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.

Ma chanson est pour toi
Tino Rossi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Toi mon amour des jours heureux
C'est ton regard que je vois dans le ciel bleu
Toi mon étoile à l'horizon
C'est ta voix qui me répond
Dans les accords des violons
Toi, la fraîcheur de mes matins
Je bois tes lèvres
Sur les roses du jardin

Et rien jamais, n'effacera de ma vie
Ton image qui m'obsède chaque jour, chaque nuit
Toi, mon amour des jours passés
Ton souvenir reste dans mon coeur blessé

Comme soleil inonde en deux ses rayons
Tout l'amour que j'ai gardé pour te donner ma chanson

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tino Rossi's "Chanson pour ma brune" express deep emotions and love for a significant other. The singer begins by addressing their lover as "toi, mon amour des jours heureux," highlighting the joy and happiness that the person brings into their life. The mention of "ton regard que je vois dans le ciel bleu" evokes a sense of longing and romanticism, suggesting that the lover's presence is like a guiding light in their life, even when they are apart.

The imagery of "toi, mon étoile à l'horizon" further emphasizes the lover's importance and the connection they share, as if the lover is a guiding star in the singer's life. The reference to "ta voix qui me répond dans les accords des violons" evokes a sense of harmony and unity, as if the lover's voice echoes in the music that surrounds them, symbolizing a deep emotional bond.

The lyrics also talk about cherishing moments with the lover, such as "la fraîcheur de mes matins" and "je bois tes lèvres sur les roses du jardin," depicting intimate and romantic scenes shared between the singer and their beloved. The mention of "rien jamais, n'effacera de ma vie ton image qui m'obsède chaque jour, chaque nuit" reflects the lasting impact the lover has on the singer, as their image continues to occupy their thoughts and dreams.

The singer reminisces about the past with their lover, referring to them as "toi, mon amour des jours passés," indicating a history shared together. The line "ton souvenir reste dans mon cœur blessé" suggests that even though the lover may no longer be present physically, their memory still resides in the singer's wounded heart, hinting at a sense of longing and nostalgia. The comparison of the lover to the sun, "comme soleil inonde en deux ses rayons," conveys the vast amount of love the singer still holds for their beloved, ready to pour it all out in the form of this heartfelt song.

Overall, "Chanson pour ma brune" by Tino Rossi is a poignant declaration of love and devotion, capturing the essence of deep emotional connection and longing for a past love. The lyrics beautifully convey the singer's affection, memories, and enduring feelings for their beloved, painting a vivid picture of a love that transcends time and space.

Line by Line Meaning

Toi mon amour des jours heureux
You, my beloved during moments of joy

C'est ton regard que je vois dans le ciel bleu
It is your gaze that I see reflected in the clear blue sky

Toi mon étoile à l'horizon
You, my guiding star on the distant horizon

C'est ta voix qui me répond
It is your voice that echoes back to me

Dans les accords des violons
Within the harmonious notes of the violins

Toi, la fraîcheur de mes matins
You, the refreshing essence of my mornings

Je bois tes lèvres
I savor your lips

Sur les roses du jardin
Amidst the roses blooming in the garden

Et rien jamais, n'effacera de ma vie
And nothing will ever erase from my life

Ton image qui m'obsède chaque jour, chaque nuit
Your image that haunts my thoughts both day and night

Toi, mon amour des jours passés
You, my beloved of the days gone by