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 joie
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- 1 -
Il y a le printemps et ses fleurs
L'été, son soleil, ses vacances
L'automne aux changeantes couleurs
L'hiver, sa neige où l'on s'élance
Qu'importent pour moi les saisonsMon bonheur je le chante à Suzon.
Refrain
Ma joie c'est ton rire joyeux
Ma joie c'est l'éclat de tes yeux
Ma joie c'est lorsque dans mes bras
Je sens tout contre moi
Ton petit coeur qui bat
Ma joie c'est t'aimer, t'adorer
Sans fin tendrement murmurer
Ces doux mots à mi-voix:
Je ne suis rien qu'à toi
Chérie, voilà toute ma joie.
- 2 -
Malgré le ciel gris de Paris
Mon coeur chante cet air de fête
Refrain des dimanches, des sam'dis
Charmant rendez-vous des guinguettes
Viens tout près de moi ma douceur
Viens valser sur ce rythme berceur.
Après le 2e refrain:
Ma joie c'est t'aimer, t'adorer
Sans fin tendrement murmurer
Je ne suis rien qu'à toi
Chérie, voilà toute ma joie.
The song "Ma joie" by Tino Rossi celebrates the joys of love and the ability for it to bring happiness in any season of life. The first verse describes the different seasons, but the singer notes that it doesn't matter what season it is because his happiness comes from being with his beloved Suzon. The refrain then reflects on the singer's joy, which is the sound of his lover's laughter, the sparkle in her eyes, and the feeling of her heart beating against his chest as he holds her close. The second verse reiterates that even in the gray skies of Paris, the singer's heart sings with joy, particularly on the weekends when they can dance together at the guinguettes.
Overall, the song is a romantic celebration of the power of love to transcend all circumstances and to be the source of true joy in life. The joys of nature, the seasons, and weekend festivities are all secondary to the love that the singer has for Suzon. The chorus reflects this sentiment beautifully with the simple but powerful refrain of "Ma joie c'est t'aimer, t'adorer" (My joy is to love you, adore you).
Line by Line Meaning
Il y a le printemps et ses fleurs
Spring brings colorful flowers that signify growth and renewal.
L'été, son soleil, ses vacances
Summer brings sunshine, warmth, and freedom from work or school.
L'automne aux changeantes couleurs
Autumn brings a change in nature's colors, signifying the end of one season and the beginning of another.
L'hiver, sa neige où l'on s'élance
Winter brings snow that we can enjoy skiing or sledding on.
Qu'importent pour moi les saisons
No matter the season, all that truly matters for me is my love for Suzon.
Mon bonheur je le chante à Suzon.
I express my happiness and joy to Suzon through song.
Ma joie c'est ton rire joyeux
My joy comes from hearing your happy laughter.
Ma joie c'est l'éclat de tes yeux
My joy comes from seeing the sparkle in your eyes.
Ma joie c'est lorsque dans mes bras
My joy comes from holding you in my arms.
Je sens tout contre moi
Feeling your heart beating against mine.
Ton petit coeur qui bat
Hearing the rhythm of your heartbeat.
Ma joie c'est t'aimer, t'adorer
My greatest joy is loving and adoring you.
Sans fin tendrement murmurer
Whispering sweet nothings to you endlessly.
Ces doux mots à mi-voix:
Those sweet words spoken in a gentle voice.
Je ne suis rien qu'à toi
I am yours and yours alone.
Chérie, voilà toute ma joie.
My dear, that is all my joy.
Malgré le ciel gris de Paris
Even though Paris may be gloomy and gray.
Mon coeur chante cet air de fête
My heart sings a joyful tune.
Refrain des dimanches, des sam'dis
The chorus of Sundays and Saturdays.
Charmant rendez-vous des guinguettes
Lovely venues for drinking and dancing.
Viens tout près de moi ma douceur
Come close to me, my sweet one.
Viens valser sur ce rythme berceur.
Let's waltz to this soothing rhythm.
Contributed by Maria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@josephevivier1352
CE 28 SEPTEMBRE 2022..................;TINO.........LE CHÉRI DE CES DAMES.....................;ET C'EST UNE MAMIE DE 80 ANS QUI ÉCRIT..................