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.

Madame la nuit
Tino Rossi Lyrics

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Dans la nuit un violon joue presqu'en sourdine
Pour nous seuls, sa mélodie tendre et câline
Elle nous dit l'espoir d'aimer, la joie de vivre
Tous les deux sous le ciel clair écoutons-la
Doucement elle nous prend et nous enivre
Viens ce soir la murmurer entre mes bras

Chante, chante pour moi

Dans cette nuit de rêve
Blottie tout près de toi
La douceur de ta voix
Vient bercer mon émoi
Chante, chante pour moi
Quand ta chanson s'élève
Tout paraît à mes yeux
Plus beau, plus merveilleux
Dans cette nuit de rêve

Tu partis et depuis lors, partout je traîne
Le fardeau de mon chagrin et de mes peines

Malgré tout, il faut toujours que je revienne
Retrouver les souvenirs des jours enfuis
Mais ce soir, comme un parfum des joies anciennes
Un violon rejoue cet air qui me poursuit

Chante, chante pour moi
Dans cette nuit de rêve
La douceur d'une voix
Vient bercer mon émoi
Calmer mon désarroi
Chante, chante pour moi
Pendant ces heures brèves
Lentement dans mon coeur

Refleurit le bonheur
Dans cette nuit de rêve
Chante, chante pour moi
Pendant ces heures brèves
Lentement dans mon coeur
Refleurit le bonheur
Dans cette nuit de rêve

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Un Violon dans la Nuit" by Tino Rossi & Orchestre speak of a violin playing softly in the night, almost in a muted tone. The melody of the violin is tender and affectionate, conveying the message of hope in love and the joy of living. The song is a conversation between two lovers, who listen to the violin melody under the clear sky. It takes them gently, intoxicating them with its enchanting sound. The singer invites his lover to come and whisper it in his arms, emphasizing the intimacy and closeness they share.

In the second verse, the singer expresses the pain and sorrow he carries since his lover departed. Despite this burden, he always finds himself returning to the memories of the past, seeking solace. However, in this night of dreams, like a fragrance from the past, a violin plays the same melody, haunting him once again. The singer pleads for his lover to sing for him in this dreamlike night, as the sweetness of her voice soothes his emotions and brings back the happiness that once bloomed in his heart.

The lyrics of "Un Violon dans la Nuit" evoke a sense of longing, nostalgia, and the power of music to heal and revive emotions. It portrays the intimacy and connection between two lovers, highlighting the role of music as a means to express and amplify their affection for each other.

Madame la nuitTino Rossi Lyrics

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Madame la nuit
Tino Rossi Lyrics