History Music / EdithPiaf

%% * BadassBiker: "L' Homme à la Moto".
* {{Biopic}}: The most famous film covering her life is ''Film/LaVieEnRose'', with Creator/MarionCotillard playing Edith.

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: "Milord", about a gentle lower-class "girl of the port" (perhaps a prostitute) who develops a crush on an elegantly attired apparent upper-class British traveller (or "milord"), whom she has seen walking the streets of the town several times (with a beautiful young woman on his arm), but who has not even noticed her. The singer feels that she is nothing more than a "shadow of the street" (ombre de la rue).

* "A quoi ça sert l'amour" (1962)[[note]]Her last major song, co-sung with Théo Sarapo[[/note]]

[[UnreliableNarrator Some parts of her early life were heavily romanticized if not purely invented]], but otherwise her personal life was [[BrokenBird characteristically dramatic]]. From the age of 3 to 7, she was allegedly blind as a result of keratitis. Her one and only daughter died at age 2 in 1935. She was watched by the police as a suspect after the murder of her first manager, but later cleared. Her lover Marcel Cerdan (the greatest French boxing champion) died in a plane crash in 1949. She was involved in three serious car crashes after 1951, leading to morphine and alcohol addictions and rheumatoid arthritis. Said addictions and illness weakened her, made her look much older than she was and ultimately caused her death on October 10, 1963 at age 47. A close friend of hers, Creator/JeanCocteau, died the very same day, a few hours after her.

* SmallReferencePools: She is perhaps the most famous French language female singer who has ever lived. As such, many non-French works pertaining to France or wanting a quick reference to French culture tend to think about using her songs (and only the most famous ones at that, such as "La Vie en Rose") and nothing else.

* SmallReferencePools: She is perhaps the most famous French language female singer who has ever lived. As such, many non-French works pertaining to France or French culture tend to think about using her songs and nothing else.

Édith Piaf (born Édith Giovanna Gassion, 19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963) was a singer who became widely regarded as UsefulNotes/{{France}}'s national diva, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars of the 20th century. She sang in the streets of UsefulNotes/{{Paris}} as a teen and was discovered in Pigalle by nightclub owner Louis Leplée, who persuaded her to sing in his cabaret on the Champs-Elysées. She then rose to national stardom in the late 1930's and to international stardom after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. She was nicknamed "La Môme Piaf" (meaning "The Waif Sparrow" or "The Little Sparrow" in Parisian slang), hence her stage name. She sang mostly about [[LoveTropes love]], and she [[IconicOutfit always wore]] a LittleBlackDress on stage.

[[UnreliableNarrator Some parts of her early life were heavily romanticized if not purely invented]], but otherwise her personal life was [[BrokenBird characteristically dramatic]]. From the age of 3 to 7, she was allegedly blind as a result of keratitis. Her one and only daughter died at age 2 in 1935. She was watched by the police as a suspect after the murder of her first manager, but later cleared. Her lover Marcel Cerdan (the greatest French boxing champion) died in a plane crash in 1949. She was involved in three serious car crashes after 1951, leading to morphine and alcohol addictions and rheumatoid arthritis. Said addictions and illness weakened her, made her look much older than she was and ultimately caused her death on October 10, 1963 at age 47. A close friend of hers, Creator/JeanCocteau, died the very same day, a few hours later.

%% ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

[[UnreliableNarrator Some parts of her early life were heavily romanticized if not purely invented]], but otherwise her personal life was [[BrokenBird characteristically dramatic]]. From the age of 3 to 7, she was allegedly blind as a result of keratitis. Her one and only daughter died at age 2 in 1935. She was watched by the police as a suspect after the murder of her first manager, but later cleared. Her lover Marcel Cerdan (the greatest French boxing champion) died in a plane crash in 1949. She was involved in three serious car crashes after 1951, leading to morphine and alcohol addictions and rheumatoid arthritis. Said addictions and illness weakened her, made her look much older than she was and ultimately caused her death on October 10, 1963 at age 47.

! [[SignatureSong Some of her most famous songs]] :

* "L'Homme à la moto" (1956), the French version of The Cheers' song "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots"

* "A quoi ça sert l'amour" (1962), her last major song, co-sung with Théo Sarapo
\\

%% * AloneInACrowd: "La Foule".

%% * IRegretNothing: "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien".

%% * ThePowerOfLove: "L' Hymne à l' Amour", "Les Amants d' un Jour", "La Vie en Rose".
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The tragedies in her life inspired the lyrics to many of her songs, such as "Hymne A L' Amour", recorded after the untimely death of her partner Marcel Cerdan in a plane crash.

* SmallReferencePools: She is the most famous French chansonnière in the world. Only Music/JacquesBrel matches her, who was Belgian. Second is perhaps Music/SergeGainsbourg, though his music is more rock 'n' roll and poppy.

A singer who became widely regarded as UsefulNotes/{{France}}'s national diva, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars of the 20th century. She was born 'Édith Giovanna Gassion' in 1915. She sang in the streets of UsefulNotes/{{Paris}} as a teen and was discovered in Pigalle by nightclub owner Louis Leplée, who persuaded her to sing in his cabaret on the Champs-Elysées. She then rose to national stardom in the late 1930's and to international stardom after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. She was nicknamed "La Môme Piaf" (meaning "The Waif Sparrow" or "The Little Sparrow" in Parisian slang), hence her stage name. She sang mostly about [[LoveTropes love]], and she [[IconicOutfit always wore]] a LittleBlackDress on stage.

A singer who became widely regarded as UsefulNotes/{{France}}'s national diva, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars of the 20th century. She was born 'Édith Giovanna Gassion' in 1915. She sang in the streets of UsefulNotes/{{Paris}} as a teen and was discovered in Pigalle by nightclub owner Louis Leplée, who persuaded her to sing in his cabaret on the Champs-Elysées. She then rose to national stardom in the late 1930's and to international stardom after UsefulNotes/WorldWar2. She was nicknamed "La Môme Piaf" (meaning "The Waif Sparrow" or "The Little Sparrow" in Parisian slang), hence her stage name. She sang mostly about [[LoveTropes love]], and she [[IconicOutfit always wore]] a LittleBlackDress on stage.

She had high-profile affairs with many of her male associates and some of the biggest celebrities in France. She married twice : her first marriage in 1952, to singer Jacques Pills, lasted for four years (Creator/MarleneDietrich was her wedding witness). Her 1962 marriage to Théo Sarapo, a French singer and performer of Greek origins [[MayDecemberRomance 20 years her junior]], lasted until her death. Théo Sarapo didn't survive her for long, he died from his wounds after a car crash in 1970 at age 34.

[[UnreliableNarrator Some parts of her early life were heavily romanticized if not purely invented]], but otherwise her personal life was [[BrokenBird characteristically dramatic]]. From the age of 3 to 7, she was allegedly blind as a result of keratitis. Her one and only daughter died at age 2 in 1935. She was watched by the police as a suspect after the murder of her first manager, but later cleared. Her lover Marcel Cerdan (the greatest French boxing champion) died in a plane crash in 1949. She was involved in three serious car crashes after 1951, leading to morphine and alcohol addictions and rheumatoid arthritis. Said addictions and illness weakened her, made her look older than she was and ultimately caused her death on October 10, 1963 at age 47.

A singer who became widely regarded as UsefulNotes/{{France}}'s national diva, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars of the 20th century. She was born '''Édith Giovanna Gassion''' in 1915. She sang in the streets of UsefulNotes/{{Paris}} as a teen and was discovered in Pigalle by nightclub owner Louis Leplée, who persuaded her to sing in his cabaret on the Champs-Elysées. She then rose to national stardom in the late 1930's and to international stardom after UsefulNotes/WorldWar2. She was nicknamed "La Môme Piaf" (meaning "The Waif Sparrow" or "The Little Sparrow" in Parisian slang), hence her stage name. She sang mostly about [[LoveTropes love]], and she [[IconicOutfit always wore]] a LittleBlackDress on stage.

* IconicOutfit: Her black dress because she always performed in black. There was hardly any pictures of her depicted her in other outfits.

* TrrrillingRrrs: Rolled her "r"'s when she sang.

* "L'Hymne à l'amour" (1949), dedicated to her then lover Marcel Cerdan (before he died). It was banned in Spain by the UsefulNotes/FranciscoFranco regime because they had an adulterous affair, which was a scandal in the very devout Catholic country.

* {{Biopic}}: The most famous film covering her life is film ''Film/LaVieEnRose'', with Creator/MarionCotillard as Edith.

* {{Biopic}}: The most famous is film ''Film/LaVieEnRose'', starring Creator/MarionCotillard, is about Edith Piaf.

* {{Biopic}}: The film ''Film/LaVieEnRose'', starring Creator/MarionCotillard, is about Edith Piaf.

* AloneInACrowd: "La Foule".
* BadassBiker: "L' Homme à la Moto".
* {{Biopic}}: The film ''Film/LaVieEnRose'' starring Creator/MarionCotillard.

* IconicOutfit: Her black dress.
* IRegretNothing: "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien".

* PepTalkSong: "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien"
* ThePowerOfLove: "L' Hymne à l' Amour", "Les Amants d' un Jour", "La Vie en Rose".

* "L'Hymne à l'amour" (1949), dedicated to her then lover Marcel Cerdan (before he died). It was [[BannedInChina banned]] in Spain by the UsefulNotes/FranciscoFranco regime because they had an adulterous affair, which was a scandal in the very devout Catholic country.

* SmallReferencePools: She is the most famous French chansonnier in the world. Only Music/JacquesBrel matches her, who was Belgian. Second is perhaps Music/SergeGainsbourg, though his music is more rock 'n' roll and poppy.

* ThePowerOfLove: "L' Hymne à l' Amour", "Les Amants d' un Jour"

* ShoutOut:
** ''ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'': An instrumental of Piaf's "La Vie en Rose" plays before Javert interrupts.
** Soldiers listen to a recording of her in ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' while waiting for the Germans to arrive.
** "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" plays an important part in ''Film/{{Inception}}''.

---

* "[[WomenPreferStrongMen Mon Légionnaire]]" (1936)

* "L'Hymne à l'amour" (1949), dedicated to her then lover Marcel Cerdan (before he died)

* "Les Amants d'un jour" (1956)
* "[[BadassBiker L'Homme à la moto]]" (1956), the French version of The Cheers' song "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots"
* "[[AloneInACrowd La Foule]]" (1957)

* "[[HookerWithAHeartOfGold Milord]]" (1959)
* "[[IRegretNothing Non, je ne regrette rien]]" (1960)

A singer who became widely regarded as UsefulNotes/{{France}}'s national diva, as well as being one of France's greatest international stars of the 20th century. She was born '''Édith Giovanna Gassion''' in 1915. She sang in the streets of UsefulNotes/{{Paris}} as a teen and was discovered in Pigalle by nightclub owner Louis Leplée, who persuaded her to sing in his cabaret on the Champs-Elysées. She then rose to national stardom in the late 1930's and to international stardom after WorldWar2. She was nicknamed "La Môme Piaf" (meaning "The Waif Sparrow" or "The Little Sparrow" in Parisian slang), hence her stage name. She sang mostly about [[LoveTropes love]], and she [[IconicOutfit always wore]] a LittleBlackDress on stage.

[[UnreliableNarrator Some parts of her early life were heavily romanticized if not purely invented]], but otherwise her personal life was [[BrokenBird characteristically dramatic]]. From the age of 3 to 7, she was allegedly blind as a result of keratitis. Her one and only daughter died at age 2 in 1935. She was watched by the police as a suspect after the murder of her first manager, but later cleared. Her lover Marcel Cerdan (the greatest French boxing champion) died in a plane crash in 1949. She was involved in three serious car crashes after 1951, leading to morphine and alcohol addictions and rheumatoid arthritis. Said addictions and illness made her look older than she was and ultimately caused her death on October 10, 1963 at age 47.

She had high-profile affairs with many of her male associates and some of the biggest celebrities in France. She married twice : her first marriage in 1952, to singer Jacques Pills, lasted for four years (Creator/MarleneDietrich was her wedding witness). Her 1962 marriage to Théo Sarapo, a French singer and performer of Greek origins [[MayDecemberRomance 20 years her junior]], lasted until her death. Théo Sarapo didn't survive her for long, he died after a car crash in 1970 at age 34.