Salvador recorded several songs written with Boris Vian with Quincy Jones as arranger.
In the 60's Salvador was the television host of several popular TV variety shows on French TV.
Henri Salvador and his song "Dans mon île" (1957) is said to have unwittingly inspired bossa nova in Brazil, as Carlos Tom Jobim would have exclaimed on hearing the song "This is what you have to do! Slow down the tempo of samba, add a good melody and top it with beautiful chords!"
Caetano Veloso, a renowned brasilian composer and singer, made a direct reference at Salvador in his song "Reconvexo" : "quem não sentiu o swing de Heri Salvador ?" (who hasn't felt the swing of Henri Salvador ?)
In (1964) Henri Salvador scored a popular French hit with "Zorro est arrivé" (which was inspired by the English song "Along Came Jones"). His song "Mais non, mais non" (1969) inspired Jim Henson' song Mahna Mahna. These kind of comedy songs made him well known in France. He is also famous for his good nature and rich, catchy laugh, which is a standalone feature in many of his humoristic songs.
He has a brother, André, and a sister Alice. He became a musician and comedian. Later he uncovered new French talents Keren Ann and Art Mengo.
Cendrillon
Henri Salvador Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cendrillon,
Toujours vêtue de haillons
Pour toi il n'est rien de bon
Tes deux sœurs
Se moquent de ta douceur
Tu es leur souffre-douleur
Elles n'ont pas de cœur
Ce soir, seule tu es restée
Pendant qu'elles allaient danser
Mais voici ta bonne fée qui veille
Cendrillon,
Eclatante de beauté
Jusqu'à minuit va danser
Court au bal masqué
Mais soudain,
Quand minuit vient
De sonner
Tu t'enfuis loin du palais
Perdant ton soulier
Parmi les dames de sa cour,
Le prince ébloui par l'amour
Cherche partout l'inconnue
Si belle Cendrillon
Les plus célèbres beautés
Bien en vain ont essayé
Ton joli soulier
Mais le lendemain au Palais
Quand tu chaussas le beau soulier
Tu fus soudain transformée
Merveille Cendrillon
Par la vertu d'une fée
Le prince t'as retrouvé
Et il t'as donné
Cendrillon,
Son amour, sa vie, son nom
In Henri Salvador's song "Cendrillon," the lyrics tell the story of Cinderella, a beloved fairy tale character. Cinderella is depicted as being constantly mistreated by her two stepsisters, who poke fun at her tenderness and use her as their personal punching bag. Despite this abusive behavior, Cinderella remains cheery and patient, awaiting her fairy godmother's timely arrival. Sure enough, her good fairy godmother appears to transform the heroine from rags to riches, allowing her to dance the night away until midnight.
The story takes a twist when midnight strikes, which prompts Cinderella to leave the palace in a hurry, leaving behind a glass slipper. The next day, the prince searches throughout the city for his evening's mysterious partner, and Cinderella's footwear is an essential clue. It can't fit any other foot other than his true love's to match her size. In the end, the prince finds her and gives her his love, life, and name, implying that they get married.
Salvador's choice of words in "Cendrillon" is poetic and filled with metaphorical allusions to the fairy tale story. The harsh reality of Cinderella's life is contrasted with her sudden transformation, and the prince's search for his lover is described as desperate and rigorous. Salvador's recognizable voice and gentle tone lend the fairy-tale lyrics a melancholic but optimistic feel suitable for an upbeat romance.
Line by Line Meaning
Cendrillon,
Addressing Cinderella, calling her by her name
Toujours vêtue de haillons
Always dressed in rags, conveying that Cinderella is poor and mistreated by her family
Pour toi il n'est rien de bon
Nothing good comes to you, referring to the hardships Cinderella faces in her life
Dans ta maison
In your home, highlighting the fact that Cinderella is not free to leave the miserable environment she lives in
Tes deux sœurs
Referring to Cinderella's two stepsisters
Se moquent de ta douceur
Mocking Cinderella's gentle nature, showing that they take pleasure in belittling her
Tu es leur souffre-douleur
You are their victim, stating that Cinderella is the target of her stepsisters' cruelty
Elles n'ont pas de cœur
They have no heart, implying that Cinderella's stepsisters lack empathy and kindness
Ce soir, seule tu es restée
Tonight, you are left alone, emphasizing Cinderella's isolation from the rest of her family
Pendant qu'elles allaient danser
While they went dancing, contrasting the situation of Cinderella and her stepsisters
Mais voici ta bonne fée qui veille
But here comes your fairy godmother who is watching over you, introducing the supernatural element to the story
Cendrillon,
Addressing Cinderella again
Eclatante de beauté
Radiant with beauty, describing Cinderella's transformation by the fairy godmother
Jusqu'à minuit va danser
Dancing until midnight, setting up the climax of the story
Court au bal masqué
Runs to the masked ball, indicating that Cinderella has a chance to escape her miserable life
Mais soudain,
But suddenly
Quand minuit vient
When midnight strikes, signifying a turning point in the plot
De sonner
To ring
Tu t'enfuis loin du palais
You run far away from the palace, showing Cinderella's fear of being caught by the prince's guards
Perdant ton soulier
Losing your shoe, setting up the next scene where the prince searches for Cinderella
Parmi les dames de sa cour,
Among the ladies of his court,
Le prince ébloui par l'amour
The prince, dazzled by love, explaining why he is so determined to find Cinderella
Cherche partout l'inconnue
Searching everywhere for the unknown woman, who left her shoe behind at the ball
Si belle Cendrillon
Beautiful Cinderella, revealing that the prince is looking for her
Les plus célèbres beautés
The most famous beauties, recognizing that other women have tried on the glass slipper but it didn't fit
Bien en vain ont essayé
Tried in vain, emphasizing that no woman fits the shoe except Cinderella
Ton joli soulier
Your pretty shoe, highlighting the significance of the glass slipper
Mais le lendemain au Palais
But the next day at the palace, setting up the final scene
Quand tu chaussas le beau soulier
When you put on the beautiful shoe, indicating that the glass slipper fits Cinderella perfectly
Tu fus soudain transformée
You were suddenly transformed, signaling that Cinderella's life is about to change for the better
Merveille Cendrillon
Wonderful Cinderella, addressing her by name and highlighting her transformation into a beautiful and confident woman
Par la vertu d'une fée
By the power of a fairy, acknowledging the role of magic in Cinderella's story
Le prince t'as retrouvé
The prince found you, showing that Cinderella's dream of marrying a prince has come true
Et il t'as donné
And he gave you
Cendrillon,
Addressing Cinderella again
Son amour, sa vie, son nom
His love, his life, his name, indicating that the prince has fallen in love with Cinderella and they are now married
Lyrics © PREMIERE MUSIC GROUP
Written by: Henri SALVADOR, Bernard MICHEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind