I am sure you guys have heard of Edith Piaf – or as the French nicknamed her, ”La Môme Piaf” (The Little Sparrow). Born in Paris in 1915, Edith became an international singer and one of France’s immortal icons. Her music depicted ballads of her life’s struggles and humble beginning. Piaf’s life was a constant battle to sing and survive, to live and love. Raised in her grandmother’s brothel, she was discovered in 1935 by nightclub owner Louis Leplee, who persuaded her to sing despite her extreme nervousness.
A biopic of her life was released in 2007, “La Vie en Rose” (literally, Life In Pink, and the same name of her signature song). It won five Césars, including one for Best Actress. Marion Cotillard, who played the role of Edith, won an Academy Award for her performance, marking the first time an Oscar had been awarded for a French language role.
It also became the first French film to win more than one Oscar; the other for best Makeup. Marion was completely transformed to look like Edith – the resemblance is right on.
Marion also plays the role of Leonardo DiCaprio’s deceased wife in the science-fiction flick “Inception” (2010). One of the songs played in this film was Edith Piaf’s “Je ne regrette rien” – my favorite of all her songs! I thought it was quite an honor for Marion to be in this film and have this particular song chosen as background music. It’s Edith’s version of Sinatra’s “I did it my way” – the lyrics and melody are very strong and empowering.
Check it and sing along with the lyrics I’ve translated below – it’s become my anthem! Je ne retrette rien!
Paroles: Michel Vaucaire, Musique: Charles Dumont, enr. 10 novembre 1960
Non, rien de rien - No, nothing at all
Non, je ne regrette rien - No, I don’t regret anything at all
Ni le bien qu’on m’a fait - Nor the good that was given me
Ni le mal, Tout ca m’est bien egal - Nor the evil, They’re all the same
Non, rien de rien - No, nothing at all
Non, je ne regrette rien - I don’t regret anything at all
C’est paye, balaye, oublie - It’s all paid for, wiped out, and forgotten
Je me fous du passe - And I don’t care for what’s gone by
Avec mes souvenirs - With my memories
J’ai allume le feu - I’ve lit a fire
Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs - My sorrows, my pleasures
Je n’ai plus besoin d’eux - I don’t need them anymore
Balayes mes amours - My romances wiped out
Avec leurs tremolos - With the tremblings they braught
Balayes pour toujours - Wiped out forever
Je repars a zero - I set out once more from zero
Non, rien de rien - No, nothing at all
Non, je ne regrette rien - I don’t regret anything at all
Ni le bien qu’on m’a fait - Nor the good that was given me
ni le mal, Tout ca m’est bien egal - Nor the evil. They’re all the same
Non, rien de rien - No, nothing at all
Non, je ne regrette rien - I don’t regret anything at all
Car ma vie - Because my life
Car mes joies - Because my joys
Aujourd’hui - Today
Ca commence avec toi…It all begins with you!
