After acting school he was discovered by Jean Cocteau and appeared in a wartime production of Les parents terribles ("The Terrible Parents"). His first feature film came in 1946 with his role in Les portes de la nuit ("The Doors of the Night"). He later went on to perform in 80 films including The Pianist (1998).
In 1965 he began a second career as a singer, with the help of Simone Signoret and her husband Yves Montand. Reggiani became one of the most acclaimed performers of French "Chanson" ("song") and although he was in his 40s, his bad-boy image made him popular with both young and older listeners. His best known songs include "Les loups sont entres dans Paris" ("The Wolves Have Entered Paris") and "La femme qui est dans mon lit." ("The Woman Who Is In My Bed").
In later life he became a painter and gave a number of exhibitions of his artwork.
Serge Reggiani died of a heart attack at the age of 82, one day after the death of another well known French singer Sacha Distel. He is interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse.
Charlie
Serge Reggiani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il y a le sourire du père,
Il y a la larme qui espère
Et l'espérance qui se plaint.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
Il y a la roue des Temps modernes
Et tous les vieux reves en berne
Des parias et des orphelins...
Et les lumières de la ville
N'en finissent pas de briller
Sur les tréteaux deshabillés
Et les concerts de l'an 2000.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
Il y a la peur des frèr's Lumière
Et l'écran des soirs de première
Où Spielberg apprend Poquelin.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
Il y a l'éternelle rature
Des mensonges, des dictatures
Et l'ombre du mur de Berlin
Et les lumières de la ville
N'en finissent pas de briller
Sur les tréteaux deshabillés
Et les concerts de l'an 2000.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
Il y a la petite fleuriste
Au front pâle, au visage triste
Qui se ride avec le mot fin.
Dans les yeux des enfants du siècle,Il y a le rock and rolLPRO-mélo
Qui fait danser les discothèques
Sur la démarche de Charlot...
Et les lumières de la ville
N'en finissent pas de briller
Sur les tréteaux deshabillés
Et les concerts de l'an 2000.
Et tous les soirs Charlot patine
Sur des miroirs de comédie
Où sa maman dit des contines
Aux reflets bleus des galaxies.
The song "Charlie" by Serge Reggiani is an homage to the iconic character of Charlie Chaplin, who has inspired generations of children and adults alike with his films. The lyrics express the emotions that are evoked in the eyes of children when they see the films of Chaplin, including happiness, hope, and sadness. The opening lines of the song describe the smile of a father and the tears of hope in the eyes of children who are watching Chaplin.
The song also touches upon the themes of modern times, social inequality, and dictatorship. The lyrics describe the shadows of dictators and the Berlin Wall looming over the lives of children. It suggests that the films of Chaplin remain relevant today as they serve to warn us about the dangers of dictatorial regimes and social inequality. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "And the lights of the city never stop shining," which may suggest that despite the challenges that the world may face, there will always be hope and beauty in the world.
In conclusion, "Charlie" is a poignant tribute to the life and work of Charlie Chaplin. It highlights the immense impact that Chaplin had on the world of cinema and how his films continue to inspire and move people even today.
Line by Line Meaning
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
In the eyes of Chaplin's children,
Il y a le sourire du père,
There is the smile of the father,
Il y a la larme qui espère
There is the tear that hopes,
Et l'espérance qui se plaint.
And the hope that complains.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
In the eyes of Chaplin's children,
Il y a la roue des Temps modernes
There is the wheel of Modern Times
Et tous les vieux reves en berne
And all the old dreams in distress
Des parias et des orphelins...
Of outcasts and orphans...
Et les lumières de la ville
And the lights of the city
N'en finissent pas de briller
They never stop shining
Sur les tréteaux deshabillés
On the naked boards
Et les concerts de l'an 2000.
And the concerts of the year 2000.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
In the eyes of Chaplin's children,
Il y a la peur des frèr's Lumière
There is the fear of Lumière brothers
Et l'écran des soirs de première
And the screen of first nights
Où Spielberg apprend Poquelin.
Where Spielberg learns Poquelin.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
In the eyes of Chaplin's children,
Il y a l'éternelle rature
There is the eternal erasure
Des mensonges, des dictatures
Of lies, dictatorships
Et l'ombre du mur de Berlin
And the shadow of the Berlin Wall
Et les lumières de la ville
And the lights of the city
N'en finissent pas de briller
They never stop shining
Sur les tréteaux deshabillés
On the naked boards
Et les concerts de l'an 2000.
And the concerts of the year 2000.
Dans les yeux des enfants Chaplin,
In the eyes of Chaplin's children,
Il y a la petite fleuriste
There is the little florist
Au front pâle, au visage triste
With a pale forehead, a sad face
Qui se ride avec le mot fin.
Who wrinkles with the word 'the end'.
Dans les yeux des enfants du siècle,
In the eyes of the children of the century,
Il y a le rock and roll PRO-mélo
There is the PRO-melo rock and roll
Qui fait danser les discothèques
That makes the discotheques dance
Sur la démarche de Charlot...
On the stride of Charlot...
Et les lumières de la ville
And the lights of the city
N'en finissent pas de briller
They never stop shining
Sur les tréteaux deshabillés
On the naked boards
Et les concerts de l'an 2000.
And the concerts of the year 2000.
Et tous les soirs Charlot patine
And every night Charlot skates
Sur des miroirs de comédie
On comedy mirrors
Où sa maman dit des contines
Where his mom sings lullabies
Aux reflets bleus des galaxies.
To the blue reflections of galaxies.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lemesle Claude, Piget Christian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind