Chevalier was born in Paris. He made his name as a star of musical comedy, appearing in public as a singer and dancer at an early age before working in four menial jobs as a teenager. In 1909, he became the partner of the biggest female star in France at the time, Fréhel. Although their relationship was brief, she secured him his first major engagement, as a mimic and a singer in l'Alcazar in Marseille, for which he received critical acclaim by French theatre critics. In 1917, he discovered jazz and ragtime and went to London, where he found new success at the Palace Theatre.
After this, he toured the United States, where he met the American composers George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and brought Dédé to Broadway in 1922. He also developed an interest in acting, and had success in the operetta Dédé. When talkies arrived, he went to Hollywood in 1928, where he played his first American role in Innocents of Paris. In 1930, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in The Love Parade (1929) and The Big Pond (1930), which secured his first big American hit, Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight.
In 1957, he appeared in Love in the Afternoon, which was his first Hollywood film in more than 20 years. In the early 1960s, he made eight films, including Can-Can in 1960 and Fanny the following year. In 1970 he made his final contribution to the film industry where he sang the title song of the Disney film The Aristocats. He died in Paris, on January 1, 1972, aged 83.
He was born in Paris, France in 1888. His father was a house painter. His mother was of Belgian descent. Maurice made his name as a star of musical comedy, appearing in public as a singer and dancer at an early age.
It was in 1901 that he first began in show business at the age of 13. He was singing at a cafe for free when a well-known member of the theatre saw him and suggested that he try out for a local musical. He did so, and got the part. Chevalier got a name as an imitator and singer. His act in l' Alcazar in Marseille was so succesful he made a triumphant rearrival in Paris.
In 1909 he became the partner of the biggest female star in France at the time, Fréhel. However, due to her alcohol and drug addiction their liason ended in 1911. Chevalier then started a relationship with the 23 year old Mistinguett at the Folies Bergére; they would eventually play out a very public romance.
[edit]
World War I
Chevalier fulfilled his army service in 1913 and therefore couldn't escape the draft when in 1914 World War I broke out. He was shot in the back in the first weeks of combat and taken as war prisoner in Germany for two years. In 1916 he managed to escape due to Minstinguett's numerous relations.
In 1917 he became a star in le Casino de Paris and played before a public of English soldiers and Americans. He discovered jazz and ragtime and started thinking about touring in the United States. In prison camp he studied English and therefore had a certain advantage, compared with other French artists. He went to London where he met a new succes, even if he still sang in French.
Hollywood
After the war Chevalier went back to Paris and created several famous songs who are still known this day, such as "Valentine" (1924). He played in a few pictures and made a huge impression in the operette, "Dédé". Here he met the American composers George Gerschwin and Irving Berlin and brought "Dédé" to Broadway in 1922. It was not a succes due to a mental breakdown. A sad Chevalier returned to France where he tried to commit suicide in 1924, because of this failure. The same year he met Yvonne Vallée, a young dancer, who became his wife in 1927.
When sound made it's entree in the film world, Chevalier returned to Hollywood in 1928 and this time he became very succesful. He signed a contract with Paramount and played his first American role in "Innocents of Paris". In 1930 Chevalier was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for two roles: The Love Parade and The Big Pond. He collaborated much with film director Ernst Lubitsch.
In 1934 he played in the operette La Veuve Joyeuse, one of his most well known films. He became one of the several big stars in Hollywood, very rare for French artists in these days. In 1935 he signed for MGM and returned to France later that year.
In 1937 he divorced from his wife and married with the dancer Nita Raya. He encountered several other succesful performances such as his revue "Paris en Joie" in the Casino de Paris. A year later he performed in "Amours de Paris]]. His songs remained big hits, such as "Prosper" (1935), "Ma Pomme" (1936) and "Ça fait d'excellents français" (1939)
World War II
During World War I Chevalier kept performing for audiences, even German militaries. He admired Henri Pètain, who led the collaborating Vichy regime during the war. (It must be stated that many Frenchmen at that time admired Pétain for his victories in World War I.) He moved to Cannes where he and his jewish wife, Nita Raya, lived and from where he kept giving several performances.
In 1941 he performed a new revue in the Casino de Paris: "Bonjour Paris", which was another smash succes. Songs like "Ça sent si bon la France" and "La Chanson du maçon" became other new hits. The nazis asked Chevalier if he wanted to perform in Berlin and sing for the collaborating radio station Radio-Paris. He refused, but did give several performances in front of prisoners of war in Germany where he succeded in liberating 10 people in exchange.
In 1942 he returned to Bocca, near Cannes, but returned to the French capital city in september. In 1944 when the Allied forces freed France, Chevalier was accused of collaboration. Even though these claims were disputed and he was formally acquitted of these charges, the English speaking press remained very hostile and even refused to give him a visa for several years.
[edit]
After the War
In his own country, however, he was still very popular. In 1946 he divorced from Nita Raya and starting writing his memoires, who would be further completed over the years. He started to paint and collect things and acted in Le Silence est d' Or (1946) by René Clair. He still toured throughout the United States and other parts of the world and returned to France in 1948.
In 1949 he performed in Stockholm on a communist benefit against nuclear arms. (In 1944 he had already participated to a communist defilé in Paris). Anti-communist witch hunts in the US made him therefore persona non grata in this country during the early fifties.
In 1952 he bought a large proporty in Marnes-La-Coquette, Paris and named it "La Louque", as a hommage to his mother's nickname. He started a new relationship in 1952 with Janie Michels, a young divorced mother with three children. Being a painter herself she encouraged Chevalier's artistic hobby.
In 1954 Chevalier was welcomed back in the United States. His American success reappeared thanks to the film Ariane (1957) with Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper, by Billy Wilder. He rediscovered his popularity with new audiences, appearing in the movie musical, Gigi (1958) with Leslie Caron and Hermione Gingold, with whom he shared the song "I Remember It Well", and several Walt Disney films. The great success of Gigi prompted Hollywood to give him an Honorary Academy Award that same year for his lifetime achievements in the field of entertainment.
After this he continued to perform in public and met celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot and Dwight Eisenhower.
Final Years
Chevalier continued to work up until very old age with impressive energy and enthusiasm. In the early sixties he toured thru the United States and between 1960 and 1963 he made eight films. When he returned to France he was invited by president Charles de Gaulle for a meal.
In 1965, at the age of 77 he made another world tour and visited again the US and other countries like South Africa. In 1967 he toured in Latin America, again the US, Europe and Canada.
In 1968, on October 1st, he announced his official farewell tour. Tired but nonetheless still able to entertain people he stopped twenty days later.
In 1970, he sang the title song of the Disney film The Aristocats. During a tour in the US he decided to stay there. However in December 1971 he got ill and had to be brought to the hospital.
Maurice Chevalier died on January 1, 1972, aged 83, and was interred in the cemetery of Marnes la Coquette in Hauts-de-Seine, France.
Paris sera toujours Paris
Maurice Chevalier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Des croisillons à nos fenêtres
Passer au bleu nos devantures
Et jusqu'aux pneus de nos voitures
Désentoiler tous nos musées
Chambouler les Champs Elysées
Emmailloter de terre battue
Toutes les beautés de nos statues
Plonger dans le noir la ville lumière
{Refrain:}
Paris sera toujours Paris !
La plus belle ville do monde
Malgré l'obscurité profonde
Son éclat ne peut être assombri
Paris sera toujours Paris !
Plus on réduit son éclairage
Plus on voit briller son courage
Plus on voit briller son esprit
Paris sera toujours Paris !
2. Pour qu'à ce bruit chacun s'entraîne
On peut la nuit jouer d'la sirène
Nous contraindre à faire le zouave
En pyjama dans notre cave
On aura beau par des ukases
Nous couper l'veau et même le jazz
Nous imposer le masque à gaz
Des mots croisés à quatre cases
Nous obliger dans nos demeures
A nous coucher tous à onze heures
{Refrain:}
Paris sera toujours Paris !
La plus belle ville do monde
Et quand les restrictions abondent
Gentiment il en prend son parti
Paris sera toujours Paris !
On a beau réduire son essence
On n'réduira pas sa confiance
Sa bonne humeur et son esprit
Paris sera toujours Paris !
3. Bien que ma foi, depuis octobre
Les robes soient beaucoup plus sobres
Qu'il why ait moins d'fleurs et moins d'aigrettes
Que les couleurs soient plus discrètes
Bien qu'aux galas on élimine
Les chinchillas et les hermines
Que les bijoux pleins de décence
Brillent surtout par leur absence
Que la beauté soit moins voyante
Moins effrontée moins provocante...
{Refrain:}
Paris sera toujours Paris !
La plus belle ville do monde
Même quand au loin le canon gronde
Sa tenue est encore plus jolie...
