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.
Le chant du gardian
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'entends venir une chanson
Qui chante au soleil de Camargue
Ce refrain doux et profond.
C'est le chant d'un gardian de Camargue;
Belles filles, attendez son retour
Attendez, et pourtant prenez garde,
Car son chant c'est celui de l'amour.
Ladia, il vous sourira,
Ladia, puis il vous prendra dans ses bras.
Votre coeur dira oui, par mégarde,
Et alors votre coeur sera pris,
Car le chant d'un gardian qui s'attarde
Prend les coeurs et les garde pour lui.
O vous qui entendez ce chant,
Gardez vos belles fermement.
Le chant d'un gardian de Camargue,
C'est l'adieu pour un amant.
Tino Rossi's song "Le chant du gardian" tells the story of a guardian of Camargue who sings a sweet and profound refrain to the sun. The singer hears the song coming from the horizon and warns the beautiful girls to be careful, as the song is about love. When the guardian comes back, he will smile at the girls and embrace them, but their hearts will be captured by the song, and they will fall in love with him. The singer then warns the listeners to hold on to their loved ones tightly, as the song of a Camargue guardian is a farewell to a lover.
The lyrics of "Le chant du gardian" suggest that the song holds a certain power over people, particularly women who fall in love with the guardian upon hearing his song. The refrain is sweet and profound, emphasizing the romantic elements of the song. The singer warns the listeners to hold onto their loved ones, as if the song has the power to make them fall in love with someone else. The song romanticizes the idea of the Camargue guardian, creating a figure that is both alluring and dangerous.
Overall, "Le chant du gardian" is a romantic song that emphasizes the power of music and love. The song is about the Camargue guardian, a figure that holds a certain mystique and allure, particularly for women who are captivated by his song. The lyrics are a warning to be careful in matters of the heart, as the song of the guardian can lead people to fall in love with the wrong person.
Line by Line Meaning
Là-bas, du bout de l'horizon,
From afar, at the edge of the horizon
J'entends venir une chanson
I hear a song coming towards me
Qui chante au soleil de Camargue
Singing to the Camargue sun
Ce refrain doux et profond.
This sweet and deep refrain.
C'est le chant d'un gardian de Camargue;
It's the song of a Camargue guardian
Belles filles, attendez son retour
Beautiful girls, wait for his return
Attendez, et pourtant prenez garde,
Wait, but be careful,
Car son chant c'est celui de l'amour.
Because his song is that of love.
Ladia, quand il reviendra,
Ladia, when he returns,
Ladia, il vous sourira,
Ladia, he will smile at you,
Ladia, puis il vous prendra dans ses bras.
Ladia, then he will take you in his arms.
Votre coeur dira oui, par mégarde,
Your heart will say yes, inadvertently,
Et alors votre coeur sera pris,
And then your heart will be taken,
Car le chant d'un gardian qui s'attarde
Because the song of a lingering guardian
Prend les coeurs et les garde pour lui.
Takes hearts and keeps them for himself.
O vous qui entendez ce chant,
Oh you who hear this song,
Gardez vos belles fermement.
Hold onto your beauties tightly.
Le chant d'un gardian de Camargue,
The song of a Camargue guardian,
C'est l'adieu pour un amant.
Is the farewell for a lover.
Writer(s): Loulou Gaste, Jean Feline
Contributed by Nicholas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alberte1933
Tino Rossi fût un acteur formidable, il remplissait les salles chaque fois, il laisse aux gens de ma dénération un souvenir impérissable, avec des chansons vraies.
@jacquesmathiau4993
la mienne aussi Alberte 😘😘
@laurentstephan-dq1nt
j adore sa voix comme tout ses films qui me font beaucoup voyagé dans temps ❤❤❤❤❤❤
@any1321
C est mon papa chéri qui chantait toutes ces belles chansons épaule par ma maman cherie
@nicolebrouiller4016
J'ai toujours adoré les chansons de mr Tino Rossi💙🎵❤🎼🎶
@alberte1933
J'ai vu ce film et j'en garde un merveilleux souvenir, quel chanteur, acteur et bel homme !!!
@jpauluspetitpauluspetit4121
Musique de Loulou Gasté, c'était le mari de notre Line Renaud. j'avais vu ce film et j'adorais chanter cette chanson ...Ca me rajeunit, née en 1933. Merci de ce partage , en ce temps là, on comprenait toutes paroles... J.Paulus Petit.
@josephevivier1352
Le premier disque en vinyle qui est entré à la maison c'était dans les années 1958.......et c'est de là que j'ai aimé et connu Tino. Superbe voix et les belles opérettes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@fannyosbzry8665
Cela me rappelle mon papa 😭il chantait cette chanson j'ai des larmes de joie car beaucoup de souvenirs 💕
@francoisekbidi3082
Fanny Osbzry idem pour moi...