In 1956 she was the winner of the very first Eurovision Song Contest, in which she sang for Switzerland.[2] She had also been in the German national final of that year and returned to the contest again for Switzerland in 1957 and 1958.
In September 2011, Assia entered her song "C'était ma vie" written by Ralph Siegel and Jean Paul Cara into the Swiss national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The song, however, only came eighth in a closely fought national selection. She attended the event in Baku as a guest of honour.
In 2012, Assia again entered the Swiss national selection Die grosse Entscheidungs Show to represent Switzerland in Malmö at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "All In Your Head" featuring the hip-hop band New Jack. There were rumours of Assia representing San Marino, however it was announced on 30 January 2013 that Valentina Monetta would represent San Marino.
Assia married Johann Heinrich Kunz on 11 January 1957 in Zürich. Kunz died just nine months later after battling a serious illness. Assia then married Oscar Pedersen in 1963. Pedersen then died in 1995.
She died on 24 March 2018 at Zürich's Zollikerberg Hospital.
Mélodie d'amour
Lys Assia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Choochoo Kolibri, Dich vergess' ich nie
Melodie d'amour, Du erfüllst mich mit Sehnen
Choochoo Kolibri, sing die Melodie Sing von jener Zeit, als wir war'n zu zweit
Sing vom blauen Meer, wo so gern ich wär'Kleiner Kolibri, Dich vergess' ich nie
Mit jedem Tweettweettweet, erklingt ein Liebeslied
Dein süßes Tweettweettweet, das in die Herzen zieht O sing von jener Zeit, als wir war'n zu zweit
Sing vom blauen Meer, wo so gern ich wär'Kleiner Kolibri, Dich vergess' ich nie
Dein süßes Tweettweettweet, das in die Herzen zieht Melodie d'amour, Serenade der Liebe
Choochoo Kolibri, sing' die Melodie,
The lyrics to Lys Assia's song "Melodie d'amour" are a passionate tribute to the feelings of love and longing that can arise when thinking about a past romantic partner. The singer addresses a bird, Choochoo Kolibri, using its songs as a metaphor for the bittersweet memories that still haunt her.
The song begins by calling out to Choochoo Kolibri, stating that they will never be forgotten. The melody d'amour, or "love melody," is described as filling the singer with longing and desire. The use of the bird's tweettweettweet is cleverly woven into the song, with its sweet sound symbolizing a love song that is playing in the singer's heart, making her long for the past.
The singer reflects on a time when she and her partner were together – a memory that brings her back to the beauty of the blue sea. She implores Choochoo Kolibri to keep singing its sweet melody – a metaphor for the singing of love – and to never forget the joy and beauty of their shared moments.
Overall, "Melodie d'amour" is a lyrical celebration of the power of love and the lingering hold that past romantic experiences can have on the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Melodie d'amour, Serenade der Liebe
The melody of love, a serenade of love.
Choochoo Kolibri, Dich vergess' ich nie
Choochoo Kolibri, I will never forget you.
Melodie d'amour, Du erfüllst mich mit Sehnen
The melody of love, you fill me with longing.
Choochoo Kolibri, sing die Melodie
Choochoo Kolibri, sing the melody.
Sing von jener Zeit, als wir war'n zu zweit
Sing of that time when we were together.
Sing vom blauen Meer, wo so gern ich wär'
Sing of the blue sea where I would love to be.
Kleiner Kolibri, Dich vergess' ich nie
Little Kolibri, I will never forget you.
Mit jedem Tweettweettweet, erklingt ein Liebeslied
With every tweettweettweet, a love song is heard.
Dein süßes Tweettweettweet, das in die Herzen zieht
Your sweet tweettweettweet, that pulls at the heartstrings.
Melodie d'amour, Serenade der Liebe
The melody of love, a serenade of love.
Choochoo Kolibri, sing' die Melodie
Choochoo Kolibri, sing the melody.
Writer(s): Leo Johns, Henri Salvador
Contributed by Parker S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.