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 Sole Mio
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jetant au loin l'éveil de sa lumière
Un frisson passe sur la Terre entière
La belle chose qu'un soleil d'aurore
Mais sur mon rêve plus radieux
Un soleil règne que j'aime mieux
Sa flamme est sur ta lèvre
Et sa clarté brille en tes yeux!
La belle chose qu'un soleil en flammes,
Par les midis d'été brûlant la plaine
Des senteurs chaudes soufflent leur haleine
La belle chose qu'un soleil en flammes!
Mais sur mon rêve, plus radieux
Un soleil règne que j'aime mieux
Sa flamme est sur ta lèvre
Et sa clarté brille en tes yeux!
La belle chose qu'un soleil d'automne
Jetant l'adieu du soir aux fleurs lassées
Dans l'âme émue veillent les pensées
La belle chose qu'un soleil d'automne!
Mais sur mon rêve, plus radieux
Un soleil règne que j'aime mieux
Sa flamme est sur ta lèvre
Et sa clarté brille en tes yeux!
The above lyrics are from a famous Neapolitan song, "O sole mio," sung by Tino Rossi. The song speaks about the beauty of different types of suns that shine throughout the day and the year, but the singer declares that the sun of his dreams is the one that reigns in the eyes and on the lips of his lover. The first stanza describes the beauty of a sunrise, with a sun that spreads its light and wakes up the Earth. But even though it is a breathtaking sight, the singer says that his lover's smile is even more radiant than that of a sunrise.
The second stanza describes a scorching summer sun, which burns the fields and fills the air with warm scents. This sun is also beautiful, but the singer prefers the sun that shines in his lover's eyes and on her lips. The last stanza talks about an autumn sun, which says goodbye to tired flowers, and fills one's heart with emotions. The singer once again reiterates that he prefers the sun that shines in his lover's eyes and on her lips, declaring his love for her.
Overall, the lyrics of "O sole mio" are a declaration of love towards someone who is more radiant and beautiful than any kind of sunshine. The song has become an iconic Neapolitan song and a symbol of Italian culture worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
La belle chose qu'un soleil d'aurore
How beautiful is a sunrise sun, casting its light on the world and waking it up.
Jetant au loin l'éveil de sa lumière
Radiating its light far and wide, awakening everything in its path.
Un frisson passe sur la Terre entière
A shiver runs through the entire Earth, as if it's responding to the sun's call.
Mais sur mon rêve plus radieux
But in my dream, there exists an even brighter sun.
Un soleil règne que j'aime mieux
A sun that I love more than anything else dominates my dream.
Sa flamme est sur ta lèvre
Its flame is on your lips.
Et sa clarté brille en tes yeux!
And its radiance shines in your eyes!
La belle chose qu'un soleil en flammes,
How beautiful is a blazing sun, scorching the earth during summer afternoons.
Par les midis d'été brûlant la plaine
Burning the fields during hot summer afternoons.
Des senteurs chaudes soufflent leur haleine
Hot, aromatic scents are carried on the wind.
La belle chose qu'un soleil en flammes!
How beautiful is a blazing sun!
La belle chose qu'un soleil d'automne
How beautiful is an autumn sun, bidding farewell to withered flowers at nightfall.
Jetant l'adieu du soir aux fleurs lassées
Saying goodbye to tired, wilting flowers at the end of the day.
Dans l'âme émue veillent les pensées
Stirring emotions and thoughts in our souls.
La belle chose qu'un soleil d'automne!
How beautiful is an autumn sun!
Mais sur mon rêve, plus radieux
But in my dream, there exists an even brighter sun.
Un soleil règne que j'aime mieux
A sun that I love more than anything else dominates my dream.
Sa flamme est sur ta lèvre
Its flame is on your lips.
Et sa clarté brille en tes yeux!
And its radiance shines in your eyes!
Contributed by Carson P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andrebustamente2564
TOUTES MA FAMILLES ECCOUTAIENT TINO A ORAN ET MOI JE LUI DIS MERCI DEDE D ORAN 82 ANS/////////////////////////////////////
@alandesouzacruz5124
Belle voix
@BroJacky
je redeviens un enfant en l'écoutant. Superbe
@stewartgellatly8073
A song without Tino Rossi singing it is not worth listening to
@valapineenicolel7395
tres jolie melodie la chanson de mon pere
@jesusvieeternelle5951
Une très belle chanson je l'écoute à peine
@EGLISOLLES
Mon PAPA la chantait presqu'aussi bien
@maryse1971
Le mien aussi.
@lior2298
He was my father fevotite tennor