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.

Pardone-Moi
Tino Rossi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Toujours votre charme m'attire et lorsque je vous vois sourire
Je ne sais pas comment vous dire l'aveu que je n'ose exprimer
Je souffre de mon ignorance et craignant votre indifférence
De vous, j'implore l'indulgence... je ne sais rien du verbe aimer !

Refrain:
Apprenez-moi des mots d'amour
Les mots dont je rêve toujours

Et que je voudrais un beau jour
Pouvoir vous répéter moi-même
Apprenez-moi des mots d'amour
Et quand vous me direz " je t'aime "
Qu'importe si mon coeur est lourd
Je pourrai vous dire à mon tour, Mon amour...

Pendant mes nuits de rêverie j'écoute votre voix chérie
Qui met en moi la griserie des mots que je ne connais pas.
Je vous réponds d'une caresse car pour vous dire ma tendresse
Vainement, je cherche sans cesse et mon coeur vous supplie tout bas...

Refrain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tino Rossi's song "Apprenez-Moi Des Mots D'Amour" delve into the deep emotions of love and longing, expressed through the singer's feelings of inadequacy in expressing his love to the object of his affection. The opening lines convey a sense of helplessness and admiration towards the person he loves, as he struggles to find the right words to confess his feelings. The singer is captivated by the charm of the beloved and is in awe of their smile, yet finds himself unable to articulate the depth of his emotions for fear of rejection or indifference. This internal conflict between desire and doubt sets the tone for the rest of the song.

The refrain, with its plea to "Apprenez-moi des mots d'amour" (Teach me words of love), highlights the singer's yearning to be able to express his love openly and confidently. He dreams of being able to speak the words of love he so desperately feels, but lacks the vocabulary and courage to do so. The repetition of this plea emphasizes the singer's longing for guidance and support in finding the right words to convey his emotions. The desire to learn how to express love reflects a universal theme of human vulnerability and the need for connection and understanding in romantic relationships.

The second stanza delves deeper into the singer's contemplation of the beloved, revealing how their voice lingers in his mind during moments of reverie. The alluring quality of the beloved's voice intoxicates him, filling him with a sense of euphoria and longing for words that escape him. Despite his attempts to respond with gestures of affection, such as a caress, he feels inadequate in truly conveying the depth of his feelings. The internal struggle between yearning for connection and feeling lost in expression is palpable, as the singer seeks solace and guidance in navigating the complexities of love.

The refrain is repeated once more, emphasizing the central theme of the song - the yearning to learn and master the language of love. The singer's longing to be able to say "je t'aime" (I love you) and to receive the same declaration in return is a poignant reminder of the universal desire for reciprocated love and emotional connection. The closing lines signify a glimmer of hope and determination in the singer's resolve to overcome his insecurities and fears in order to express his love fully and authentically. Through the evocative lyrics and heartfelt delivery of Tino Rossi, "Apprenez-Moi Des Mots D'Amour" captures the essence of love's complexities and the profound impact of words in expressing deep-seated emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

Toujours votre charme m'attire et lorsque je vous vois sourire
Your charm always attracts me, and when I see you smile

Je ne sais pas comment vous dire l'aveu que je n'ose exprimer
I don't know how to tell you the confession that I'm afraid to express

Je souffre de mon ignorance et craignant votre indifférence
I suffer from my ignorance and fear your indifference

De vous, j'implore l'indulgence... je ne sais rien du verbe aimer !
From you, I implore forgiveness... I know nothing of the verb to love!

Pendant mes nuits de rêverie j'écoute votre voix chérie
During my nights of dreaming, I listen to your beloved voice

Qui met en moi la griserie des mots que je ne connais pas
Which brings me the excitement of words that I do not know

Je vous réponds d'une caresse car pour vous dire ma tendresse
I respond to you with a caress because to express my tenderness to you

Vainement, je cherche sans cesse et mon coeur vous supplie tout bas...
In vain, I search constantly, and my heart quietly begs you...

Lyrics © SEMI, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MAURICE CHARMEROY, RENE MARGAND, MARIO MELFI, A.J. PESENTI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS