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.
Catari
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pourquoi me dire des paroles dures?
Pourquoi m'ouvrir sans cesse ma blessure?
Catari!
Je suis à toi rien qu'à toi, je t'assure,
Catari, amour chérie
Catari! Catari! Ne me repousse pas, Je courrais pour toi, droit au trépas,
Songe que je t'aime seule au monde;
Qu'à mon amour ardent, le tien réponde
{Refrain:}
Âme trop ingrâte
Qui me hait et que je flatte,
Ô souple chatte
Garde-moi ta foi
Catari! Catari!
Prends garde à toi, je te le dis prends garde,
Ne souffre pas qu'un autre te regarde,
Catari!
Ou bien pour lui, ceci, jusqu'à la garde,
Catari, amour chérie
Catari! Catari! Rien qu'à moi tes baisers,
Je ne puis ô femme m'en passer
Et pour calmer mon incessante fièvre,
Je veux le jour, la nuit
Boire à tes lèvres
{au Refrain}
In the song "Catari Catari" by Tino Rossi, the singer addresses his lover, who has been saying hurtful things to him and causing his wounds to constantly reopen. He assures her that he belongs solely to her and begs her not to push him away. He expresses his undying love for her and needs her oath of loyalty to calm his fiery passions. He warns her to be careful and not let another man capture her heart, or else he will protect what is rightfully his even if it means going to the grave.
The lyrics are a plea for devotion and reciprocation of love, with the singer feeling he is not receiving them. The name "Catari" itself is a term of endearment, either a reference to the southern Italian region of Calabria or a variation of the Greek name "Katerina." The singer's desperation and fear of losing his lover are palpable in the lyrics, and the instrumental backing of the song emulates his mood, with orchestral swells leading up to the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
Catari! Catari!
Addressing Catari with endearment and urgency
Pourquoi me dire des paroles dures?
Asking why Catari speaks harshly to the singer
Pourquoi m'ouvrir sans cesse ma blessure?
Asking why Catari keeps reopening the singer's wounds
Catari! Je suis à toi rien qu'à toi, je t'assure,
Assuring Catari of the singer's devotion and loyalty
Catari, amour chérie
Endearing address to Catari
Ne me repousse pas, Je courrais pour toi, droit au trépas,
Begging Catari not to reject the singer, willing to die for Catari's love
Songe que je t'aime seule au monde; Qu'à mon amour ardent, le tien réponde
Reminding Catari of the overwhelming love the singer has for her, hoping for a reciprocal feeling
Âme trop ingrâte Qui me hait et que je flatte,
Addressing Catari as an ungrateful person who is being flattered by the singer despite the hate received
Ô souple chatte Garde-moi ta foi
Addressing Catari as a flexible, yet faithful lover
Prends garde à toi, je te le dis prends garde,
Warning Catari to be careful about her actions
Ne souffre pas qu'un autre te regarde, Catari!
Begging Catari not to let others look at her in a romantic way
Ou bien pour lui, ceci, jusqu'à la garde, Catari, amour chérie
Warning Catari that if she chooses someone else, the singer will fight to keep her love
Rien qu'à moi tes baisers, Je ne puis ô femme m'en passer
Demanding that Catari only give the singer her kisses, unable to live without them
Et pour calmer mon incessante fièvre, Je veux le jour, la nuit Boire à tes lèvres
Asserting that to calm the singer's burning passion, they need to drink from Catari's lips day and night
{au Refrain}
Repeating the chorus
Writer(s): Alessandro Sisca, Domenico Carolli
Contributed by Ryan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@galinapungina155
Tenor Tino Rossi is singing there& today & ever,unsurpassible❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
@galinapungina155
There are NO WORDS TO express feelings!
@galinapungina155
Listening one the same(any) song I not get tired❤
@galinapungina155
Miracle Tino !!!❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@galinapungina155
Darling, beloved TINO ROSSI !❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
@galinapungina155
Tino is darling !!!
@galinapungina155
Eternel TINOROSSI !!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉
@galinapungina155
Beloved TINO ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@galinapungina155
Treasure !!! ❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉
@galinapungina155
There no WORDS to discribe opinion !!! Vive!!!