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.

Le temps des cerises
Tino Rossi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Refrain:
C'est le temps des guitares,
C'est le temps des beaux jours,
Oui, oui, oui
C'est le temps des guitares,
Le temps des filles et de l'amour.
C'est le temps des copains,
Le temps du plaisir et de la jeunesse

Quand on a dix-huit ans on a plus
Le temps d'attendre longtemps.
C'est le temps qui s'en va,
Qu'il faut à présent gagner de vitesse,
C'est le temps qui s'enfuit,
Le temps des enfants d'aujourd'hui.

C'est le temps des guitares,
De la danse et du bruit
Oui, oui, oui
C'est le temps des guitares,
Le temps des jeunes d'aujourd'hui
Oui, oui, oui,
C'est le temps des guitares,
C'est le temps des beaux jours,
Oui, oui, oui,
Mais le temps des guitares

On l'a chanté depuis toujours.
On l'a chanté depuis toujours.

Overall Meaning

The song "Le temps des cerises" by Tino Rossi talks about the passing of time and the memories associated with it. The refrain talks about the time of guitars, beautiful days, girls, love, friends, pleasure, youth, and the need to accelerate and make the most of the present time, which is fleeting. The lyrics paint a picture of a joyful and colorful life where guitars are at the center of the entertainment. Tino sings about how guitars are associated with dance, noise, and the youth of today while acknowledging that this tradition has been ongoing since forever.

The song talks about how the carefree joy of youth transforms into adulthood with its responsibilities and burdens. However, it also reminisces about the beautiful moments of life that are worth cherishing forever. It talks about the importance of living in the moment and celebrating life with friends and loved ones. The simple yet powerful refrain of "le temps des guitares" emphasizes the importance of music in our lives and how it binds us, crosses boundaries, and makes life worth living.

Line by Line Meaning

C'est le temps des guitares,
This is the time for guitars to play,

C'est le temps des beaux jours,
This is the time for beautiful days to come,

Oui, oui, oui
Yes, yes, yes

C'est le temps des guitares,
This is the time for guitars to play,

Le temps des filles et de l'amour.
The time for girls and love to flourish.

C'est le temps des copains,
The time for friends to come together,

Le temps du plaisir et de la jeunesse
The time for pleasure and youth.

Quand on a dix-huit ans on a plus
When one is eighteen, there's no more

Le temps d'attendre longtemps.
Time to wait for a long time.

C'est le temps qui s'en va,
This time is passing by,

Qu'il faut à présent gagner de vitesse,
We must now catch up with it,