Gisèle MacKenzie (January 10, 1927 - September 5, 2003) was a Canadian sing… Read Full Bio ↴Gisèle MacKenzie (January 10, 1927 - September 5, 2003) was a Canadian singer, most famous for her performances on the popular television program Your Hit Parade.

She was born Gisèle Marie-Louise Marguerite LaFlèche in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and studied violin and voice at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Ontario. She had her own Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio program, Meet Gisèle, before moving to Los Angeles, California in 1951.

MacKenzie recorded albums and 45rpm singles on various record labels, most notably Capitol and RCA. Her biggest selling song was "Hard To Get" in 1955.

MacKenzie was an accomplished violinist and performed many comedic musical duets with mentor Jack Benny. She sang frequently on early television shows such as The Jack Benny Program and The Ed Sullivan Show. She appeared often at Las Vegas venues and in numerous North America concerts.

In the U.S., she appeared on radio on such stars' programs as Bob Crosby and Mario Lanza. She also hosted a radio show entitled Airtime.

In 1952 and 1953 she toured with Benny, who recommended her for Your Hit Parade. During her tenure on that show, "Hard to Get" became a hit. MacKenzie appeared on the show for several years, finally leaving in 1957 to head her own short-lived variety program, The Gisèle MacKenzie Show. She returned to television in 1963 on The Sid Caesar Show and was a panelist on many quiz programs.

In later years MacKenzie performed widely in musical theater in such shows as Mame, Gypsy, The Sound of Music, and Hello, Dolly! She turned to acting in the 1990s, making guest appearances on television series including Murder, She Wrote and MacGyver.

MacKenzie has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 1601 Vine.

She died from colon cancer, aged 76, in 2003. Her daughter is contemporary jazz artist Gigi MacKenzie.

The Song from Moulin Rouge
Gisele Mackenzie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When ever we kiss,
I worry and wonder.
Your lips may be near,
but where is your heart?

It's always like this,
I worry and wonder.
You're close to me here,

but where is your heart?

It's a sad thing to realize
that you've a heart that never melts.
When we kiss, do you close your eyes,
pretending that I'm someone else?

You must break the spell,
this cloud that I'm under.

So please won't you tell, darling,
where is your heart?

Overall Meaning

The Song from Moulin Rouge, sung by Gisele MacKenzie, is a wistful ballad about the confusion and fear that come with falling in love. The lyrics speak to the singer's uncertainty about her partner's true feelings and intentions. While physically close, she is unsure whether their emotional connection is real, given that his heart seems distant and cold.

The song captures the melancholy tone of the film from which it takes its name. Moulin Rouge is a 1952 musical drama that tells the story of a young writer who falls in love with a cabaret singer in Belle Époque Paris. The film features an iconic score that combines original music with popular songs of the era, and The Song from Moulin Rouge is one of its most memorable tracks.

The repeated refrain of "where is your heart?" underscores the singer's frustration and longing. She seems to recognize that her partner is holding back or keeping something hidden, and challenges him to be more honest and vulnerable. The lyrics hint at the fear that can accompany intimacy, as well as the enduring desire for a deep, authentic connection.

Line by Line Meaning

When ever we kiss,
Every time we kiss,

I worry and wonder.
I become anxious and curious.

Your lips may be near,
We may be physically close,

but where is your heart?
but emotionally distant.

It's always like this,
This is a recurring feeling,

I worry and wonder.
I become anxious and curious.

You’re close to me here,
You're physically near to me,

but where is your heart?
but emotionally distant.

It's a sad thing to realize
It's a depressing realization,

that you've a heart that never melts.
that your emotions are perpetually cold.

When we kiss, do you close your eyes,
When we kiss, do you shut me out,

pretending that I'm someone else?
disassociating me from your emotional attachment.

You must break the spell,
You need to change things,

this cloud that I'm under.
this emotional fog that is affecting me.

So please won't you tell, darling,
So please communicate with me, my love,

where is your heart?
where are your emotions?

Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Georges Auric, William Engvick, Jacques Larue

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Declare57

7y↑4

This is the penultimate version of this song by a female vocalist. I watched her sing this on television as a child. It still lingers as a warm, wonderful memory. What lush orchestration! Thank you for posting it!