruk. Besides Piaf, many singers and musicians from around the world have performed his oeuvres: Tom Jones, Liza Minelli, Pavarotti, Bob Dylan, Placido Domino, Shirley Bassey etc... He loved touring round the world, and I remember attending one of his concerts at the Albert Hall in London in the sixties. He wrote his songs in many languages, and was himself fluent in a number of them. The one I have chosen for this homage illustrates the facility he had, at least in English. (Try reading it aloud)
You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable
You are my love very, very, very, véritable
Et je voudrais pouvoir un jour enfin te le dire
Te l’ écrire
Dans la langue de Shakespeare
My daisy, daisy, daisy, désirable
Je suis malheureux d’ avoir si peu de mots
À t’offrir en cadeaux
Darling I love you, love you, darling I want you
Et puis c’ est à peu près tout
You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable
You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable
But how can you
See me, see me, see me, si minable
Je ferais mieux d’aller choisir mon vocabulaire
Pour te plaire
Dans la langue de Molière
Toi, tes eyes, ton nose, tes lips adorables
Tu n’as pas compris tant pis
Ne t’en fais pas et viens-t-en dans mes bras
Darling I love you, love you
Darling, I want you
Et puis le reste on s’en fout
You are the one for me, for me, for me, formidable
Je me demande même
Pourquoi je t’aime
Toi qui te moques de moi et de tout
Avec ton air canaille, canaille, canaille
How can I love you