Paris sera toujours Paris !
On peut limiter ses dépenses,
Sa distinction son élégance
N'en ont alors que plus de prix
Paris sera toujours Paris !
The song Paris sera toujours Paris by Maurice Chevalier is a celebration of the spirit of Paris, declaring that despite any adversity, the city will always be the most beautiful city in the world. The song discusses the precautions that Paris has taken, such as putting bars on the windows, covering up precious monuments, and reducing the city's lights in fear of war. Despite all this, Paris remains as vibrant as ever. The chorus repeats the title phrase, emphasizing the idea that Paris will always keep its charm.
The song also mentions the government's efforts to control the city's nightlife, by imposing curfews, gas masks, and even crossword puzzles. However, Parisians continue to find ways to entertain themselves, such as playing with sirens at night or acting like a "zouave" in their pajamas. The song highlights the resilience of the people of Paris and their ability to adapt to difficult circumstances, while maintaining their distinctive character and humor.
Overall, the song captures the essence of the city of Paris, its beauty, resilience, and charm, and conveys a message of hope and optimism that no matter how hard times may get, Paris will always be Paris.
Line by Line Meaning
Par précaution on a beau mettre Des croisillons à nos fenêtres
As a precaution, we may put bars on our windows
Passer au bleu nos devantures Et jusqu'aux pneus de nos voitures
We might even paint our storefronts and car tires blue
Désentoiler tous nos musées Chambouler les Champs Elysées Emmailloter de terre battue Toutes les beautés de nos statues
We could even hide away all of our art and cover our statues in dirt
Voiler le soir les réverbères Plonger dans le noir la ville lumière
Even obscure our well-known streetlights, plunging the City of Light into darkness
Paris sera toujours Paris ! La plus belle ville do monde
But still, Paris will always be Paris! The most beautiful city in the world
Malgré l'obscurité profonde Son éclat ne peut être assombri
Despite the deep darkness, the city's brilliance can never be dimmed
Plus on réduit son éclairage Plus on voit briller son courage Plus on voit briller son esprit
In fact, the less light we use, the more we see its courage and spirit shining through
Pour qu'à ce bruit chacun s'entraîne On peut la nuit jouer d'la sirène Nous contraindre à faire le zouave En pyjama dans notre cave
To rouse the city, we can sound the sirens at night, and even make fools of ourselves by dancing in pajamas in our basements
On aura beau par des ukases Nous couper l'veau et même le jazz Nous imposer le masque à gaz Des mots croisés à quatre cases
Even if we are ordered to conserve water, ban jazz and require wearing gas masks and doing crossword puzzles
Nous obliger dans nos demeures A nous coucher tous à onze heures
Or even force us to go to bed at an early hour
Et quand les restrictions abondent Gentiment il en prend son parti
But even with all these restrictions, Parisians take it all in stride
On a beau réduire son essence On n'réduira pas sa confiance Sa bonne humeur et son esprit
For no matter how much we cut back, the city's confidence, good humor and spirit will always remain
Bien que ma foi, depuis octobre Les robes soient beaucoup plus sobres Qu'il why ait moins d'fleurs et moins d'aigrettes Que les couleurs soient plus discrètes Bien qu'aux galas on élimine Les chinchillas et les hermines Que les bijoux pleins de décence Brillent surtout par leur absence Que la beauté soit moins voyante Moins effrontée moins provocante...
Even if we must wear simpler clothing, with fewer flowers or feathers, and fewer showy accessories at fancy events
Même quand au loin le canon gronde Sa tenue est encore plus jolie...
Even when there's cannon fire in the distance, Paris still dresses up in its finest attire...
On peut limiter ses dépenses Sa distinction son élégance N'en ont alors que plus de prix
...and when we limit our expenses, it only makes our elegance and refinement more valuable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALBERT LUCIEN WILLEMETZ, CASIMIR GEORGE OVERFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vassod9430
Par précaution on a beau mettre
Des croisillons à nos fenêtres
Passer au bleu nos devantures
Et jusqu'aux pneus de nos voitures
Désentoiler tous nos musées
Chambouler les Champs Élysées
Emmailloter de terre battue
Toutes les beautés de nos statues
Voiler le soir les réverbères
Plonger dans le noir la ville lumière
Paris sera toujours Paris!
La plus belle ville du monde
Malgré l'obscurité profonde
Son éclat ne peut être assombri
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Plus on réduit son éclairage
Plus on voit briller son courage
Sa bonne humeur et son esprit
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Pour qu'à ce bruit chacun s'entraîne
On peut la nuit jouer d'la sirène
Et nous contraindre à faire le zouave
En pyjama dans notre cave
On aura beau par des oukases
Nous couper l'veau et même le jazz
Nous imposer le masque à gaz
Des mots croisés à quatre cases
Nous obliger dans nos demeures
A nous coucher tous à onze heures
Paris sera toujours Paris!
La plus belle ville du monde
Malgré l'obscurité profonde
Son éclat ne peut être assombri
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Plus on réduit son éclairage
Plus on voit briller son courage
Sa bonne humeur et son esprit
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Bien que ma foi, depuis octobre
Les robes soient beaucoup plus sobres
Qu'il y ait moins d'fleurs et moins d'aigrettes
Que les couleurs soient plus discrètes
Bien qu'aux galas on élimine
Les chinchillas et les hermines
Que les bijoux pleins de décence
Brillent surtout par leur absence
Que la beauté soit moins voyante
Moins effrontée moins provocante
Paris sera toujours Paris!
La plus belle ville du monde
Même quand au loin le canon gronde
Sa tenue est encore plus jolie
Paris sera toujours Paris
On peut limiter ses dépenses,
Sa distinction son élégance
N'en ont alors que plus de prix
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Πηγή: LyricFind
@romainilltv9821
As a precaution it was nice to
Braces our windows
Skip to our blue Storefronts
And to the tires of our cars
Désentoiler all our museums
Shake the Champs Élysées
Swaddling beaten earth
All the beauties of our statues
Voller evening streetlights
Diving into the black light city
Paris will always be Paris!
The most beautiful city in the world
Despite the darkness
Its brightness can be dimmed
Paris will always be Paris!
The more we reduce its lighting
The more we see his courage shine
His good humor and wit
Paris will always be Paris!
For that to each noise trains
One can play the night of the siren
And force us to make the Zouave
Pajamas in our cellar
We will fine by edicts
We cut the calf and even jazz
We impose the gas mask
Crosswords four boxes
We require in our homes
At sunset we all at eleven
Paris will always be Paris!
The most beautiful city in the world
Despite the darkness
Its brightness can be dimmed
Paris will always be Paris!
The more we reduce its lighting
The more we see his courage shine
His good humor and wit
Paris will always be Paris!
Although my faith since October
The dresses are much more sober
There are fewer flowers and less egrets
The colors are more discreet
Well as galas are eliminated
Chinchillas and stoats
That decency full of jewelry
especially conspicuous by their absence
That beauty is less showy
cheeky least less provocative
Paris will always be Paris!
The most beautiful city in the world
Even when off the cannon roars
Her outfit is even prettier
Paris will always be Paris
We can limit spending,
His distinction elegance
Do not have as over price
Paris will always be Paris!
go see the cover of " Zaz " fine too ;)
the France passes a bad time and it is not ready to be finished but do not stop the news , France is and will remain a great country , authentic and anchored in its roots (I tried to translate the best ^^ )
@clintonearlwalker
As a precaution we may put
Par précaution on a beau mettre
Braces on our windows
Des croisillons à nos fenêtres
Turn our storefronts blue
Passer au bleu nos devantures
And even the tires of our cars
Et jusqu'aux pneus de nos voitures
Uncover all our museums
Désentoiler tous nos musées
Shake up the Champs-Elysées
Chambouler les Champs-Elysées
Swaddle in clay
Emmailloter de terre battue
All the beauties of our statues
Toutes les beautés de nos statues
Veil the street lights in the evening
Voiler le soir les réverbères
Plunge the city of light into the dark
Plonger dans le noir la ville lumière
Paris will always be Paris
Paris sera toujours Paris
The most beautiful city in the world
La plus belle ville du monde
Despite the deep darkness
Malgré l'obscurité profonde
Its shine cannot be darkened
Son éclat ne peut être assombri
Paris will always be Paris
Paris sera toujours Paris
@vassod9430
Par précaution on a beau mettre
Des croisillons à nos fenêtres
Passer au bleu nos devantures
Et jusqu'aux pneus de nos voitures
Désentoiler tous nos musées
Chambouler les Champs Élysées
Emmailloter de terre battue
Toutes les beautés de nos statues
Voiler le soir les réverbères
Plonger dans le noir la ville lumière
Paris sera toujours Paris!
