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.
C'est bon d'aimer
Tino Rossi Lyrics
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C’est bon d’aimer
Ta joue frôlant la mienne
Lorsque mes bras t’enchaînent
Tout conte moi serrée
C’est bon d’aimer
Quand ton regard chavire
Voyant le mien le direTous mes désirs cachés
Toi à qui je dois mes nuits de fièvre
J’imaginais tes mains, tes lèvres
Mais c’est en rêve que je t’aimais
Viens, ce soir enfin j’ai ta présence
Je sens frémir ton corps qui danse
Tu es la chance que j’attendais
Aimer aimer aimer
C’est bon d’aimer
Ta joue frôlant la mienne
Lorsque mes bras t’enchaînent
Pour ne plus te quitter
C’est bon d’aimer
Je sens tes doigts qui tremblent
Nous allons vivre ensemble
Le vrai bonheur d’aimer
Aimer aimer aimer
T’aimer
The lyrics of Tino Rossi's "C'est bon d'aimer" explore the profound and intoxicating feelings that accompany love. Repeated expressions of "Aimer Aimer Aimer" emphasize the central theme of love, suggesting not just an action but an overwhelming and joyous experience. The phrase "c’est bon d’aimer" encapsulates the exhilaration and pleasure derived from romantic affection. This declaration sets the emotional tone, reminiscent of the blissfulness that can be found in intimate relationships. The passionate imagery—where one’s cheek softly brushes against another’s—indicates a deep connection, accentuating the warmth and tenderness that love brings into one’s life. The physical closeness articulated through "lorsque mes bras t’enchaînent" represents not just a desire for possession but a longing for unity and shared experience.
As the narrative unfolds, the lyrics delve into the subtleties of physical and emotional intimacy. The juxtaposition of the singer's tightly held embrace with the lines about "ton regard chavire" captures the swirling excitement and the electric nature of love. The act of gazing into one another's eyes often reveals unspoken desires and vulnerabilities. When it references "tous mes désirs cachés," it reveals a deeper layer of emotional truth—what lies beneath the surface of romance. This delving into hidden desires suggests a complexity to love that goes beyond mere physical attraction; it speaks to the yearning for a soulmate who can unlock one’s innermost feelings and passions. The mention of nights filled with "fièvre" paints a picture of passionate longing and fervor, suggesting a love that is both exhilarating and overwhelming in its intensity.
The lyrics then transition into the fulfillment and arrival of love, depicted through "Viens, ce soir enfin j’ai ta présence." This moment of awaited closeness is laden with anticipation and desire, climactically transforming dreams into reality. The singer's senses are heightened; they can sense the other’s body dancing, which evokes a feverish anticipation and electric connection that further emphasizes the entwinement of their lives and desires. This sensual representation signifies not only physical presence but also an intertwining of souls, highlighting the beautiful chance that love represents. The phrase "tu es la chance que j’attendais" acknowledges the unpredictable nature of love—it’s something to be cherished, appreciated, and revered as a remarkable gift that brings joy and fulfillment to one's life.
In the concluding lyrics, "nous allons vivre ensemble le vrai bonheur d’aimer," the narrative becomes one of shared commitment and lasting happiness. The aspirations for a shared life signal a transformation from fleeting moments of passion to a deeper desire for companionship and stability. The repetition of "Aimer aimer aimer" serves as both a mantra and a celebration of love itself, emphasizing its centrality in the singer’s life. The invocation of togetherness through “pour ne plus te quitter” suggests a longing for permanence in love, reflecting the human desire for connection and belonging. Ultimately, Tino Rossi's lyrics poetically encapsulate the euphoric highs of romantic love while acknowledging the profound depth of emotion involved in desiring, achieving, and cherishing that love.
Line by Line Meaning
Aimer Aimer Aimer
To love, to love, to love
C’est bon d’aimer
It is wonderful to experience love
Ta joue frôlant la mienne
Your cheek softly brushing against mine
Lorsque mes bras t’enchaînent
When my arms embrace you tightly
Tout conte moi serrée
As we hold each other close
C’est bon d’aimer
It is delightful to be in love
Quand ton regard chavire
When your gaze becomes overwhelmed
Voyant le mien le dire
Seeing my eyes convey this feeling
Tous mes désirs cachés
All of my hidden desires
Toi à qui je dois mes nuits de fièvre
You, to whom I owe my passionate nights
J’imaginais tes mains, tes lèvres
I envisioned your hands, your lips
Mais c’est en rêve que je t’aimais
But it was in dreams that I loved you
Viens, ce soir enfin j’ai ta présence
Come, tonight I finally have you with me
Je sens frémir ton corps qui danse
I feel your body quivering as it dances
Tu es la chance que j’attendais
You are the fortune I have longed for
Aimer aimer aimer
To love, to love, to love
C’est bon d’aimer
It is joyous to love
Ta joue frôlant la mienne
Your cheek delicately touching mine
Lorsque mes bras t’enchaînent
When my arms wrap around you
Pour ne plus te quitter
So that we are never apart again
C’est bon d’aimer
It is fulfilling to be in love
Je sens tes doigts qui tremblent
I can feel your trembling fingers
Nous allons vivre ensemble
We are about to share our lives together
Le vrai bonheur d’aimer
The true joy of loving
Aimer aimer aimer
To love, to love, to love
T’aimer
To love you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BEUSCHER ARPEGE
Written by: MARCEL DABADIE (BASSET DABADIE), RENE DENONCIN, GINO GOMEZ (JACK LEDRU), Gino (Jack Ledru) Gomez, Marcel (Basset ) Dabadie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind