Audience Guide music theatre

2012-2013 Our 54th Season Edith - ’s Greatest Singer Issue 3, January/February 2013 Piaf! Her name is legendary. Her voice is She was born Édith Giovanna Gassion IN THIS ISSUE unmistakable. She is a cultural icon in 1915 in . Her father, Louis universally regarded as France’s great- Alphonse Gassion, a traveling street est singer and its most recognized inter- acrobat, was rarely at home. Her mother, national star. Her remarkable life was Anita Maillard, of French, Italian and filled with love, triumph and tragedy. Her Moroccan heritage, was pre-occupied poignant and heartbreaking story is told with her career as a singer on the local in her songs. When she sang Non, Je cabaret circuit. It was not surprising that Ne Regrette Rien (No Regrets), Piaf de- Édith’s childhood was lonely. fied anyone to pity her. In her book NO REGRETS: THE LIFE OF EDITH PIAF, The family's fortunes deteriorated during Carolyn Burke calls her “the singer who the first World War when Louis Alphonse reached across social, linguistic and left to serve at the front and Anita was national divides to voice the emotions of forced to earn her living singing on street ordinary people.” corners. When Louis Alphonse returned from the war two years later, he sent his Her life was one of sharp contrasts: the daughter to Normandy to be raised by range of her fame as opposed to her her paternal grandmother, Maman Tine tragic personal life, and her small fragile who ran a brothel near Rouen. figure on stage contrasting with the resounding power of her voice. Piaf While these were the happiest years of embraced life passionately, even at its Edith’s childhood, they were also mixed cruelest; as long as she could express it with sadness. She developed acute in her songs she felt the suffering was keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea, worth it. Her music reflected her determi- which made her temporarily blind from nation in the face of tragedy with songs the ages of three to seven. The story is like (1946), Hymne à that Maman Tine shut down the brothel l'amour (1949), L'Accordéoniste (1955), La for a day so the "girls" (who doted on Foule (1957), Milord (1959) Padam (1951) Edith) could take her to Lisieux where and Non, je ne regrette rien (1960). they prayed to St. Thérèse. Ten days later Piaf's blindness was cured. Most Sponsored by When Piaf died in 1963, although forbid- likely, the passage of time and the drops The Schoenleber Foundation den a Mass by the Roman Catholic arch- the doctor put in Edith's eyes cured her. bishop of Paris because of her lifestyle, But Piaf was never adverse to using the Enlighten is funded in part by her funeral procession drew hundreds of “miracle” story. thousands of mourners onto the streets of Paris and the ceremony at the ceme- Edith returned to Paris as a young girl to tery was jammed with more than forty live with her father, who incorporated her thousand fans. Singer Charles Aznavour into his street act. The father and daugh- recalled that Piaf's funeral procession ter team toured the country together for was the first time since the end of World several years, earning their living in the War II that Parisian traffic came to a streets. After he performed, Edith would- complete stop. pass the hat around the crowd. But soon

Her life has been the subject of many films and plays, most recently LA VIE EN AUDIENCE GUIDE ROSE in 2007. The film stars Marion Research/Writing by Justine Leonard Cotillard in the role that won her the and Education Intern Andrew Groble Academy Award for Best Actress as Piaf. for ENLIGHTEN, Numerous songs by Piaf are used in Skylight Music Theatre’s movies such as SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, Education Program INCEPTION, BABE:PIG IN THE CITY and the animated film, MADAGASCAR 3. Edited by Ray Jivoff 414-299-4965 [email protected] There is a museum dedicated to Piaf, www.skylightmusictheatre.org the Musée Édith Piaf at 5, rue Crespin du Gast, 75011, Paris. See the guide online at www.skylightmusictheatre.org Edith Piaf (1915-1963) edith piaf on stage

was Simone who passed the hat while Edith sang. In spite of her scruffy street urchin appearance, Edith proved extremely popular; her amazingly expressive voice moved even the most impassive listener.

