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.
Bohémienne aux yeux noirs
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Des baisers profanes
Quand j'ai croisé sur le grand chemin
Ma belle gitane
J'ai voulu la suivre un jour
Dans sa caravane
Comme une tzigane
Eperdu d'amourJe chante à mon tour
{Refrain:}
Bohémienne aux grands yeux noirs
Tes cheveux couleur du soir
Et l'éclat de ta peau brune
Sont plus beaux qu'un clair de lune
Bohémienne aux grands yeux noirs
J'ai vibré d'un tendre espoir
Je voudrais que tu sois mienne
Bohémienne.
2. Ne vois-tu pas que mon cur ardent
Est sous ton empire
Que sous tes pas j'implore et j'attends
Ton plus doux sourire
Les tarots de ton grand jeu
N'ont pu te le dire
Mais tu peux lire
Au fond de mes yeux
Ce plus tendre aveu
{au Refrain}
The lyrics to Tino Rossi's song "Bohémienne aux yeux noirs" speak of a narrator who has grown disillusioned with love after experiencing disappointment in past relationships. However, his world changes when he encounters a beautiful gypsy woman with dark eyes and brown skin. He immediately falls in love with her and desperately wants to be in her company, even going so far as to follow her into her caravan. The singer notes the exquisite beauty of the Bohemienne, with her eyes like midnight and hair the color of the setting sun. He declares his love for her, hoping that she will reciprocate these feelings.
The second verse reveals that the singer is completely entranced by his Bohemian love, and is willing to do anything for her. He is under her spell and waits patiently for her affection in return. He believes that his love for her is evident in his actions and the way he looks at her. In essence, the song is an ode to the singer's love for the Bohemienne.
Overall, the lyrics present the narrative of a man who is moved by the beauty and mystery of a gypsy woman, hoping against hope that his love for her will be reciprocated.
Line by Line Meaning
J'étais blasé de cueillir en vain,
I was weary of collecting meaningless kisses,
Des baisers profanes
kisses without any deeper meaning,
Quand j'ai croisé sur le grand chemin
When I crossed on the main road,
Ma belle gitane
I saw my beautiful gypsy woman,
J'ai voulu la suivre un jour
I wanted to follow her one day,
Dans sa caravane
into her caravan,
Comme une tzigane
Like a gypsy man
Eperdu d'amour
Lost in love,
Je chante à mon tour
I now sing my turn,
{Refrain:}
Bohémienne aux grands yeux noirs
Tes cheveux couleur du soir
Et l'éclat de ta peau brune
Sont plus beaux qu'un clair de lune
Bohémienne aux grands yeux noirs
J'ai vibré d'un tendre espoir
Je voudrais que tu sois mienne
Bohémienne.
Oh Bohemian woman with big black eyes, your hair as dark as the evening, and the glow of your brown skin are more beautiful than moonlight. Bohemian woman with big black eyes, I'm filled with tender hope, I wish you were mine Bohemian woman.
Ne vois-tu pas que mon coeur ardent
Can't you see that my passionate heart,
Est sous ton empire
is under your control,
Que sous tes pas j'implore et j'attends
That I implore and wait eagerly under your footsteps,
Ton plus doux sourire
for your sweetest smile,
Les tarots de ton grand jeu
The tarot cards of your big game,
N'ont pu te le dire
couldn't tell you,
Mais tu peux lire
But you can read
Au fond de mes yeux
deep within my eyes
Ce plus tendre aveu
this tender confession.
{au Refrain}
{to the Refrain}
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DanielCollet-y3l
Inoubliable Tino Rossi quel voix extraordinaire j'adore cette chanson magnifique amicalement Daniel Collet ❤❤
@SylvestreKodia
Tres belle musique et tres 🎉belle voix de Tino. Merci
@JackPourchez
J adore mon Papa nous l à chantez ainsi que Maman. Amitié Jack
@josephevivier1352
CE 20 AOUT 2022..................MERCI TINO POUR CE MAGNIFIQUE RÉPERTOIRE............;JE NE VOUS OUBLIE PAS..............
@SylvestreKodia
De merveilleux souvenirs de mes annees et de mes copains... de jeunesse 😅
@lacitadinette1444
Je redécouvre actuellement le répertoire de Tino Rossi. Et je vais d'émerveillement en émerveillement, tant sa voix est d'une exceptionnelle beauté.
@elisabethmontefusco7596
Que j aime ce grand chanteur quand c est mon fiance quand j avait 8 an et maintenant j aïs 82 an mais toujour amoureux de lui
@yannickguillon9003
Belle chanson, bien interprétée. Bravo et merci.
@marieantoinette1194
merveileux chanteur que ma maman adorait je crois qu elleconnaissait toutes ses chansons
@Julie-xp2hj
trop joli .... que de souvenirs .....