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.

Jazz tango
Tino Rossi Lyrics

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Quand tu reviendras
O mon amour
Quand tu reviendras
Je serai là
Une cascade
De sérénades
Descend la nuit sur Grenade
C'est la tornade des amours

La cavalcade
Des roucoulades
Me met le cœur à l'envers
Les feux de l'enfer, me tournent autour
Tous les violons restent sans voix
Dans ce tango perdu
Que je ne vois plus
Que je n'entends plus
Car tous les cuivres de ma joie
Font éclater la nuit
Dans un tourbillon de bruit
Une cascade
De sérénades
Et dans le cœur des chansons
Je grave ton nom
O mon amour
Dans la fureur de mon bonheur
J'entends hurler mon cœur
Quand reviendra-tu ?
Quand reviendra-tu ?
Toi que j'attends depuis le temps
De nous rêver d'enfants
Rattrapons le temps perdu
Une cascade
De sérénades
Et dans le cœur des chansons

Et dans le cœur des chansons
Je grave ton nom
O mon amour
Quand tu reviendras
O mon amour
Quand tu reviendras
Je serai là

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tino Rossi's song "Jazz tango" convey a profound sense of longing, love, and anticipation for a cherished presence to return. The singer expresses a deep emotional connection to their beloved, eagerly awaiting their comeback. There is a sense of yearning and anticipation in the repeated refrain of "Quand tu reviendras" (When you come back) which sets the tone for the entire song.

The imagery of a cascade of serenades descending upon Grenade (Grenada) evokes a romantic and passionate atmosphere. The night is described as filled with the whirlwind of love and the thrill of emotions running high. The reference to a tango and the intensity of feelings associated with it symbolize the overflowing emotions and the chaos of love.

The lyrics also touch upon the idea of lost time and the desire to make up for it. The singer longs to reunite with their beloved and make amends for the time that has passed. The overwhelming joy and happiness of being with the loved one again are depicted through the vivid imagery of a tumultuous whirlwind of sound and emotions.

The song ends with a poignant declaration of love and commitment. The singer promises to be there when their beloved returns, carving their name in the heart of the songs that express their deepest emotions. The repeated plea of "Quand reviendra-tu?" (When will you come back?) conveys a sense of urgency and longing, underscoring the depth of emotions portrayed throughout the song. Overall, the lyrics of "Jazz tango" by Tino Rossi capture the emotions of love, longing, and the fervent desire for reunion in a poignant and evocative manner.

Line by Line Meaning

Quand tu reviendras
When you return

O mon amour
Oh my beloved

Quand tu reviendras
When you come back

Je serai là
I will be waiting

Une cascade
A flowing stream

De sérénades
Of love songs

Descend la nuit sur Grenade
Falls the night over Granada

C'est la tornade des amours
It's the whirlwind of love's passions

La cavalcade
The parade

Des roucoulades
Of coos and sweet whispers

Me met le cœur à l'envers
Turns my heart upside down