In 1932, Edith fell in love with Louis Dupont, a local delivery boy. Dupont moved in with Edith and Simone, but was never happy with the idea of Edith roaming the streets. He persuaded her to take jobs he found for her but she resisted whenever possible, until she be- Edith and Simone Berteaut came pregnant. At age 17, Piaf had her only child, a girl named Marcelle. Yet, just as Piaf's career was on the point of taking off, tragedy struck. Leplée Raising the child in a small apartment was murdered in his home and Piaf, Edith, age 4 with barely enough money to pay the and many of Leplée’s Pigalle underworld rent was hard, but Edith made a serious connections, were called in for question- Edith discovered that she had a powerful effort to be a good mother even though ing. The French press had a field day singing voice that could mesmerize an she had little maternal instinct nor do- with the story but it turned out that audience and left her father to begin her mestic ability. Leplée had been killed by mobsters with own singing career. previous ties to Piaf. Before long, she returned to street When she was 15, she met Simone singing and Marcelle was often left A barrage of negative media attention Berteaut, who became her lifelong com- alone. Edith was devastated when Mar- now threatened her career. To rehabili- panion and partner in mischief. Soon, it celle died of meningitis just after her sec- tate her image, she recruited composer- ond birthday. Shortly after Marcelle's Raymond Asso, with whom she would death in 1935, Edith was performing her become romantically involved. He act on a street corner in Pigalle (the changed her stage name to "Édith Piaf," neighborhood's raunchy reputation led to barred undesirable acquaintances from its World War II nickname of "Pig Alley" seeing her and commissioned Monnot to by Allied soldiers) when Louis Leplée, write songs that reflected Piaf's previous the director of a cabaret on the Champs life on the streets. Elysées happened to walk by. He was bowled over by the young singer's voice Asso persuaded the director of the ABC, and offered her a job in his club, Le one of the most famous Paris venues of Gerny, which was frequented by the the day, to sign Piaf as a supporting upper and lower classes alike. It was artist. When the 23-year-old Piaf took to Leplée who invented Edith's famous the stage she brought down the house, stage name, La Môme Piaf, which in earning as much applause as the head- street slang meant little sparrow. lining stars. That same year Piaf would

Leplée taught her the basics of stage presence and told her to wear a simple Advertisements for Piaf’s mother, profession- black dress, which became her ally known as (above) and father, billed as “The man who walks upside down.” trademark costume. While Edith Piaf might have appeared tiny and fragile, when she performed on stage, she w exerted an extraordinary power over her audience with her raw, emotional vocals. Leplée ran an intense publicity campaign leading up to her opening night and the unknown street singer was an immediate hit with chic Paris audiences who flocked to the Champs Elysées to hear La Môme Piaf sing. Encouraged by this overnight Édith success, Piaf recorded her first single, sang, it Les Mômes de la Cloche, penned by Marguerite Monnot, a collaborator throughout Piaf's life. “Miss Edith, Vocal Phenomenon,” age 8. edith piaf on stage also launch a film career, starring in fame in France and she began using her Jean Limur's film LA GARÇONNE. A few celebrity to help launch the careers of months later, Piaf appeared at the up-and-coming artists. Bobino, another famous Paris venue, now as the headlining act. She discovered Yves Montand in Paris, made him part of her act and became In 1940, Piaf met French actor Paul his mentor and lover. In 1945 Piaf and Meurisse. The couple's passionate rela- Montand formed a famous double act in tionship lasted two years with Meurisse Marcel Blistène’s film ETOILE SANS acting as a kind of Pygmalion figure in LUMIÈRE. When he became one of the Piaf's life, educating her about French most famous singers in France and culture and teaching her how to behave almost as popular as Piaf, she broke off in society. Soon the singer was the their relationship. darling of Paris' intellectual elite, becoming a close friend of Jean La vie en rose, her signature song, was Cocteau, the famous French playwright written by Piaf in 1945 with the melody and film director. Cocteau wrote a play composed Louis Guglielmi, known as especially for Piaf and Meurisse, LE BEL Louiguy. Encouraged by its phenomenal INDIFFÉRENT, which revealed the full success, Piaf would write 80 more of her Piaf and Marguerite Monnot extent of Piaf’s acting talent. It proved to own songs during her career. be the hit of the season. Azores Islands. Piaf, distraught by this In 1946, Piaf met a group of young new loss, spiraled into a deep depres- During the Second World War, Piaf con- singers called Les Compagnons de la sion. She began visiting mediums and tinued her career engaging in her own Chanson. Piaf recorded a single with dabbling in spiritualism. She threw form of resistance by employing Jewish them entitled Les trois cloches (The herself into her work, expressing her musicians to accompany her on tour. Three Bells). The song was an enor- personal suffering through tragic and During this time, she was in great mous hit, selling over a million copies. increasingly melodramatic songs. demand and very successful. Singing for Les Compagnons accompanied Piaf on high-ranking Germans earned Piaf the her first American tour the following year. In 1950, barely a year after Cerdan's right to pose for photos with French pris- death, Piaf was back on stage in Paris oners of war, ostensibly as a morale- Piaf's tour of the U.S. proved to be a real where she met French singer Charles booster. In reality, it enabled her to forge challenge. American audiences were Aznavour. She helped the singer get his ID cards which were distributed along less receptive to her melodramatic style. first bookings and in return Aznavour with maps and money, allowing 118 Her first concerts at the Playhouse would remain devoted to Piaf, acting as POWs to escape. Cabaret in New York failed to attract her chauffeur and private secretary as large audiences until she received a rap- well as her most intimate confidant. By the time the war ended in 1944, the turous review of her concert in a major Aznavour would also write a number of 30-year-old Piaf was at the height of her New York paper. Encouraged by this hit songs for Piaf including Jézébel and favorable press, Piaf signed up for a the legendary Plus bleu que tes yeux. week of shows at the Versailles, an ele- gant cabaret in Manhattan. The week 1951 proved to be another year of was extended to four months. tragedy for Piaf. She was involved in two serious car accidents, amazingly, surviv- During her stay in New York Piaf would ing both without sustaining any serious begin two important relationships, strik- injuries. However, while recovering from ing up a lifelong friendship with Marlene the second crash she was given heavy Dietrich and falling in love with boxing doses of morphine as a pain-killer and champion Marcel Cerdan. Their romance made international headlines, with news- papers around the world picking up on the fairytale story of "The Queen of French music and the King of the Ring".

After so many years of personal tragedy, Piaf appeared to have finally found happiness. She paid tribute to Cerdan in her classic L’hymne à l'amour, written with frequent collaborator Marguerite Monnot.

But Piaf's life was struck by tragedy again on October 28, 1949 when Cerdan Edith and Marcel Cerdan was killed in a plane crash over the edith piaf on stage she became addicted. Combined with In 1960 Piaf began working with the her increasing drinking habit, the drug young French songwriter Charles would gradually destroy her mental and Dumont who wrote one of the most physical health. famous songs of her career, Non je ne regrette rien. When Piaf premiered the Despite her problems, in July 1952 she song at her next major concert at married French singer at a L'Olympia, her performance would go private ceremony in Paris. The couple down in music history as one of the most then flew to the States for Piaf's fifth legendary concerts of all time. American tour. While Piaf returned to the prestigious Versailles, Pils performed a In the summer of 1961 Piaf met a young series of concerts at a smaller cabaret in Greek singer, Theophanis Lamboukas. New York. He was accompanied on the Piaf preferred to call him Sarapo, which piano by Gilbert Bécaud, who would is Greek for "I love you". He would be team up with Pills to write Piaf's Piaf then set off on another extensive the last of Piaf's husbands and lovers. classic hit, Je t'ai dans la peau. tour of the States, which culminated in a Just as she had done with so many of hugely successful performance at New the previous men in her life, Piaf would As Piaf continued her dizzy rise to inter- York's Carnegie Hall in 1956. Though ex- take charge of Sarapo's career, using national stardom, drugs and alcohol hausted by her American concerts, Piaf her name to launch the young unknown. were beginning to take their toll on her began a four and a half month tour of increasingly fragile health. In the early Latin America. Piaf married Sarapo in a private cere- 50s Piaf would begin a long series of mony in October,1962. After a long treatments at a health clinic in an By the end of the year, Piaf was back in honeymoon, the couple performed their attempt to wean herself off alcohol and a private health clinic undergoing famous duet, A quoi ça sert l'amour at morphine. another long drying-out period. This time the Bobino in February 1963. the cure worked and Piaf would not Ironically, while her health continued to touch a drop of alcohol for the rest of her Two months later Piaf fell into a coma decline, her studio recordings in 1952 life. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol had and the singer spent the last months of and 1953 were absolutely magnificent, irrevocably damaged the singer's health. her life slipping in and out of conscious- and her concerts surpassed many of her ness in her villa near Cannes. Piaf previous performances. Meanwhile, In 1958 Piaf returned to L'Olympia for passed away at age 47 on October 11, Piaf's close friends rallied around and the third time in her career, giving a 1963. Her last words were "Every damn hid her tortured private life from the memorable series of concerts where she fool thing you do in this life, you pay for." press, encouraging the singer to keep premiered La Foule, a melody which Piaf out of the limelight. Piaf disappeared had brought back from South America. It is said that Sarapo drove her body from the French music scene at the end This song was another international hit. back to Paris secretly so that fans would of 1953, shutting herself away from the think she had died in her hometown. She world for most of the following year. Later that same year Piaf began another is buried in Paris in Père Lachaise passionate love affair, this time with Cemetery next to her daughter Marcelle. In 1955 Piaf made a triumphant come- French singer/songwriter Georges Her grave continues to be among the back, giving the performance of a life- Moustaki. Moustaki and Piaf both had most visited. time at L'Olympia, the most famous fiery tempers and their relationship was venue in Paris. Despite her waning not always a calm one, but they shared Wikipedia) and http://www.little-sparrow.co.uk/ health, Piaf's voice was as powerful as a mutual passion for music, and Mous- © RFI Musique, February 2008 ever, washing over her audience in a taki would go on to write many of Piaf's tide of incredible emotion. later hits (including Milord, in collabora- tion with Marguerite Monnot).

