Born Constantino Rossi in Ajaccio, Corsica, France, he became a tenor of French cabaret and one of the great romantic idols of his time. Gifted with an operatic voice, a "Latin Lover" persona made him a movie star as well. Over his career, Rossi made hundreds of records and appeared in more than 25 films, the most notable of which was the 1953 production, Si Versailles m'était conté directed by Sacha Guitry. His romantic ballads had women swooning and his art-songs by Jules Massenet (1842-1912), Reynaldo Hahn (1875-1947), and other composers helped draw sold out audiences wherever he performed.
As a young man, he played guitar and sang at a variety of small venues in his hometown of Ajaccio before going on to perform in Marseilles and at resort clubs along the French Riviera. In the early 1930s he went to Paris and within a few years achieved enormous success, joining a Columbia Records roster that included the biggest stars of the day such as Lucienne Boyer, Damia, Pills et Tabet, Mireille, and Jean Sablon.
Rossi's success was greatly aided by songwriter Vincent Scotto (1876-1952), who wrote his first hits and collaborated with him for many years, composing and arranging many Rossi songs. Prior to World War II. Rossi was a major box office attraction in the French speaking world but expanded his audience to America with a 1938 visit followed up by wartime tours across the USA and Canada. In 1946, his song "Petit Papa Noël" sold more than thirty million copies worldwide. A Christmas classic for the family, the song still sells by the thousands each Yuletide season. The recipient of many musical awards, including the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque, Tino Rossi is the most popular personality to ever come from Corsica other than Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1947 he married Lilia Vetti, a young dancer he met while making a film. They would have a son together in a marriage that lasted for a lifetime. A star of film and the operetta scene, Tino Rossi's career also evolved into the television era, appearing in a number of popular variety shows. Age, and the advent of rock and roll in the 1960s saw him take backstage with the new generation of music lovers but he remained enormously popular with a following built up over fifty years of performing.
In 1982, for his contribution to France and its culture, President François Mitterrand named Tino Rossi a Commander of the Legion of Honor. That same year Rossi gave his last public performance at the Casino de Paris, a show that popular demand turned into a three month stint.
Tino Rossi died of pancreatic cancer in 1983 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. His body returned to his native Ajaccio for burial in the family plot at the local cemetery. His hometown named a street and the sailing harbor in his honor and at Nogent-sur-Marne, on the River Marne in Paris, there is a square named Tino Rossi Square.
Ajaccio
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La la la la la la
La la la la la lère
La la la la la la
Dans une vieille ruelle,
Tout près de la citadelle
D'Ajaccio. Dans la nuit toujours si belle,
On entend des ritournelles
Des bravos.
Les touristes en balade,
Écoutent les sérénades
Du pays.
Et plus rien n'a d'importance,
Quand une ancienne romance
Vous séduit.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio,
Aux sons des guitares
Viennent filles et garçons.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio,
Et chacun y chante sa chanson.
La la la la la lère
La la la la la la {x2}
Le temps passe comme un rêve,
Tour à tour chacun se lève
Pour chanter.
Et l'on chanterait encore,
S'il ne fallait à l'aurore
S'arrêter.
Mais les curs de tous les Corses,
De chaleur.
Quand s'élève l'Ajaccienne,
Que pour finir ils reprennent
Tous en chur.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio,
Au son des guitares
Viennent filles et garçons.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio,
Et chacun y chante sa chanson.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio,
Si Napoléon revenait
Près de sa maison.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio,
Lui aussi chanterait
Sa chanson:
L'enfant prodigue de la gloire,
Napoléon, Napoléon.
The lyrics of Tino Rossi's song 'Ajaccio' celebrate the beauty of the city and its music, telling the story of a night in the old town where tourists listen to the love songs of the locals. The singer describes the atmosphere of the city and the emotions stirred by the melodies. The song begins with a series of nonsensical syllables, perhaps to guide the listener to the right mood before setting the scene in the narrow alleys near Ajaccio's citadel, where a romantic ambiance prevails. The serenades are heard even by the visitors who come to enjoy their vacation, and they seem to take a listen patiently, absorbing the culture and the history of Ajaccio.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of music in the everyday lives of the Corsican people, where old songs and melodies are still cherished and passed down to successive generations. The final verse culminates with a reference to Napoléon Bonaparte, who was born in Ajaccio. Had he been there, he, too, would have had a song to sing in honor of his birthplace. The song encourages the listener to be part of the city's cultural heritage, to join the locals in singing and enjoying the beauty of the town.
Line by Line Meaning
Dans une vieille ruelle, Tout près de la citadelle D'Ajaccio.
In an old alley, situated near the Citadel of Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica.
Dans la nuit toujours si belle, On entend des ritournelles Des bravos.
In the beautiful night of Ajaccio, one can hear serenades and applause.
Les touristes en balade, Écoutent les sérénades Du pays.
Tourists taking a leisurely walk listen to the serenades of the country, Corsica.
Et plus rien n'a d'importance, Quand une ancienne romance Vous séduit.
Nothing else matters when an old romance captivates you.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio, Aux sons des guitares Viennent filles et garçons.
In Ajaccio, to the sounds of guitars, girls and boys come together.
Le temps passe comme un rêve, Tour à tour chacun se lève Pour chanter.
Time passes like a dream, and one by one, people stand up to sing.
Et l'on chanterait encore, S'il ne fallait à l'aurore S'arrêter.
And they would keep singing until dawn if they didn't have to stop.
Mais les cœurs de tous les Corses, Battent avec plus de force De chaleur.
But the hearts of all Corsicans beat with more strength and warmth.
Quand s'élève l'Ajaccienne, Que pour finir ils reprennent Tous en chœur.
When the Ajaccian song rises, they all join in to sing together.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio, Si Napoléon revenait Près de sa maison.
Ajaccio, if Napoleon came back near his home.
Ajaccio, Ajaccio, Lui aussi chanterait Sa chanson:
Ajaccio, and he too would sing his own song.
L'enfant prodigue de la gloire, Napoléon, Napoléon.
The prodigal child of fame, Napoleon, Napoleon.
Contributed by Samuel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Nihilus1933
Vive Tino ! J’ai quinze ans et j’espère revenir dans quelques années revoir ce commentaire ❤❤❤
@Malika-x3e
Mon oncle avait fait son service militaire avec Tino , je me souviens il en parlait beaucoup , qu'ils reposent en paix 😭
@Jean-michelPlaud
Il n'y plus de chanteurs comme lui et quelle tenue c pas les braillards d'aujourd'hui.
@vaninadavid1002
C était notre emblème de la corse souvenir souvenir avec maman
@manuelfernandez2201
J'ai 97 ans bravo grâce à vous j ai passé nu bonne à près midi merci
@jmveynois
Merci beaucoup et meilleure suite pour vous.
@galinapungina155
For ever Tino !!!!!!!
@philippegache3369
Merci Tino
@galinapungina155
The Best ! Best ! ! !❤😮❤
@marieclaireperez3265
Mr Tino Rossi vous avez bercé mon enfance car mon papa en tant que corse vous chantait et lorsque aujourd'hui je vous écoute je frémis encore et j'ai les larmes aux yeux, surtout en entendant Ajaccio . Votre voix nous transporte et nous sommes en Corse, sur votre Île de Beauté où les habitants ont de quoi être fiers. Merci beaucoup Mr car même si vous n'êtes plus là votre voix vos chants resteront immortels.