Tino Rossi (April 29, 1907 - September 26, 1983) was a singer and film acto… Read Full Bio ↴Tino Rossi (April 29, 1907 - September 26, 1983) was a singer and film actor.

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.

Douce nuit sainte nuit
Tino Rossi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Douce nuit, blanche nuit
C'est Noël aujourd'hui
Et pendant que les clochers joyeux
Carillonnent à la voûte des cieux
Sous les toits des chaumières
On a le cœur bien heureux
C'est si joli un sapin vert
Qui sourit les bras couverts

De lumières et de cheveux d'argent
Près du feu qui s'éteint doucement
Il n'eut pas tant de joie lui
Le soir où il descendit
Nu dans le froid et le vent
Attendu depuis la nuit des temps
Pour nous donner en rêve

Un peu de son paradis
À Noël

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tino Rossi's "Douce nuit sainte nuit" paint a serene and joyous picture of Christmas Eve. The singer describes the scene of a peaceful and snowy night, evoking a sense of tranquility and celebration. The mention of the ringing church bells and the imagery of cozy cottages with happy hearts instills a feeling of warmth and community during the holiday season.

The lyrics also highlight the beauty of a decorated Christmas tree, symbolizing joy and festivity. The image of a green tree adorned with lights and silver tinsel creates a vivid picture of a traditional holiday setting. The singer expresses admiration for the festive tree and the comfort it brings in contrast to the fading fire, suggesting a sense of continuity and tradition in celebrating Christmas.

The song then shifts its focus to the significance of Christmas beyond the decorations and festivities. It reflects on the humble origins of the holiday, referencing the Biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The mention of his arrival in the cold and wind, awaited since ancient times, emphasizes the miraculous and redemptive nature of Christmas as a time of hope and renewal.

In the final stanza, the lyrics allude to the sacred and spiritual aspect of Christmas, portraying it as a time when humanity receives a glimpse of heaven. The singer suggests that Christmas is not just a time for material joys and celebrations but also a moment to reflect on the deeper meaning of the holiday and the gift of love and salvation that Christ brings. Overall, the song conveys a message of joy, gratitude, and reverence for the Christmas season and the divine significance it holds for believers.

Line by Line Meaning

Douce nuit, blanche nuit
Quiet night, white night

C'est Noël aujourd'hui
It's Christmas today

Et pendant que les clochers joyeux
And while the joyful bells

Carillonnent à la voûte des cieux
Ring in the vault of the heavens

Sous les toits des chaumières
Under the rooftops of cottages

On a le cœur bien heureux
We have a very happy heart

C'est si joli un sapin vert
It's so lovely, a green fir tree

Qui sourit les bras couverts
Smiling with its branches covered

De lumières et de cheveux d'argent
With lights and silver tinsel

Près du feu qui s'éteint doucement
Near the fire that slowly extinguishes

Il n'eut pas tant de joie lui
He didn't have as much joy