La plus belle ville du monde
Malgré l'obscurité profonde
Son éclat ne peut être assombri
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Plus on réduit son éclairage
Plus on voit briller son courage
Sa bonne humeur et son esprit
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Pour qu'à ce bruit chacun s'entraîne
On peut la nuit jouer d'la sirène
Et nous contraindre à faire le zouave
En pyjama dans notre cave
On aura beau par des oukases
Nous couper l'veau et même le jazz
Nous imposer le masque à gaz
Des mots croisés à quatre cases
Nous obliger dans nos demeures
A nous coucher tous à onze heures
Paris sera toujours Paris!
La plus belle ville du monde
Malgré l'obscurité profonde
Son éclat ne peut être assombri
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Plus on réduit son éclairage
Plus on voit briller son courage
Sa bonne humeur et son esprit
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Bien que ma foi, depuis octobre
Les robes soient beaucoup plus sobres
Qu'il y ait moins d'fleurs et moins d'aigrettes
Que les couleurs soient plus discrètes
Bien qu'aux galas on élimine
Les chinchillas et les hermines
Que les bijoux pleins de décence
Brillent surtout par leur absence
Que la beauté soit moins voyante
Moins effrontée moins provocante
Paris sera toujours Paris!
La plus belle ville du monde
Même quand au loin le canon gronde
Sa tenue est encore plus jolie
Paris sera toujours Paris
On peut limiter ses dépenses,
Sa distinction son élégance
N'en ont alors que plus de prix
Paris sera toujours Paris!
Πηγή: LyricFind
@memeoangelo6061
Grazie tante per le meravigliose parole della canzone
@josemontassier8959
Nous obliger a porter le masque
@JohnSilverfan01
When I was in Paris a few years ago and was on the bus tour, this song played like five times in a row and I loved it. It made the whole tour one of the best times I had in Paris for I had always loved Maurice Chevalier and I was falling in love with Paris minute by minute.. That night as my Ma and I were having our dinner, I raised my glass of wine and toasted "Paris Sera Toujours Paris!!".
@elisabethzajac2449
Les chansons de MAURICE CHEVALIER sont à mon goût très belles malgré leur ancienneté, très dansantes, un style pour cabaret.
@christinacamarasangerinsin6110
:-)
@IronPriest82
I was in Paris for the first time just a few weeks ago. Really loved it and just for the record I didn't experience the "rudeness" everybody speaks about...The French people were welcoming and helpful... Loved it there, it's a very special place!
@romainilltv9821
As a precaution it was nice to
Braces our windows
Skip to our blue Storefronts
And to the tires of our cars
Désentoiler all our museums
Shake the Champs Élysées
Swaddling beaten earth
All the beauties of our statues
Voller evening streetlights
Diving into the black light city
Paris will always be Paris!
The most beautiful city in the world
Despite the darkness
Its brightness can be dimmed
Paris will always be Paris!
The more we reduce its lighting
The more we see his courage shine
His good humor and wit
Paris will always be Paris!
For that to each noise trains
One can play the night of the siren
And force us to make the Zouave
Pajamas in our cellar
We will fine by edicts
We cut the calf and even jazz
We impose the gas mask
Crosswords four boxes
We require in our homes
At sunset we all at eleven
Paris will always be Paris!
The most beautiful city in the world
Despite the darkness
Its brightness can be dimmed
Paris will always be Paris!
The more we reduce its lighting
The more we see his courage shine
His good humor and wit
Paris will always be Paris!
Although my faith since October
The dresses are much more sober
There are fewer flowers and less egrets
The colors are more discreet
Well as galas are eliminated
Chinchillas and stoats
That decency full of jewelry
especially conspicuous by their absence
That beauty is less showy
cheeky least less provocative
Paris will always be Paris!
The most beautiful city in the world
Even when off the cannon roars
Her outfit is even prettier
Paris will always be Paris
We can limit spending,
His distinction elegance
Do not have as over price
Paris will always be Paris!
go see the cover of " Zaz " fine too ;)
the France passes a bad time and it is not ready to be finished but do not stop the news , France is and will remain a great country , authentic and anchored in its roots (I tried to translate the best ^^ )
@balagio1
C'est une voix en or Maurice,notre Maurice Chevalier !
@conservativemike3768
I just turned 60, and this musical era has never been part of my cultural milieu. Now I can't get enough of it.