Tuesday 7 July 2009

ABC Wednesday Y for Yves Montand



Thinking of the letter Y, I thought of Yves Montand, whose chansons were always so popular when I was young.

From Wikipedia: Early life
Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy to Josephine and Giovanni, poor peasants. Montand's family left Italy for France in 1923. He grew up in Marseille, where, as a young man, he worked in his sister's barber shop, and later on the docks. He began a career in show business as a music-hall singer. In 1944 he was discovered by Édith Piaf in Paris and she made him part of her act, becoming his mentor and lover.


Career
He went on to international recognition as a singer and actor, starring in numerous films. His recognizably crooner songs, especially those about Paris, became instant classics.


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Sous le ciel de Paris
S'envole une chanson
Hum Hum
Elle est née d'aujourd'hui
Dans le cœur d'un garçon
Sous le ciel de Paris
Marchent des amoureux
Hum Hum
Leur bonheur se construit
Sur un air fait pour eux

Under the sky of Paris
A song escapes
Hum hum
It was just invented today
In the heart of a young man
Under the sky of Paris
Lovers are walking
Hum hum
Their happiness being fashioned
On a melody made just for them

the rest here


ABC is created by Denise Nesbitt and a team of experienced bloggers.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with Y.

34 comments:

Smart Mouth Broad said...

I love to listen to french music even tho it's usually difficult to understand with my limited command of the language. But still I try and I love it. Great post, Wil.

The Weaver of Grass said...

That brought back memories reader wil.

Rune Eide said...

There is something special about the French singers of that generation. My special favourite is Charles Aznavour, but I applaud your choice for Y!

Miss_Yves said...

Très beau choix ! Yves Montand est très représentatif de la chanson française de qualité . Ses rôles au cinéma et son engagement ont été marquants .

photowannabe said...

I have not thought of Yves Montand for a long time. I did enjoy his music very much. RuneE talked aboutCharles Aznavour too. Goodness, what a walk down memory lane.

Arkansas Patti said...

I really liked him im movies and thought he and Simone Signoret were a bearuiful couple.

Etje said...

Ben geen fan van de franse taal maar voor deze zanger maak ik wel een uitzondering hoor.

Groetjes

Gerald (SK14) said...

nice choice

Anna said...

I have not heard of Yves Montand before but oh what a
great voice. I could not understand all the words but I think that I got the general drift and have been humming along :) Thank you Wil!

anthonynorth said...

There were some great singers in France then. Another excellent post.

photowannabe said...

Hello again, you asked if I had done all the alphabet letters. The answer is yes. I have posted all 4 times through the alphabet. It is a challenge to come up with some letters time after time, but it has opened my eyes to the world around me.

Renie Burghardt said...

Oh, my, I haven't thought of Yves Montand in ages. I loved his voice and his French charm! Thank you for the memory, Wil.

Hugs,

Renie

Elisabeth's bright side said...

I just love this singer, he beholdes for me what I consider "the french soul". I discovered now that he expresses some of the music in my beloved landscape in France viewed from my daugther's Maison Tranquille.
P.S. Kan jeg spørre om historien bak dine Norskkunnskaper? Det var så hyggelig med en kommentar på Norsk!

Bradley Hsi said...

We remember him so well. When we lived in the South of France 20 + years ago he was still very much alive and active. We saw him playing boules at town square of St Paul de Vence. He and Simone Signoret maintained a house in the place, where they first met. He winked at our daughter who was only 6 years old at the time. Thanks for brought back the memory of him.

Rose said...

I remember Yves Montand in the movies when I was younger, though I don't remember him singing. To Americans, his French accent made him even more suave and sexy:)

Cloudia said...

Italy?!
Who knew?
Thanks, Wil

Aloha-

Comfort Spiral

Hildred said...

Ahh, lovely music and a lot of memories. Wonderful choice for Y.

Roger Owen Green said...

Actually Yes Montand came to my mind, but I didn't know enough about him. (I picked someONE with a first name beginning with Y, myself.)

I took only high school French, but I love hearing the language sung.

Arija said...

Thank you Wil,not only for Yves and the Little Sparrow singing, but the lovely phototrip through the Paris that I also love.

Marie Reed said...

I didn't realize that he was born in Italy! What a wonderfl Y!

Inday said...

Nice music and I love music. I think I did get a chance listening to his own but only I have difficulty familiarizing and remembering complicated names.

Anyway, Ma'am, may I request you to visit and Please see this through. Do you mind?

I always think of you.

Anonymous said...

I like your choice, Wil.

Jane Hards Photography said...

This is heavenly, all of it. It doesn't get better than this for me. My fav Y today, but I am a little biased about all thnings French

Q said...

What a wonderful video!
I enjoyed it so very much.
I must get to Paris...
Sherry

Carol Murdock said...

My daughter honeymooned in Paris !
I would love to walk the streets there, especially in the moonlight!

xoxo

Marja said...

Great Oh I didn't know he was discovered by Edith Piaf I saw the movy from Edith Piaf I love the French language so much I only speak a few words though

Marie Reed said...

I looked him up on youtube too and have been listening to his songs al morning!

Etje said...

Weet niet of ik deze week nog langs kan komen daarom kom ik je reeds een fijn weekend wensen.

Jay said...

I didn't know about him! Interesting. Very old-fashioned sound, but there's nothing wrong with that. ;)

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, yes! Beautiful memories...

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your visit to my blog. I am happy that you saw some humor in it. I will be posing one "Finding a Woman" tomorrow.

Anya said...

Ik ben geen fan van Franse muziek maar dit vond ik wel mooi :)
Fijne avond :)
Anya :)
Kareltje =^.^=

SandyCarlson said...

What a voice. The words are lost on me, but the beauty of his singing is not!

Janie said...

I hadn't heard of Yves Montand, but I played the song and his voice is lovely.
There's something about a French song that seems so much more romantic than the words in English!