In September 1958 Piaf and Moustaki were involved in another serious car crash, which would only serve to weaken Piaf's declining health. Just a few months after the accident Piaf collapsed halfway through a concert in New York and was rushed to the hospital for an emergency operation.

Ignoring the advice of her doctors and her closest friends, Piaf refused to aban- don her singing career. In spite of the fact that she collapsed on stage several times in mid-performance, Piaf could not imagine her life without music. edith piaf on stage

Translations SUIVENT LE JEU NERVEUX ET LES DOIGTS SECS ET LONGS DE The girl is sad on the corner over there. L'ARTISTE Her accordionist left to be a soldier, ÇA LUI RENTRE DANS LA PEAU when he returns from the war, PAR LE BAS, PAR LE HAUT they will open a house. ELLE A ENVIE DE PLEURER She will be the cashier, C'EST PHYSIQUE and he will be the boss. TOUT SON ÊTRE EST TENDU Life will be so beautiful, SON SOUFFLE EST SUSPENDU they will be true pashas, C'EST UNE VRAIE TORDUE DE LA and every evening, MUSIQUE he will play the java for her.

LA FILLE DE JOIE EST SEULE She hears the java that she hums AU COIN DE LA RUE LÀ-BAS very low, L’ACCORDÉONISTE LES FILLES QUI FONT LA GUEULE She sees, once again, her accordionist, LES HOMMES N'EN VEULENT PAS her loving eyes LA FILLE DE JOIE EST BELLE ET TANT PIS SI ELLE CRÈVE follow the nervous playing, AU COIN DE LA RUE LÀ-BAS SON HOMME NE REVIENDRA PLUS the artist's long, dry fingers, ELLE A UNE CLIENTÈLE ADIEUX TOUS LES BEAUX RÊVES it's under her skin, QUI LUI REMPLIT SON BAS SA VIE, ELLE EST FOUTUE from the bottom, from the top. QUAND SON BOULOT S'ACHÈVE POURTANT SES JAMBES TRISTES She feels like crying, it's natural. ELLE S'EN VA À SON TOUR L'EMMÈNENT AU BOUI-BOUI She is tense, she holds her breath CHERCHER UN PEU DE RÊVE OÙ 'Y A UN AUTRE ARTISTE she is crazy with the music DANS UN BAL DU FAUBOURG QUI JOUE TOUTE LA NUIT SON HOMME EST UN ARTISTE The girl is alone C'EST UN DRÔLE DE P'TIT GARS ELLE ÉCOUTE LA JAVA... on the corner over there- UN ACCORDÉONISTE ...ELLE ENTEND LA JAVA men don't want girls who sulk. QUI SAIT JOUER LA JAVA ...ELLE A FERMÉ LES YEUX And so what if she dies- ...ET LES DOIGTS SECS ET NERVEUX... her man won't return ELLE ÉCOUTE LA JAVA ÇA LUI RENTRE DANS LA PEAU Goodbye to all the beautiful dreams. MAIS ELLE NE LA DANSE PAS PAR LE BAS, PAR LE HAUT Her life has flown away. ELLE NE REGARDE MÊME PAS LA PISTE ELLE A ENVIE DE GUEULER However, her sad legs carry her ET SES YEUX AMOUREUX C'EST PHYSIQUE to the dive where there is another artist SUIVENT LE JEU NERVEUX ALORS POUR OUBLIER who plays all night. ET LES DOIGTS SECS ET LONGS DE ELLE S'EST MISE À DANSER, À TOURNER She hears the java. L'ARTISTE AU SON DE LA MUSIQUE... She listens to the java, ÇA LUI RENTRE DANS LA PEAU ... ARRÊTEZ! she closes her eyes, PAR LE BAS, PAR LE HAUT ARRÊTEZ LA MUSIQUE! The dry, nervous fingers ELLE A ENVIE DE CHANTER It's under her skin C'EST PHYSIQUE The Accordionist from the bottom, from the top TOUT SON ÊTRE EST TENDU and she yells it’s natural. SON SOUFFLE EST SUSPENDU The "daughter of joy" is beautiful Then to forget, she starts to dance, C'EST UNE VRAIE TORDUE DE LA on the street corner there, to turn to the sound of the music, MUSIQUE she has a clientel who fill her stockings. Stop! Stop the music! When her work is finished, LA FILLE DE JOIE EST TRISTE she looks for a little dream AU COIN DE LA RU LÀ-BAS at a dance hall outside of town. SON ACCORDÉONISTE Her man is an artist, IL EST PARTI SOLDAT a strange little man QUAND IL REVIENDRA DE LA GUERRE an accordionist who can play the java. ILS PRENDRONT UNE MAISON ELLE SERA LA CAISSIÈRE She listens to the java, ET LUI, SERA LE PATRON but she doesn't dance, QUE LA VIE SERA BELLE she doesn't even see the dance floor. ILS SERONT DE VRAIS PACHAS But her loving eyes ET TOUS LES SOIRS POUR ELLE follow the nervous playing, IL JOUERA LA JAVA the artist's long, dry fingers. it's under her skin, ELLE ÉCOUTE LA JAVA from the bottom, from the top. QU'ELLE FREDONNE TOUT BAS She feels like singing, its natural. ELLE REVOIT SON ACCORDÉONISTE She is tense, she holds her breath, ET SES YEUX AMOUREUX she is crazy with the music. edith piaf on stage

Translations 2 COMME MOI like me, she waits for her lover, RABAIS for the eyes of her lover, PADAM...PADAM...PADAM... PEUT-ÊTRE BIEN QU’AILLEURS for the arms of there lover, like me. DES "VEUX-TU" EN VOILÀ PAR PAQUETS UNE FEMME A LE COEUR ET TOUT ÇA POUR TOMBER JUSTE AU ÉPERDU DE BONHEUR Perhaps then, as well, for an instant, COIN D'LA RUE COMME MOI… she lives the best of her life, like me, SUR L'AIR QUI M'A RECONNUE ET QUE D’UN GESTE HEUREUX and closing her eyes, ELLE SOULÈVE UN PEU she touches her hair, like me, ÉCOUTEZ LE CHAHUT QU'IL ME FAIT LE RIDEAU DE SOIE BLEUE perhaps she pins a flower over her heart COMME SI TOUT MON PASSÉ DÉFILAIT COMME MOI… and then looks at the time, like me, FAUT GARDER DU CHAGRIN POUR APRÈS POUR REGARDER EN BAS and thinks of her lover, J'EN AI TOUT UN SOLFÈGE SUR CET SON AMOUR QUI VIENDRA of the eyes of her lover, AIR QUI BAT... LA PRENDRE DANS SES BRAS of the arms of her lover, like me. QUI BAT COMME UN CŒUR DE BOIS... COMME MOI… ELLE ATTEND SON AMOUR Perhaps then again, Padam LES YEUX DE SON AMOUR she hears even louder, LES BRAS DE SON AMOUR her heartbeat, and then, like me, That song which haunts me day and night, COMME MOI… she will want to scream That song is not born today, in hearing a step on the stair,like me, It comes from far as I come, PEUT-ÊTRE BIEN AUSSI like me in the instant Dragged into the present QU’À L’INSTANT ELLE VIT where my heart, in suspense, by a hundred thousand musicians. LE MEILLEUR DE SA VIE stops for a moment in front of you, One day that song will make me crazy, COMME MOI… and then dies, my love, A hundred times I've wanted to say why, ET QU’EN FERMANT LES YEUX in your eyes my love, But it cuts my words. ELLE ABANDONNE UN PEU in your arms my love, my love. It always speaks before I do, SA MAIN DANS SES CHEVEUX And that voice cuts off my words. COMME MOI… PADAM Padam... PEUT-ÊTRE QU’À SON COEUR It runs up behind me, ELLE ÉPINGLE UNE FLEUR CET AIR QUI M'OBSÈDE JOUR ET NUIT Padam... ET PUIS REGARDE L’HEURE CET AIR N'EST PAS NÉ D'AUJOURD'HUI It forces me to remember, COMME MOI… IL VIENT D'AUSSI LOIN QUE JE VIENS Padam... ET PENSE À SON AMOUR TRAÎNÉ PAR CENT MILLE MUSICIENS The song points it's finger at me, AUX YEUX DE SON AMOUR UN JOUR CET AIR ME RENDRA FOLLE And that I drag behind me AUX BRAS DE SON AMOUR CENT FOIS J'AI VOULU DIRE POURQUOI like a bad joke, COMME MOI… MAIS IL M'A COUPÉ LA PAROLE That song which knows everything IL PARLE TOUJOURS AVANT MOI by heart. PEUT-ÊTRE BIEN ENCORE ET SA VOIX COUVRE MA VOIX QU’ELLE ENTENDRA PLUS FORT It says "Remember your love, SON COEUR BATTRE ET QU’ALORS PADAM...PADAM...PADAM... Remember, since it’s your turn, now. COMME MOI… IL ARRIVE EN COURANT DERRIÈRE MOI There is no reason not to cry, ELLE VOUDRA CRIER PADAM...PADAM...PADAM... with the memories you carry around." EN ENTENDANT MONTER IL ME FAIT LE COUP DU SOUVIENS-TOI And me, I see all the rest, UN PAS DANS L’ESCALIER PADAM...PADAM...PADAM... My twenty years beat the drum. COMME MOI… C'EST UN AIR QUI ME MONTRE DU DOIGT I see amid all the fighting, COMME MOI DANS L’INSTANT ET JE TRAÎNE APRÈS MOI COMME UN the comedy of love, OÙ MON COEUR EN SUSPENS DRÔLE D'ERREUR in the song which always plays SE RETIENT UN MOMENT CET AIR QUI SAIT TOUT PAR CŒUR Padam... CONTRE TOI… The 14th of July "I love you." ET PUIS MEURE, MON AMOUR IL DIT: "RAPPELLE-TOI TES AMOURS Padam... DANS TES YEUX, MON AMOUR RAPPELLE-TOI PUISQUE C'EST TON TOUR The cheaply bought "Always" DANS TES BRAS, MON AMOUR 'Y A PAS D'RAISON POUR TU N'PLEURES PAS Padam... MON AMOUR… AVEC TES SOUVENIRS SUR LES BRAS... The gift-wrapped "Want yous" ET MOI JE REVOIS CEUX QUI