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.
Noël Blanc
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'aime à revoir mes joies d'enfant
Le sapin scintillant, la neige d'argent
Noël, mon beau rêve blanc
Oh ! quand j'entends sonner au ciel
L'heure où le bon vieillard descend
Je revois tes yeux clairs, MamanEt je songe à d'autres Noëls blancs
La nuit est pleine de chants joyeux
Le bois craque dans le feu
La table est déjà garnie
Tout est prêt pour mes amis
Et j'attends l'heure où ils vont venir
En écoutant tous mes souvenirs
Oh ! quand j'entends chanter Noël
J'aime à revoir mes joies d'enfant
Le sapin scintillant, la neige d'argent
Noël, mon beau rêve blanc
Oh ! quand j'entends sonner au ciel
L'heure où le bon vieillard descend
Je revois tes yeux clairs, Maman
Et je songe à d'autres Noëls blancs
Je revois tes yeux clairs, Maman
Et je songe à d'autres Noëls blancs
In Tino Rossi's song "Noël Blanc," he expresses his love for the holiday season and reminisces on the joys of his childhood during Christmas. The first verse talks about how he loves to hear Christmas carols because it brings back memories of his childhood and how he used to admire the shining Christmas tree and the glistening snow. The second verse mentions the anticipation of Santa Claus coming down the chimney and how he remembers his mother's clear eyes during other Christmas seasons.
The chorus repeats the same lines as the first and second verse. In the third verse, Rossi describes the night of Christmas, how he hears joyful songs, and the sound of wood crackling in the fire. He mentions that his table is already set for his friends, and as he waits for them to arrive, he listens to his past memories.
Overall, the song features nostalgic lyrics that express the love and warmth that people associate with Christmas. It evokes images of snow, family gatherings, and the excitement and joy of children during this magical time of year.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh ! quand j'entends chanter Noël
The joy and nostalgia I feel when I hear Christmas songs.
J'aime à revoir mes joies d'enfant
I love to relive the happiness and excitement of my childhood.
Le sapin scintillant, la neige d'argent
The shining Christmas tree and the snow that looks like silver.
Noël, mon beau rêve blanc
Christmas, my beautiful dream of a white winter wonderland.
L'heure où le bon vieillard descend
The time when Santa Claus comes down to bring gifts to all the good children.
Je revois tes yeux clairs, Maman
I see again your clear, bright eyes, Mom.
Et je songe à d'autres Noëls blancs
And I think about other white Christmases we had.
La nuit est pleine de chants joyeux
The night is full of joyful songs.
Le bois craque dans le feu
The fire crackles in the wood.
La table est déjà garnie
The table is already set with food and drinks.
Tout est prêt pour mes amis
Everything is ready for my friends.
Et j'attends l'heure où ils vont venir
I'm waiting for the time when they will come.
En écoutant tous mes souvenirs
Listening to all my memories.
Je revois tes yeux clairs, Maman
I see again your clear, bright eyes, Mom.
Et je songe à d'autres Noëls blancs
And I think about other white Christmases we had.
Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jessyjamess2082
J'ai encore ce même disque en photo de notre merveilleux Tino Rossi, je mets ce disque, c'est toujours un moment de bonheur pour l'écouter, les souvenirs reviennent dans notre cœur d'enfant.
@Poppy-6667
Incontournable chanson de Tino Rossi qui a bercé notre enfance.
@nathaliebrunbrun5229
Le seul interprète de Noël avec une âme. Les autres c'est du show biz, du commercial. Avec Tino c'est la magie, le Noël entre mes parents et grands parents. L'attente de l'aube pour déballer mes "joujous", et cette saveur des Noëls d'avant. 😢 À présent ils sont au ciel et j'espère que pour eux c'est Noël tous les jours ❤
@robertpomerleau8740
Quelle nostalgie de notre enfance merci.
@alainrohaut9963
En reécoutant ces chansons avec Tino Rossi ,je retombe en enfance avec mon Papa et ma Maman, je suis très ému Alain 71 ans
@ellafitzgerald1458
Moi de même, que d'émotion !
@annemarcenac9352
❤
@hugueslucas8023
Violette 77 ans que de larmes d emotion ou de tristesse en memoire de mon enfance.
@sorel871
J
@mockyleparapluie1436
Oh adorable ❤