Her career began accidentally in 1959 when she replaced her sister at the last minute in a French radio talent contest Naissance d'une étoile and won. Director Louis Malle then cast the young starlet in the film he was shooting at the time, Liberté, a project he finally abandonded, making Laforêt's first appearance on screen opposite actor Alain Delon in René Clément's 1960 drama Plein Soleil.
After this film she became very popular and interpreted many roles in the 1960s. She married director Jean-Gabriel Albicocco, who cast her in some of his own works, including La Fille aux Yeux d'Or (The Girl with the Golden Eyes), based on the Balzac story, which would become her nickname.
In her second film, Saint Tropez Blues, accompanied by a young Jacques Higelin at the guitar, she sang the title song and immediately started releasing singles, her first hit being 1963's Les Vendanges de l'Amour. Her songs offered a more mature, poetic, tender alternative to the light, teenage yé-yé tunes charting in France at the time. Her melodies borrowed more from exotic folk music, especially South American and Eastern European, than from contemporary American and British pop acts. Laforêt worked with many important French composers,musicians and lyricists, such as André Popp and Pierre Cour, who provided her with a panoply of colorful, sophisticated orchestral arrangements, featuring dozens of musical instruments and creating a variety of sounds, sometimes almost Medieval, Rennaissance or Baroque, other times quite modern and innovative.
At the end of the 1960s, Marie had become a rather unique figure in the French pop scene. Her music stood out, perhaps too much for her new label CBS Records, which expected of her more upbeat, simpler songs. She was interested in making more personal records, but finally gave in. Although her most financially successful singles (Viens, Viens, a cover of a British hit, and Il a neigé sur Yesterday, a ballad about the break-up of the Beatles) were released in the 1970s, Marie progressively lost interest in her singing career, moving to Geneva, Switzerland in 1978, where she opened an art gallery and abandoned music more or less altogether.
In the 1980s, Marie concentrated on her acting career, appearing in a few French and Italian films. Some music singles were eventually released, but were not popular. She made a comeback, however, in 1993 with an album (her last) for which she wrote the lyrics. In the 1990s, she again continued to work as an actress, both on screen and on stage. She has performed in a number of plays in Paris over the years, acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. In September 2005 she took the stage of Les Bouffes Parisiens for a two-weeks sold-out concerts, her first (and last) concerts since 1972. Laforêt moved to Geneva in 1978 and obtained Swiss citizenship.
Records
Marie Laforêt, the folk singer
Laforêt has been fond of folk music ever since she began recording in the early 1960s. She helped popularize the Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind" in France with her 1963 interpretation. On the B-side of the same EP she sings the classic American folk ballad "House of the Rising Sun". Other folk recordings include: "Viens sur la montagne", a 1964 French adaptation of the African-American spiritual "Go Tell It on the Mountain", recorded by American folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary the previous year, "Coule doux" (Hush-a-Bye), another Peter, Paul and Mary song, 1966's "Sur les chemins des Andes", a French version of the traditional Peruvian song "El Cóndor Pasa", and "La voix du silence", a 1966 cover of American duo Simon and Garfunkel's first hit, "The Sound of Silence".
Marie Laforêt, the rocker
She also recorded some rock songs in the 1960s, her most famous being "Marie-douceur, Marie-colère", a 1966 cover of the Rolling Stones hit "Paint It Black". Another popular recording was 1965's girl group-style "A demain, my darling", known by English-speakers as "The Sha La La Song" written by Marianne Faithfull on her debut eponymous album.
Marie Laforêt, the pop singer
Some of her most memorable pop songs are those written or arranged by French composer André Popp, such as "Entre toi et moi", "L'amour en fleurs", "Les noces de campagne", "Mon amour, mon ami", and "Manchester et Liverpool". The melody of the latter song gained fame in the former Soviet Union as the background music to the Vremya television news programme's weather forecast in the 1970s.[7]
Other important records
The quiet, bittersweet and minimally arranged ballad "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes" (1966), composed by Francis Lai, is a Marie Laforêt favorite. Homage was paid to the song in the 1980s when French pop superstar Mylène Farmer added it to her own concert repertoire.
The 1973 hit "Viens, viens" was a cover version of a German song "Rain, Rain, Rain" performed by Simon Butterfly.
Marie's 1977 hit "Il a neigé sur Yesterday", perhaps her most well-known recording, was penned by musician Jean-Claude Petit, and lyricist Michel Jourdan, (famous for his work with Dalida, Nana Mouskouri, Michel Fugain and Mike Brant) and who had written the words for earlier Laforêt songs, such as "Les vendanges de l'amour" and "L'orage".
