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.
O'ciuciarellla
Tino Rossi Lyrics
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O mon Dieu, penchez vous pour clamer ma peine
Et accordez-moi ce bonheur suprême
O mon Dieu, ramenez là vers moi
O mon Dieu, ce soir je ne peux plus me taire
O mon Dieu, ce soir écoutez ma prière
Vous qui chaque jour, voyez ma misère
O mon Dieu protégez mon amourVous qui chaque jour, voyez ma misère
O mon Dieu protégez mon amour
Mais si vous ne voulez pas calmer mon désarroi
Vers vous rappelez-moi
In the song "O Mon Dieu" by Tino Rossi, the lyrics express an intense sense of longing and despair from the perspective of a person deeply in love. The repetition of "O mon Dieu" serves as a poignant plea to a higher power, reflecting both desperation and hope. This invocation creates a profound emotional backdrop, suggesting that the singer feels helpless in the face of their love's absence. The use of the phrase "vous qui savez combien je l'aime" emphasizes not just the depth of love but also suggests a shared understanding with the divine. The singer is entrusting their misery and longing to God, portraying a mixture of vulnerability and surrender, pleading for comfort while also seeking intervention.
The concept of prayer is woven throughout the lyrics, illustrating the singer’s yearning for not just personal relief but a miraculous reconnection with their beloved. The line "penchez-vous pour clamer ma peine" indicates a desire for God’s attention, imploring that divine ears hear his suffering. This establishes a dialogue that is very personal, encapsulating the spiritual connection between the singer and the divine. The intensity of the emotion feels almost palpable as the singer cannot hold back their feelings of anguish, stating "ce soir je ne peux plus me taire." The act of speaking out signifies that this pain has reached a climax; silence is no longer an option, and the weight of unexpressed love is too great to bear.
In a broader sense, the lyrics explore themes of love, loss, and the search for solace in times of sorrow. The idea of “protégez mon amour” underscores the vulnerability of love, inherently fragile and in need of protection. Here, love is not just an emotion; it is something that requires divine safeguarding against life’s inevitable challenges and heartaches. The singer acknowledges their own misery and recognizes that love, while uplifting, can also lead to profound sorrow when threatened by separation. This dichotomy of love and pain is a universal experience, allowing listeners to resonate with the emotional truth of the song, thus making the plea for protection feel relatable and deeply human.
Finally, the closing lines bring the narrative to a contemplative resolution, hinting at a desire for eventual reunion—"mais si vous ne voulez pas calmer mon désarroi, vers vous rappelez-moi." Here, the singer seems to confront the possibility that their suffering may not be alleviated. This introduces a layer of acceptance but also a profound longing for unity with their beloved, whether in this life or the next. The transition from a plea for comfort to a more resigned acceptance insinuates that love extends beyond physical presence; it can transcend even the harshest distances. Thus, the song balances between desperate pleas and philosophical reflections on love and fate, inviting the listener to explore their own feelings about love's transient nature and the hope of reunion.
Line by Line Meaning
O mon Dieu, vous qui savez combien je l'aime
Oh my God, you who are fully aware of the depth of my love for her
O mon Dieu, penchez vous pour clamer ma peine
Oh my God, please lower yourself to hear the cries of my sorrow
Et accordez-moi ce bonheur suprême
And grant me this ultimate happiness that I so desperately seek
O mon Dieu, ramenez là vers moi
Oh my God, bring her back to my side once again
O mon Dieu, ce soir je ne peux plus me taire
Oh my God, tonight I can no longer remain silent about my anguish
O mon Dieu, ce soir écoutez ma prière
Oh my God, tonight hear my heartfelt prayer
Vous qui chaque jour, voyez ma misère
You who witness my suffering every single day
O mon Dieu protégez mon amour
Oh my God, shield and safeguard my love from harm
Vous qui chaque jour, voyez ma misère
You who observe my despair each day anew
O mon Dieu protégez mon amour
Oh my God, please preserve and protect my beloved
Mais si vous ne voulez pas calmer mon désarroi
But if you choose not to ease my turmoil and distress
Vers vous rappelez-moi
Then call me back to you, so I may find solace
Lyrics © EDITIONS METROPOLITAINES
Written by: Fernand BONIFAY, Franck POURCEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind