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.
Au fond des nuits
Tino Rossi Lyrics
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Dont l'air se lamente au long des jours
Romance qui chante amour, amour
Au ciel des faubourgs
Romance au fond des coeurs
Troublante rengaine à l'air moqueur
Qui tourne et qui traîne avec langueur
Un peu de bonheurMais elle est éternelle
En toutes les saisons
La simple ritournelle
Sans rime ni raison
Amour, amour, toujours, toujours
La même chanson
En voisinant par la fenêtre
Un jour elle avait souri
Il répondit de tout son être
Je crois que c'était écrit
De la cours montait un doux refrain
Qui parfumait le ciel du matin
Romance au fond des cours
Dont l'air se lamente au long des jours
Romance qui chante amour, amour
Au ciel des faubourgs
Romance au fond des coeurs
Troublante rengaine à l'air moqueur
Qui tourne et qui traîne avec langueur
Un peu de bonheur
C'est un très vieux poème
Avec de simples mots
Mais quand on dit "Je t'aime"
Tout vous paraît nouveau
Amour, amour, toujours, toujours
La même chanson
Avec de simples mots
Mais quand on dit je t'aime
Tout vous paraît nouveau
Amour, amour, toujours, toujours
La même chanson
These lyrics describe a romance that takes place in the back courtyards and hearts of a neighborhood. The "Romance au fond des cours" refers to a love story that unfolds in the hidden corners of everyday life. The air is filled with lamentation, suggesting a sense of longing and yearning that persists throughout the days. This romance sings of love, love, reaching the skies of the suburbs.
The repetition of the phrase "Romance au fond des coeurs" emphasizes the deep emotional connection between the two lovers. The lingering refrain carries a teasing air, as if mocking their situation, yet it turns and lingers with a sense of languor, bringing a hint of happiness. Despite its simplicity, this romance is eternal, transcending seasons and time.
The narrative shifts to a specific moment when the singer and their love interest exchange glances through a window. A simple smile ignites a connection between them, as if their encounter was destined to happen. The sweet refrain rising from the courtyard perfumes the morning sky, further enhancing the romantic atmosphere.
The lyrics present this romance as an ancient poem, composed of ordinary words. However, when the phrase "Je t'aime" is uttered, everything feels new and fresh. Love is depicted as a timeless and universal theme, always accompanied by the same song. It is a reminder that despite the simplicity of words, the expression of love brings a sense of renewal and novelty to one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Romance au fond des cours
Love affair hidden in the depths of courtyards
Dont l'air se lamente au long des jours
Whose air laments throughout the days
Romance qui chante amour, amour
Love affair that sings of love, love
Au ciel des faubourgs
In the sky of the suburbs
Romance au fond des coeurs
Love affair deep within the hearts
Troublante rengaine à l'air moqueur
Troubling refrain with a mocking air
Qui tourne et qui traîne avec langueur
That turns and lingers with languor
Un peu de bonheur
A little bit of happiness
Mais elle est éternelle
But it is eternal
En toutes les saisons
In all seasons
La simple ritournelle
The simple refrain
Sans rime ni raison
Without rhyme or reason
Amour, amour, toujours, toujours
Love, love, always, always
La même chanson
The same song
En voisinant par la fenêtre
By neighboring through the window
Un jour elle avait souri
One day she had smiled
Il répondit de tout son être
He responded with all his being
Je crois que c'était écrit
I believe it was written
De la cours montait un doux refrain
A gentle refrain rose from the courtyard
Qui parfumait le ciel du matin
That perfumed the morning sky
C'est un très vieux poème
It's a very old poem
Avec de simples mots
With simple words
Mais quand on dit "Je t'aime"
But when one says "I love you"
Tout vous paraît nouveau
Everything seems new to you
C'est un très vieux poème
It's a very old poem
Avec de simples mots
With simple words
Mais quand on dit je t'aime
But when one says I love you
Tout vous paraît nouveau
Everything seems new to you
Amour, amour, toujours, toujours
Love, love, always, always
La même chanson
The same song
Lyrics © EDITIONS METROPOLITAINES
Written by: Andre TABET, Louis POTERAT, Norbert GLANZBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@neesousunebonneetoile
C'est le petit papa noël 🎅de toute mon enfance.C'est Tino Rossi qui la chante le mieux.C'est chanson est éternelle.J'espere pouvoir la faire écouter un jour à mes petits enfants.J'ai 62 ans et je n'en ai pas encore malheureusement.J'ai toujours une grande émotion en écoutant cette chanson .Bon Noël à tous 🎅
@marie-francefiorenzano666
Bon Noël à tous
@AsmahenFrey
C'est une période Magique, alors faites un voeux et j'espère de tout mon coeur qu'il se réalisera noël prochain peu être vous aurez le plus beau cadeau du monde 🙏 je vous souhaite un joyeux Noël, tenez moi au courant d'ici une année 🙏🙏☀️🎄🎁🎇
@angerouge669
Ma maman était amoureuse de Tino Rossi. Cette chanson, les enfants la chantaient tout le mois de décembre. Une merveille. Merci de nous l'avoir partager
@emilemayard2369
J était petit je suis né en 1943 et mes grands parents avaient un phonographe et nous écoutions cette merveilleuse chanson en regardant la neige tomber à travers les vitres avec comme chauffage un poêle crapaud la belle époque
@crapaudinne
Rien n'est comparable à cette chanson qui a traversé les années sans prendre une ride....
@degrak
Avec mon père, on écoute cette chanson chaque année. Mon père est récemment décédé, mais il est encore avec moi, écoutant cette chanson de Tino Rossi à Noël. Joyeux Noël papa, et à tous un Joyeux Noël
@annefavreau2817
Mon papa s appelle Denis et Tino Rossi est son chanteur préféré . . . Joyeux noel
@jeremybeau8334
On n’habite pas en France, mais mon pére ma aussie montre cette chanson. Joyeux Noel.
@decryptage7535
Mes condoléances. Votre papa vous regarde d'en Haut désormais. Quand vous mettrez ce morceau le soir de Noël, il sera dans votre cœur.