Aznavour has sung for presidents, popes and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events. In response to the 1988 Armenian earthquake, he founded the charitable organization Aznavour for Armenia along with his long-time friend impresario Levon Sayan. In 2009, he was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as Armenia's permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva. On 24 August 2017, Aznavour was awarded the 2,618th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On 17 September 2018, his last concert took place in NHK Hall, Tokyo.
Charles Aznavour died on 1 October 2018.
Charles Aznavour was perhaps the best-known French music hall entertainer in the world -- renowned the world over for the bittersweet love songs he has written and sung, which seem to embody the essence of French popular song, and also for his appearances on screen in such wildly divergent fare as Shoot the Piano Player, Candy, and The Tin Drum. His status as the quintessential French popular culture icon is something of an irony for a man who identifies himself most closely with his Armenian heritage. His father was a singer and sometime-restaurateur, while his mother was an actress and part-time seamstress. His father's singing, done in a notably impassioned style, heavily influenced Aznavour's approach to singing as a boy. Although he had a voracious appetite for music, he also had a serious impediment growing up, in the form of a paralyzed vocal cord that gave his voice a raspy quality. He channeled some of his energy into theater, making both his stage and screen debuts at age nine, in 1933, in the theater piece Un bon petit diable and in the film La guerre des gosses. As an adolescent, he danced in nightclubs and sold newspapers, as well as touring with theatrical companies, and he wrote a nightclub act in partnership with Pierre Roche -- Aznavour wrote the lyrics to their songs and it was through that material that he began his singing career. Early on, he learned to overcome his fears about his vocal limitations, in part with help from singing legend Édith Piaf, for whom he worked as a chauffeur, among other capacities; with her help, he developed a style that suited his capabilities and played to his strengths and also continued writing songs in earnest, some of which were performed by Piaf.
His success came very slowly, however. Aznavour at first found some difficulty being accepted as a composer in France or anywhere else. His compositions, although considered tame by any modern standard, were regarded as too risqué for French radio and were banned from the airwaves for a decade or more, from the late '40s through the end of the 1950s; American publishers seemed equally reticent about them, as he discovered on a visit to New York in 1948. That trip did yield his first performing engagement in the city, however, at the Cafe Society Downtown in Greenwich Village. For the next decade, Aznavour made his living as a performer in second-tier clubs and middle- or bottom-of-the-bill berths on three continents. His mix of daringly original and frank love songs, coupled with a limited but very expressive singing style, left audiences somewhat bewildered at first.
His breakthrough came in 1956, during a vaudeville engagement in Casablanca, where the audience reaction was so positive that Aznavour was moved to headliner status. After this, it became easier for the singer to find better engagements in France; by 1958 he even had a recording contract. He made his screen debut that same year in a dramatic role, playing an epileptic in George Franju's La tête contre les murs. He also composed music for Alex Joff's Du rififi chez les femmes in 1958; From there, he moved on to bigger roles in better movies, including Jean Cocteau's Testament of Orpheus and Francois Truffaut's Shoot the Piano Player. The latter movie turned Aznavour into a screen star in France and opened the way for his breakthrough in America. He sang at Carnegie Hall in the early '60s and followed this up in 1965 with a one-man show, The World of Charles Aznavour, at the Ambassador Hotel in New York, which drew rave notices from audiences and critics alike. By that time, the once-struggling singer had secured his first American LP release with the similarly titled album The World of Charles Aznavour on Reprise Records, the label founded and run by Frank Sinatra.
Aznavour would be the last to compare himself with those whom he regards as truly gifted vocalists, such as Sinatra and Mel Tormé, preferring to think of himself as a composer who also happens to sing. His style of performing has been compared variously to Maurice Chevalier and Sinatra and has remained enduringly popular for four decades. Almost all of Aznavour's songs deal with love and its permutations, running the gamut from upbeat, joyous pieces such as Après l'amour and J'ai perdu la tête to the dark-hued J'en déduis que je t'aime and Bon anniversaire. A teetotaler and a racing car enthusiast, Aznavour has been married three times and has four children.
Believe In Me
Charles Aznavour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please believe in me, as I believe in you
On the darkest day, we shall find the way
If we walk the road of life, together
Believe in me, if anything goes wrong
Please, believe in me
For you can make me strong
If our love is true
And I'll know that you believe in me
Love can make the world go round
Can shake the very ground
When angels fear to tread
Love can lead us by the hand
Into it's wonderland
Through all the years ahead
Believe in me, in everything I do
Please believe in me, for I believe in you
In this heart I give only you will live
Oh my darling, please believe in me
Believe in me, in everything I do
Please believe in me, for I believe in you
In this heart I give only you will live
Oh my darling, please believe in me
Yes my darling, please believe in me
"Believe in me" is a heartfelt love song by Charles Aznavour that emphasizes the importance of mutual trust and belief in a relationship. The lyrics express the plea of the singer to his loved one, asking for their unwavering faith and support. The song conveys the idea that believing in each other is vital to overcome obstacles and hardships, ultimately leading to a successful and fulfilling relationship.
The lyrics begin with a request to the beloved to have faith in the singer, just as he believes in them. They suggest that even on the darkest days, together they can find a way forward by walking the road of life side by side. The singer acknowledges that sometimes things may go wrong, but he implores his partner to continue believing in him, as their belief has the power to make him stronger. The lyrics highlight the importance of steadfast support and understanding in strengthening their bond and ensuring that they both emerge victorious.
The song goes on to emphasize the transformational power of love. It states that love has the ability to make the world go round, even in the face of fear and uncertainty. Love can guide them through the challenges and uncertainties of life, leading them to a wondrous future together. The lyrics urge the beloved to believe in the singer's love, for it is this love that will sustain and nourish their relationship.
In essence, "Believe in me" is a plea for trust, faith, and unwavering support in a relationship. It highlights the importance of mutual belief as the foundation for a successful and enduring partnership.
Line by Line Meaning
Believe in me, in everything I do
Have faith in me and trust that I will be true and genuine in all my actions
Please believe in me, as I believe in you
I ask for your trust and confidence, just as I have complete trust and confidence in you
On the darkest day, we shall find the way
Even in the most challenging and difficult times, we will discover a path forward
If we walk the road of life, together
By journeying through life side by side, supporting and relying on one another, we can overcome any obstacles
Believe in me, if anything goes wrong
Maintain your belief in me even when things don't go as planned or unexpected challenges arise
Please, believe in me
I implore you to have faith in me and my abilities
For you can make me strong
Your belief in me empowers me and gives me strength to face any adversity
We shall both win through
Together, we will emerge victorious and overcome any hardships
If our love is true
Our genuine and sincere love for each other will serve as a solid foundation for our success
And I'll know that you believe in me
When I see your unwavering belief and trust in me, it fills me with assurance and confidence
Love can make the world go round
The power of love has the ability to bring about positive change and harmony in the world
Can shake the very ground
Love has the capacity to disrupt and challenge societal norms and expectations
When angels fear to tread
Love can guide us even in situations where others may hesitate or fear to take action
Love can lead us by the hand
Love can serve as a guiding force, leading us towards happiness, fulfillment, and contentment
Into it's wonderland
Love can transport us to a magical and enchanting realm of bliss and joy
Through all the years ahead
Love has the ability to endure and accompany us throughout the entire journey of our lives
In this heart I give only you will live
Within the depths of my heart, your presence and love are the only ones that truly matter and thrive
Oh my darling, please believe in me
My beloved, I earnestly request your unwavering belief and trust in me
Yes my darling, please believe in me
Indeed, my beloved, I humbly request your unyielding belief and trust in me
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAY CHARLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind