Popular Music of the Twentieth Century – Voices from Around the World

And now to France. Chansons. French songs, heavy on lyrics and melody, expressive and soulful. Charles Aznavour was called the French Frank Sinatra. Check out the best of Charles Aznavour. 

La Boheme – Lyrics in English

She

And Elvis Costello cover from Notting Hill….

from 1:55ת Elvis Costello cover

Tous Les Visages De L’amour

Or check out Edith Piaf.

What? It’s not ours?

And how about the Belgian born French singer songwriter Jacques Brel?

The revealing second verse is ‘toned down’ in the Hebrew version.

Moi, je sais tous tes sortilèges
Tu sais tous mes envoûtements
Tu m’as gardé de piège en piège
Je t’ai perdue de temps en temps
Bien sûr tu pris quelques amants
Il fallait bien passer le temps
Il faut bien que le corps exulte
Mais finalement, finalement
Il nous fallut bien du talent
Pour être vieux sans être adultes

And Yves Montand.

The Eurovision started in 1956. It launched the careers of Celine Dion and ABBA. How many of the winning songs do you remember? Here is a nice one by Vicky Leandros.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Eurovision_Song_Contest_winners

Eurovision was patterned on the Sanremo Music Festival, which began in 1951. My favorite?

“Nel blu dipinto di blu“^[39][40]
(Domenico Modugno, Franco Migliacci)

which was the 1958 winner, better known as “Volare”.

And is there anything like Brazil?

and Baden Powell

And we mustn’t forget Antonio Carlos Jobim

And Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

>

And how can we forget the Greeks?

And of course,  something even nearer home. Umm Kulthum