Andrea Bocelli (born in 1958 in Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy) is an Italian ten… Read Full Bio ↴Andrea Bocelli (born in 1958 in Lajatico, Tuscany, Italy) is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a football accident.

A disciple of Luciano Pavarotti and Zucchero Fornaciari, the blind, Tuscany-born, vocalist has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary opera. His participation in Pavarotti's 1992 hit, Miserere, and Fornaciari's 1993 world tour brought him international attention. Opera, however, represents only one side of his musical persona. Bocelli has been equally successful as a pop ballad singer, having recorded duets with Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman and Eros Ramazzotti. Al Jarreau, who sang with Bocelli during The Night of Proms in November 1995, praised Bocelli when he said, "I have had the honour to sing with the most beautiful voice in the world." Bocelli grew up on a farm in Lajatico, a rural village in Tuscany. Beginning piano lessons at the age of six, he later added flute and saxophone.

Despite his obvious musical talents, Bocelli didn't consider a career in music until he had studied law at the University of Pisa and had earned a Doctor Of Law degree. Inspired to pursue music, he studied with famed tenor Franco Corelli, supporting himself by performing in piano bars.

Bocelli's first break as a singer came in 1992 when Fornaciari auditioned tenors to record a demo tape of Miserere, which he had co-written with Bono of U2. Successfully passing the audition, Bocelli recorded the tune as a duet with Pavarotti.

After touring with Fornaciari in 1993, Bocelli performed as a guest star in the Pavarotti International festival held in Modena in September 1994. In addition to performing solo and in a duet with Pavarotti, Bocelli sang with Bryan Adams, Andreas Vollenweider and Nancy Gustavsson. In November 1995, Bocelli toured Holland, Belgium, Germany, Spain and France with "Night Of Proms", which also featured Al Jarreau, Bryan Ferry, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp and John Miles.

Bocelli's first two albums -- Il Mare Calmo Della Sera in 1994 and Bocelli in 1996 -- showcased his operatic singing. His third effort, Viaggio Italiano, featured famous arias and traditional songs from Naples. Although released only in Italy, the album sold more than 300,000 copies. With his fourth album, Romanza, released in 1997, Bocelli turned to pop music. The album included the hit, Time to Say Goodbye, recorded as a duet with Sarah Brightman. Bocelli continued to focus on pop balladry with his fifth album, Sogno, released in 1999, which featured a duet with Celine Dion of the David Foster- and Carole Bayer Sager-penned tune, The Prayer, sold more than ten million copies, received a Golden Globe award and led to Bocelli being nominated for a Grammy as "best new artist".

Les Feuilles Mortes
Andrea Bocelli Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

C'est une chanson
Qui nous ressemble
Toi, tu m'aimais
Et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous
Les deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais
Moi qui t'aimais

Mais la vie sépare
Ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement
Sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants désunis

Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment (and the falling leaves)
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit (drifting by the window)
Et la mer efface sur le sable (the autumn leaves)
Les pas des amants désunis (of red and gold)

Mais la vie sépare
Ceux qui s'aimait
Tout doucement
Sans faire de bruit

Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants désunis

Overall Meaning

Andrea Bocelli's song Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves) is a poignant reminder of the impermanence of love and life. The lyrics describe a couple deeply in love, living together, but eventually separated by the inevitability of life's changes. The first stanza sets the scene by describing the couple's deep love for each other, which is evident in their daily lives. However, as the song progresses, we see the couple forced to face the reality that nothing in life is permanent, and that those we love will eventually leave us behind.

The chorus emphasizes this idea by comparing the gradual separation of lovers to the falling of autumn leaves, a gentle process that takes place without fanfare or notice. The second stanza goes on to say that even memories fade away, like footprints on the sand that are eventually washed away by the sea. The song is melancholy but beautiful, with its simple lyrics and somber melody.

Overall, Les Feuilles Mortes is a reflection on life's fleeting nature and the often-bittersweet memories it leaves behind. It's a powerful reminder that while our memories may be washed away by time, the love we share with others remains forever.

Line by Line Meaning

C'est une chanson
This is a song

Qui nous ressemble
That reflects us

Toi, tu m'aimais
You loved me

Et je t'aimais
I loved you

Nous vivions tous
We lived together

Les deux ensemble
United as one

Toi qui m'aimais
You, who loved me

Moi qui t'aimais
Me, who loved you

Mais la vie sépare
But life separates

Ceux qui s'aiment
Those who love each other

Tout doucement
Quietly