La Vie en rose

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"La Vie en Rose" (French for "Life in pink") was the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf.

Piaf first popularized the song in 1946. The lyrics were written by Piaf and the melody of the song by "Louiguy" (Louis Gugliemi). Initially, Piaf's peers and her songwriting team did not think the song would be successful, but it became a favorite with audiences.^[1] An English version of the lyrics was written later by Mack David. Owing to its popularity, the song appeared on most of Piaf's subsequent albums. A 1998 documentary about Édith Piaf was called La Vie en Rose, as was the 2007 biographical feature film La Vie En Rose, which won Marion Cotillard, who played Piaf from 19 until her death at 47, an Academy Award for Best Actress.

The song has become a standard and has been performed by many artists. It was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998. It has also become a generic song representing the French, as "Rule, Britannia!" and "Stars and Stripes Forever" have for Britain and the US, respectively.

Contents 1 Notable covers 2 Grace Jones version 2.1 Track listings 3 References 4 Donna Summer version 4.1 Track listing (CD single - France) 5 List of other notable artists who have performed "La Vie en Rose" 6 Films that feature "La vie en rose" 7 Books and television 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Notable covers

[edit] Grace Jones version

“La Vie en Rose”
Single by Grace Jones from the album Portfolio
B-side	"I Need a Man"
Released	1977
Format	7" single
Genre	Disco
Length	3:35
Label	Island Records IS-098
Writer(s)	Edith Piaf, Louigny
Producer	Tom Moulton
Grace Jones singles chronology
"Sorry" (1977) "La Vie en rose" (1977) "Do or Die" (1978)

"La Vie en Rose" was the third single by American singer and actress Grace Jones, her first single release on Island Records after having signed with the label and released her debut album Portfolio in 1977. The single version was heavily edited, the original album version being more than seven minutes long. Jones' fairly radical bossanova/disco intepretation of Edith Piaf's signature tune became her first international hit single and a staple of her repertoire and was later performed as part of her 1981 A One Man Show. The track was re-released as a single in both 1980, 1982 and 1985. ^{[1] [2]}

[edit] Track listings

• US 7" single (1977) IS-098

1. "La Vie En Rose" (7" Version) - 3:34
2. "I Need A Man" - 3:22

• CA 7" single (1977) IS-098

1. "La Vie En Rose" (7" Version) - 3:35
2. "I Need A Man" - 3:22

• GE 12" single (1977)

1. "La Vie En Rose" - 7:27
2. "I Need A Man" - 3:22

• IT 7" single (1977)

1. "La Vie En Rose"
2. "Tomorrow"

• CA 12" promo (1982) IS 865

1. "La Vie En Rose" - 7:24
2. "My Jamaican Guy"
3. "Pull Up To The Bumper"

• US 12" single (1985)

1. "La Vie En Rose" - 7:24
2. "Nipple To The Bottle" - 5:55
3. "Pull Up To The Bumper" (Remix) - 6:29
4. "Demolition Man" - 4:04

“La Vie En Rose”
Single by Donna Summer from the album Tribute To Edith Piaf
Released	1993, 1994
Format	CD single 12" Single
Recorded	1993
Genre	Pop
Label	AB Disques BMG France Amherst Records
Writer(s)	Louiguy/E.Piaf/M.David
Producer	Jacques Arnoul
Donna Summer singles chronology
"Carry On" (1992) "La Vie en Rose" (1993) "Melody of Love (Wanna Be Loved)" (1994)

Chart (1977)	Peak position
Denmark	1
Europe	1
Holland	1
UK Singles Chart	12
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	10

[edit] References

[edit] Donna Summer version

American singer Donna Summer covered "La Vie en Rose" in 1993 for the tribute album, Tribute to Edith Piaf, released in France and the United States, on which several contemporary stars recorded interpretations of some of Piaf's best known songs.

Released on both vinyl and CD, the American release of the album and single contain a different mix of Summer's synth-driven performance than the French release. These releases are among the most sought after of Summer's collectables.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Track listing (CD single - France)

1. "La Vie en Rose" (US Radio Mix - Remixed by Humberto Gatica) - 3:43
2. "La Vie en Rose" (Full Bass Mix - Remixed by Colin Peter & Carl Ward) - 4:25
3. "La Vie en Rose" (Extended Soul Mix - Remixed by Colin Peter & Carl Ward) - 7:40
4. "La Vie en Rose" (Stringapella Mix - Remixed by Colin Peter & Carl Ward) - 5:43

The US single features a variety of remixes by DJ Chris Cox.

[edit] List of other notable artists who have performed "La Vie en Rose"

Africando Albita Ali Project Amália Rodrigues Audrey Hepburn Belinda Carlisle Bette Midler Bing Crosby Bola de Nieve Brenda Lee Candan Erçetin Charles Aznavour Céline Dion Connie Francis Cyndi Lauper Dalida Dean Martin Dee Dee Bridgewater Diane Dufresne Diana Krall Donna Summer Édith Piaf Elaine Paige Ella Fitzgerald Émilie Simon George Feyer Grace Jones Herb Alpert In-Grid Jack Nicholson Jo Stafford

Josephine Baker Julian Clary Julio Iglesias Kaori Iida Lisa Ono Louis Armstrong Madeleine Peyroux Marlene Dietrich Martinique (singer) Melissa Manchester Mia Doi Todd Michael Bublé Milva Mireille Mathieu Paula Cole Patricia Kaas Petula Clark Plácido Domingo Shirley Bassey Sophie Milman Soraya Arnelas Susan Werner Taco Thalía Tony Bennett (with k.d. lang) Tony Martin Two-Mix Ute Lemper Youssra Yves Montand Zazie

[edit] Films that feature "La vie en rose"

• Stage Fright (1950)
• Sabrina (1954) & (1995) as Sabrina Fairchild's song
• The Cheap Detective (1978)
• Bull Durham (1988)
• Christo in Paris (1990)
• Prêt-à-Porter (1994)
• French Kiss (1995)
• Sabrina (1995)
• A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998)
• Saving Private Ryan (1998)
• Summer of Sam (1999)
• Flip's Sorry (2002)
• Something's Gotta Give (2003)
• Jeux d'enfants (2003)
• La notte di Totò (2003)
• View from the Top (2003)
• Modigliani (2004)
• A World Without Thieves (2004)
• Lord of War (2005)
• Valiant (2005)
• The Yacoubian Building (2006)
• La Môme (2007)
• Fred Claus (2007)
• Jellyfish (2007)

[edit] Books and television

• "'La Vie en Rose?'" is the title of the thirteenth chapter of Ian Fleming's novel, Casino Royale. The song also is mentioned in his novels You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever James Bond's, as it brings back memories of Bond's relationship with Vesper Lynd.
• "La Vie en Rose" appeared in the television show "I Love Lucy" in the episode entitled "Hollywood Anniversary" right before Desi Arnaz sang the song "The Anniversary Waltz".
• La Vie en Rose was also the name of a 'dock ship' in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" and "Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ"
• In the anime "Di Gi Charat", the name Rabi~En~Rose is based in "'La Vie en Rose'"

[edit] References

1. ^  Édith Piaf biography from Radio France International

[edit] External links

• (French) Lyrics in French
• (English) Lyrics in French with a very computer-generated-like English translation
• (English) English translation that actually reads well - go to bottom of page
• (English) Mack David's lyrics in English
• (French) La vie en rose (1946) by Édith Piaf
• Édith Piaf
• Donna Summer discography, Rate Your Music