EDITH PIAF: Toujours

Celebrated singer & French icon Edith Piaf had a matchless talent for storytelling in her music. Her glorious voice, penchant for drama, and understanding of passion are on full display in this vintage Arkadia Chansons album. By 1930, Edith Piaf (1915-1963) was discovered by club owner Louis Leplee, who bestowed Piaf with the nickname La Môme Piaf (The little sparrow or waif sparrow). With Leplee’s help, she began singing in Parisian clubs, impressing audiences with the commanding vocals that became the hallmark of her storied career. She soon was headlining European festivals, starring in movies, and recording hit albums.  She became equally adored by American audiences, performing regularly in New York. Furthermore, she also became known for her dramatic relationships, which included celebrities such as boxer Marcel Cerdan, Jacque Pills, and Yves Montand. In 2007, she was immortalized for the next generation in the Academy Award winning film La Vie en Rose, titled after the name of her signature song. The Sparrow’s’ raw and emotionally provocative voice made her a legend in her native France, as well as with audiences around the world. Her expressive soul used song to unleash her dark passion, sincere purity, and wistful romanticism unto the world, making her the undeniable symbol of the French spirit in the 20th Century. Song Selections 1. Un homme comme les autres 2. C’était une histoire d’amour 3. Padam padam 4. Y’avait du soleil 5. Marchand d’habits 6. Fais-moi valser 7. Y’en a un de trop 8. Quand même 9. Un refrain courait dans la rue 10. Embrasse-moi 11. Ne m’écris pas 12. Reste 13. C’est la moindre des choses 14. Le petit homme