La Tendresse
Marie Laforêt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Presque sans le sou
Des seigneurs et des princesses
Y en a plus beaucoup
Mais vivre sans tendresse
On ne le pourrait pas
Non, non, non, non
On ne le pourrait pas
On peut vivre sans la gloire
Qui ne prouve rien
Être inconnu dans l'histoire
Et s'en trouver bien
Mais vivre sans tendresse
Il n'en est pas question
Non, non, non, non
Il n'en est pas question
Quelle douce faiblesse
Quel joli sentiment
Ce besoin de tendresse
Qui nous vient en naissant
Vraiment, vraiment, vraiment
Dans le feu de la jeunesse
Naissent les plaisirs
Et l'amour fait des prouesses
Pour nous éblouir
Oui, mais sans la tendresse
L'amour ne serait rien
Non, non, non, non
L'amour ne serait rien
Un enfant vous embrasse
Parce qu'on le rend heureux
Tous nos chagrins s'effacent
On a les larmes aux yeux
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, mon Dieu
Dans votre immense sagesse
Immense ferveur
Faites donc pleuvoir sans cesse
Au fond de nos cœurs
Des torrents de tendresse
Pour que règne l'amour
Règne l'amour
Jusqu'à la fin des jours
Marie Laforêt's song "La Tendresse" (Tenderness) is an ode to the importance of love and affection in life, above all else. The lyrics suggest that while one may be able to survive without material wealth or fame, living without tenderness would be impossible. It is the need for tenderness that has been embedded in us since birth and continues to define who we are as human beings.
The opening lines, "On peut vivre sans richesse, presque sans le sou" (We can live without wealth, almost without a penny), are a nod to the fact that material possessions hold no value in comparison to the warmth and love that come from our loved ones. The song then goes on to emphasize the fact that we are wired to crave tenderness since birth, as it is an essential part of being human. The need for love and affection never stops and is present throughout our lives.
The song speaks of the power of love, how it can conquer all obstacles, and how its absence can make life meaningless. Laforêt sings that even in the throes of young love, without tenderness, it would all be for naught. The chorus reiterates this fact, stating that it's not possible to live without tenderness. It is an essential part of what makes us human, and we cannot thrive without it. The song concludes by imploring the Almighty to pour torrents of tenderness into our hearts so that love never dies.
Line by Line Meaning
On peut vivre sans richesse
It's possible to live without being wealthy
Presque sans le sou
Even without much money
Des seigneurs et des princesses
There aren't many lords and princesses around anymore
Y en a plus beaucoup
There are very few of them left
Mais vivre sans tendresse
But it's impossible to live without tenderness
On ne le pourrait pas
We just couldn't do it
On peut vivre sans la gloire
It's possible to live without fame
Qui ne prouve rien
Which doesn't prove anything
Être inconnu dans l'histoire
To be unknown to history
Et s'en trouver bien
And be happy with that
Mais vivre sans tendresse
But to live without tenderness
Il n'en est pas question
That's out of the question
Quelle douce faiblesse
What a sweet weakness
Quel joli sentiment
What a lovely feeling
Ce besoin de tendresse
This need for tenderness
Qui nous vient en naissant
That comes with us from birth
Vraiment, vraiment, vraiment
Truly, truly, truly
Dans le feu de la jeunesse
In the heat of youth
Naissent les plaisirs
Pleasures are born
Et l'amour fait des prouesses
And love does wonders
Pour nous éblouir
To dazzle us
Oui, mais sans la tendresse
But without tenderness
L'amour ne serait rien
Love would be nothing
Un enfant vous embrasse
A child hugs you
Parce qu'on le rend heureux
Because you make them happy
Tous nos chagrins s'effacent
All our sorrows disappear
On a les larmes aux yeux
Our eyes fill with tears
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, mon Dieu
My God, my God, my God
Dans votre immense sagesse
In your immense wisdom
Immense ferveur
Immense fervor
Faites donc pleuvoir sans cesse
So rain down incessantly
Au fond de nos cœurs
In the depths of our hearts
Des torrents de tendresse
Torrents of tenderness
Pour que règne l'amour
So that love may reign
Règne l'amour
May love reign
Jusqu'à la fin des jours
Until the end of time
Lyrics © SEMI
Written by: Noel Roux, Hubert Giraud
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mll Nobody
On peut vivre sans richesse
Presque sans le sou
Des seigneurs et des princesses
Y en a plus beaucoup
Mais vivre sans tendresse
On ne le pourrait pas
Non, non, non, non
On ne le pourrait pas
On peut vivre sans la gloire
Qui ne prouve rien
Être inconnu dans l'histoire
Et s'en trouver bien
Mais vivre sans tendresse
Il n'en est pas question
Non, non, non, non
Il n'en est pas question
Quelle douce faiblesse
Quel joli sentiment
Ce besoin de tendresse
Qui nous vient en naissant
Vraiment, vraiment, vraiment
Dans le feu de la jeunesse
Naissent les plaisirs
Et l'amour fait des prouesses
Pour nous éblouir
Oui mais sans la tendresse
L'amour ne serait rien
Non, non, non, non
L'amour ne serait rien
Quand la vie impitoyable
Vous tombe dessus
On n'est plus qu'un pauvre diable
Broyé et déçu
Alors sans la tendresse
D'un cœur qui nous soutient
Non, non, non, non
On n'irait pas plus loin
Un enfant vous embrasse
Parce qu'on le rend heureux
Tous nos chagrins s'effacent
On a les larmes aux yeux
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, mon Dieu
Dans votre immense sagesse
Immense ferveur
Faites donc pleuvoir sans cesse
Au fond de nos cœurs
Des torrents de tendresse
Pour que règne l'amour
Règne l'amour
Jusqu'à la fin des jours
Claudia Meira
" Podemos viver sem riqueza
Quase sem um tostão
Senhores e princesas
Não restam muitos
Mas viver sem ternura
Não poderíamos
Não, não, não, não
Não poderíamos
Podemos viver sem glória
Quem não prova nada
Ser desconhecido na história
E encontrar-se bem
Mas viver sem ternura
Não há dúvida
Não, não, não, não
Não há dúvida
Que fraqueza doce
Que sentimento agradável
Essa necessidade de ternura
Que nos vai nascendo
Muito, muito, muito
Trabalho é necessário
Mas se você tiver que ficar
Semanas sem fazer nada
Bem, vamos nos acostumar com isso
Mas viva sem ternura
O tempo parece longo
Longo, longo, longo, longo
O tempo parece longo para você
No fogo da juventude
Nascem prazeres
E o amor faz proezas
Para nos deslumbrar
Sim, mas sem ternura
O amor não seria nada
Não, não, não, não
O amor não seria nada
Quando a vida implacável
Cair sobre você
Somos apenas um pobre coitado
Esmagado e decepcionado
Então, sem a ternura
Com um coração que nos apoia
Não, não, não, não
Nós não iríamos além
Uma criança nos beija
Porque nós a fazemos feliz
Todas as nossas tristezas desaparecem
Temos lágrimas nos olhos
Meu Deus, meu Deus, meu Deus
Na sua imensa sabedoria
Imenso fervor
Faça chover constantemente
No fundo dos nossos corações
Torrentes de ternura
Para que o amor reine
Reine o amor
Até o final dos dias "
valerio val
Possiamo vivere senza ricchezza
On peut vivre sans richesse
Quasi senza un soldo
Presque sans le sou
Signori e principesse
Des seigneurs et des princesses
Non ne sono rimasti molti
Y'en a plus beaucoup
Ma vivi senza tenerezza
Mais vivre sans tendresse
Non abbiamo potuto
On ne le pourrait pas
No no no no
Non, non, non, non
Non abbiamo potuto
On ne le pourrait pas
Possiamo vivere senza gloria
On peut vivre sans la gloire
Chi non prova nulla
Qui ne prouve rien
Essere sconosciuto nella storia
Etre inconnu dans l'histoire
E trova bene
Et s'en trouver bien
Ma vivi senza tenerezza
Mais vivre sans tendresse
Non ci sono domande
Il n'en est pas question
No no no no
Non, non, non, non
Non ci sono domande
Il n'en est pas question
Che dolce debolezza
Quelle douce faiblesse
Che bella sensazione
Quel joli sentiment
Questo bisogno di tenerezza
Ce besoin de tendresse
Chi viene da noi nascendo
Qui nous vient en naissant
Davvero, davvero, davvero
Vraiment, vraiment, vraiment
Il lavoro è necessario
Le travail est nécessaire
Ma se devi restare
Mais s'il faut rester
Settimane senza fare nulla
Des semaines sans rien faire
Beh, ci siamo abituati
Eh bien, on s'y fait
Ma vivi senza tenerezza
Mais vivre sans tendresse
Il tempo sembra lungo
Le temps vous paraît long
Lungo, lungo, lungo, lungo
Long, long, long, long
Il tempo ti sembra lungo
Le temps vous parait long
Nel fuoco della giovinezza
Dans le feu de la jeunesse
I piaceri sono nati
Naissent les plaisirs
E l'amore fa prodezza
Et l'amour fait des prouesses
Per stupirci
Pour nous éblouir
Sì ma senza tenerezza
Oui mais sans la tendresse
L'amore non sarebbe niente
L'amour ne serait rien
No no no no
Non, non, non, non
L'amore non sarebbe niente
L'amour ne serait rien
Quando la vita spietata
Quand la vie impitoyable
Cadi su di te
Vous tombe dessus
Siamo solo un povero diavolo
On n'est plus qu'un pauvre diable
Schiacciato e deluso
Broyé et déçu
Quindi senza tenerezza
Alors sans la tendresse
Da un cuore che ci sostiene
D'un cur qui nous soutient
No no no no
Non, non, non, non
Non andremmo oltre
On n'irait pas plus loin
Un bambino ci abbraccia
Un enfant nous embrasse
Perché lo rendiamo felice
Parce qu'on le rend heureux
Tutti i nostri dolori svaniscono
Tous nos chagrins s'effacent
Abbiamo le lacrime agli occhi
On a les larmes aux yeux
Mio Dio mio Dio mio Dio
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, mon Dieu
Nella tua immensa saggezza
Dans votre immense sagesse
Fervore immenso
Immense ferveur
Quindi continua a piovere
Faites donc pleuvoir sans cesse
Alla fine dei nostri corsi
Au fond de nos curs
Torrenti di tenerezza
Des torrents de tendresse
In modo che regni l'amore
Pour que règne l'amour
Regna amore
Règne l'amour
Fino alla fine dei giorni
Jusqu'à la fin des jours
Leonardo Valle
Puedes vivir sin riqueza
Casi sin dinero
Señores y princesas
Quedan muchos de ellos
Pero vivir sin ternura
No pudimos
No, no, no, no, no
No pudimos
Puedes vivir sin gloria
¿Quién no prueba nada
Ser desconocido en la historia
Y te ves bien
Pero vivir sin ternura
No hay duda de eso
No, no, no, no, no
No hay duda de eso
¡Qué dulce debilidad!
Qué agradable sensación
Esta necesidad de ternura
Quién viene a nosotros cuando nacemos
De verdad, de verdad, de verdad
En el fuego de la juventud
Los placeres nacen
Y el amor hace destreza
Para deslumbrarnos
Sí, pero sin ternura
El amor no sería nada
No, no, no, no, no
El amor no sería nada
Un niño te besa
Porque lo hacemos feliz
Todo nuestro dolor se desvanece
Tenemos lágrimas en nuestros ojos
Dios mío, Dios mío, Dios mío
En tu inmensa sabiduría
Enorme fervor
Así que haz llover todo el tiempo
En lo profundo de nuestros corazones
Torrentes de ternura
Para que el amor reine
El amor reina
Hasta el final de los días
Eliane 🍀
Très belle chanson et très belle interprète, elle nous manque comme bien d’autres , c’était une autre époque 👍🍀
Céline M
Ma Marie Laforêt c'était pour vous dire que on l'a chante à l'école
Soyer Angelique
Très belle chanson 😍😘❤
Lolita Gevers
Très belle reprise ! 😊💕
Valérie Sachetti
Magnifique 🎼
Mike Schoch
C'était une belle Époque... Que je n'ai pas connue.
Aujourd'hui c'est.... Compliqué
Wyded H.B
je dédie cette chanson ,à toutes les personnes souffrantes dans les hopitaux ,de par le monde ,à toutes ces ames errantes dans les services de réanimation pour leur donner un peu de chaleur et de réconfort ,à toutes les personnes qui ont perdu un etre cher ,dans ces moments particuliérement délicats .puisse l'amour faire des prouesses ,et effacer bien des chagrins ,mon Dieu ,faites pleuvoir un torrent de tendresse ,pour que régne l'amour jusqu'à la fin des jours.
Ive Kellner
Ca fait mal aux autres et sa me fait pleurer ! 🤔
Marie-Claire Cadoret
Il y eut una adaptation virtuelle très belle dédiée aux malades
francine sibille
La tendresse, le plus beau des sentiments.