RESTENT Listen to the fury within me, Like Me MES VINGT ANS FONT BATTRE TAMBOUR As if all my past was parading by, JE VOIS S'ENTRE BATTRE DES GESTES Imust keep some trouble for later, Perhaps somewhere else, TOUTE LA COMÉDIE DES AMOURS I have an entire diagram of that song a woman has a heart, SUR CET AIR QUI VA TOUJOURS Which beats like a heart of wood! desperate for happiness like me, and with one happy gesture, PADAM...PADAM...PADAM... she raises, a little, the curtain of blue silk llike me, DES "JE T'AIME" DE QUATORZE-JUILLET to look for her lover, PADAM...PADAM...PADAM... who comes to take her in his arms, DES "TOUJOURS" QU'ON ACHÈTE AU edith piaf on stage

Translations 3 MILORD QUI N'ONT PAS EU DE CHANCE in the arms of a young woman, REGARDEZ-MOI, MILORD my God how beautiful she was, ALLEZ VENEZ! MILORD VOUS NE M'AVEZ JAMAIS VUE... It made my heart cold. VOUS ASSEOIR À MA TABLE MAIS VOUS PLEUREZ, MILORD IL FAIT SI FROID DEHORS ÇA, J' L'AURAIS JAMAIS CRU. Come on, Milord, sit at my table, ICI, C'EST CONFORTABLE Its cold outside, LAISSEZ-VOUS FAIRE, MILORD [Spoken] In here, it's comfortable, ET PRENEZ BIEN VOS AISES EH! MAIS VOYONS, MILORD Let me talk you into it. VOS PEINES SUR MON CŒUR SOURIEZ-MOI, MILORD Take your ease, ET VOS PIEDS SUR UNE CHAISE MIEUX QUE ÇA, UN P'TIT EFFORT... Put your troubles on my chair. JE VOUS CONNAIS, MILORD VOILÀ, C'EST ÇA! I know you- VOUS NE M'AVEZ JAMAIS VUE ALLEZ RIEZ! MILORD You’ve never seem me, JE NE SUIS QU'UNE FILLE DU PORT ALLEZ CHANTEZ! MILORD I'm only a girl of the harbor, UNE OMBRE DE LA RUE... [Sings] TA DA DA DA... A shadow of the street. MAIS OUI, DANSEZ, MILORD POURTANT, JE VOUS AI FRÔLÉ TA DA DA DA... And to think, QUAND VOUS PASSIEZ HIER BRAVO! MILORD... All it takes is a ship, VOUS N'ÉTIEZ PAS PEU FIER TA DA DA DA… For everything to fall apart. DAME! LE CIEL VOUS COMBLAIT ENCORE, MILORD... When the ship goes away VOTRE FOULARD DE SOIE TA DA DA DA... it takes with it the sweet girl FLOTTANT SUR VOS ÉPAULES with tender eyes, VOUS AVIEZ LE BEAU RÔLE who wasn't able to understand ON AURAIT DIT LE ROI that she shattered your life. VOUS MARCHIEZ EN VAINQUEUR Love makes you cry, AU BRAS D'UNE DEMOISELLE Like the life that gave you all the luck, ! QU'ELLE ÉTAIT BELLE Just to take it back. J'EN AI FROID DANS LE CŒUR... Come on, Milord, ALLEZ VENEZ! MILORD you're acting like a kid, VOUS ASSEOIR À MA TABLE Come into my realm, IL FAIT SI FROID DEHORS I heal remorse, ICI, C'EST CONFORTABLE I sing about romance, LAISSEZ-VOUS FAIRE, MILORD I sing about milords ET PRENEZ BIEN VOS AISES who never had any luck VOS PEINES SUR MON CŒUR look at me, Milord, ET VOS PIEDS SUR UNE CHAISE You've never seen me. JE VOUS CONNAIS, MILORD But you're crying, Milord, VOUS NE M'AVEZ JAMAIS VUE I never expected that. JE NE SUIS QU'UNE FILLE DU PORT Ah well, look at me, Milord, UNE OMBRE DE LA RUE... Milord Give me a smile, Better than that- DIRE QU'IL SUFFIT PARFOIS Come on, Milord, sit at my table, A little effort! QU'IL Y AIT UN NAVIRE It's cold outside, You see that's it! POUR QUE TOUT SE DÉCHIRE In here, its comfortable, Come on, laugh, Milord! QUAND LE NAVIRE S'EN VA let me talk you into it. Come on, sing, Milord! IL EMMENAIT AVEC LUI Take your ease, Bravo, Milord! LA DOUCE AUX YEUX SI TENDRES Put your troubles on my heart Again, Milord! QUI N'A PAS SU COMPRENDRE and your feet on my chair. QU'ELLE BRISAIT VOTRE VIE I know you, L'AMOUR, ÇA FAIT PLEURER You've never seen me, COMME QUOI L'EXISTENCE I'm only a girl of the harbor, ÇA VOUS DONNE TOUTES LES a shadow of the street. CHANCES POUR LES REPRENDRE APRÈS... However I brushed against you When we were passing yesterday, ALLEZ VENEZ! MILORD You were full of yourself indeed, VOUS AVEZ L'AIR D'UN MÔME The heavens showered blessings. LAISSEZ-VOUS FAIRE, MILORD You with your silk scarf VENEZ DANS MON ROYAUME flapping on your shoulder. JE SOIGNE LES REMORDS You had the best part, JE CHANTE LA ROMANCE you would have said, "The King". JE CHANTE LES MILORDS You marched as a victor edith piaf on stage

From Leslie Fitzwater: French Connections in Milwaukee This year I was asked, “Why is Edith Piaf by Mary Emory, important?” I found myself tongue-tied Past President, Alliance Française as all the reasons rushed forward de Milwaukee and Past President yelling, “Me! Pick me!” Now that I’ve of the Skylight Board had some time to reflect, let me share a few, selected thoughts. If PIAF ON STAGE has piqued your in- Until Piaf, France had its national stars terest in the French language, there are (Damia, Fréhel, Mistingett), and its inter- many opportunities to connect with national stars (Chevalier, Boyer, Gabin), French in Milwaukee. The Alliance but it had no super star. Piaf fit the bill. Française de Milwaukee is a chapter of She was talented, daring, pushy, hyper- a worldwide organization based in Paris. focused on perfection, choosy about her Our mission is to promote, share and repertoire, scandalous, and most impor- enjoy the culture, language and friend- tant, had a clear vision of each step of ship of the French speaking world. We her career with the fortitude to stick it out hope that our presence in Milwaukee en- till the vision was realized. riches the cultural fabric of our commu- nity and we welcome all as members. Piaf’s songs and orchestrations re- No need to speak French – you might mained current with the times: in the even learn some! 20s she sang chansons réalistes; the 30s were jazzy; the 40s were big band The Alliance Française, style; the 50s sounded loungy; the 60s 1800 East Capitol Drive, had rock ‘n roll beats. She insured her 53211, has classes for all legacy by inspiring composers (Emer, levels and many programs Dumont, Monnot, Contet) to write for her, and events. A casse- and by association with her, elevated croûte brown bag lunch their careers. She mentored other each Wednesday from noon to two, singers (Yves Montand, Charles Az- luncheon downtown with a business navour, Les Compagnon), and jump- topic the second Tuesday of odd started their international careers. months, evening programs on the third Thursday are a few examples. Visit our When Piaf died, the loss was so greatly website, www.afmilwaukee.org, or call felt, that there was a search to find her 414-964-3855. replacement. Mireille Mathieu was handed that awesome, dubious honor. The Festival of Films in French runs at Edith Piaf created the French singing the UWM Union February 8 – 17, 2013, style clay from which subsequent and all films are free thanks to various singers (Jacques Brel, Barbara, Julliette fund raising efforts including a dinner Greco, Ute Lemper, Ziaf, Caroline February 4 at Chez Jacques. Moreau) have ripped their portion to mold singing styles of their own. Bastille Days on Cathedral Square in East Town will be July 11 – 14, 2013. One highlight will be the French Mass at For further reading: 5:15 on Saturday, July 13 at the Cathe- NO REGRETS: THE LIFE OF EDITH PIAF dral of St. John the Evangelist. Also, this by Carolyn Burke year a choir of forty 13 to18 year old PIAF by Margaret Crosland French children will be performing each WHEEL OF FORTUNE by Edith Piaf day. We are looking for host families for TORCH SINGING: PERFORMING the four days to welcome the children RESISTANCE AND DESIRE FROM BILLIE and their parents into your home. If you HOLIDAY TO EDITH PIAF by Stacy would be willing to entertain young peo- Holman Jo ple from France for four days, please contact: Anne Leplae, Executive Direc- For further listening: tor, Alliance Française de Milwaukee, Piaf au Carnegie Hall: 1956-1957 414-431-0952. Voice of the Sparrow Piaf: 30th Anniversaire MERCI BEAUCOUP for your interest in Hymne to Love – Piaf’s recording in "On the steps of this house was born 19 Decem- French, and I hope you enjoy hearing English ber 1915 in greatest destitution, Edith Piaf, the Edith Piaf by Leslie Fitzwater. voice which later was to change the world."