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.
Tant qu'il y aura des étoiles
Tino Rossi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On vit dans les rues sans fin
On a l' ventre vide et le coeur meurtri
Et l'on crève de froid et de faim
Mais nous avons nos richesses malgré tout
Le vent du soir, le printemps si doux
Tout ça c'est à nous
Refrain:
Tant qu'il y aura des étoiles
Sous la voute des cieux
Y aura dans la nuit sans voile
Du bonheur pour les gueux
Nous les gars sans fortune
Nous avons nos trésors
Seul un rayon de lune
Vaut le plus beau décor
Ici à la belle étoile
On s'ra toujours heureux
Tant qu'il y aura des étoiles
Sous la voute des cieux
Y'a pas de tapis en dessous des ponts
Ni de ciel de lit en soie
Mais il y a de l'air, je vous en réponds
Et puis l'on s'y trouve chez soi
On est bercé par la chanson du vent
On a pas chaud mais on fait pourtant
Des rêves enivrants...
Refrain
In Tino Rossi's song "Tant Qu'Il Y Aura Des Etoiles," the lyrics speak about the life of people who are homeless and live on the streets. The song portrays the struggles they face, such as having no shelter, being hungry, and cold. Despite all of this, the homeless people discussed in the song find happiness and joy in the small things.
They find beauty in the simple pleasures such as the evening breeze and the softness of spring. These small joys are the homeless people’s only riches. The song suggests that as long as the stars continue to shine in the sky, happiness and joy will still be present in the world. Even though the people may not have much, they still have a home under the open sky.
The song can be viewed as a call to society to provide equal opportunities for all. Homelessness is a harsh reality experienced by many individuals, and the song "Tant Qu'Il Y Aura Des Etoiles" offers a poignant insight into this plight, showcasing the resilience and determination of those who continue to survive in difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
On est des clochards, on n'a pas d'abris,
We are beggars without shelter,
On vit dans les rues sans fin
Living in the endless streets,
On a l' ventre vide et le coeur meurtri
Our stomachs are empty and our hearts are broken,
Et l'on crève de froid et de faim
We are dying of cold and hunger,
Mais nous avons nos richesses malgré tout
Yet we have our riches nonetheless,
Le vent du soir, le printemps si doux
The evening breeze, the gentle spring,
Tout ça c'est à nous
All of this belongs to us,
Tant qu'il y aura des étoiles
As long as there are stars,
Sous la voute des cieux
Under the vault of heaven,
Y aura dans la nuit sans voile
There will be happiness for the beggars in the night,
Du bonheur pour les gueux
Happiness for the destitute,
Nous les gars sans fortune
We men without fortune,
Nous avons nos trésors
We have our treasures,
Seul un rayon de lune
Only a beam of moonlight,
Vaut le plus beau décor
Is worth the most beautiful setting,
Ici à la belle étoile
Here, under the stars,
On s'ra toujours heureux
We will always be happy,
Y'a pas de tapis en dessous des ponts
There is no carpeting beneath the bridges,
Ni de ciel de lit en soie
Nor silk canopies above our heads,
Mais il y a de l'air, je vous en réponds
But there is air, I guarantee you,
Et puis l'on s'y trouve chez soi
And we feel at home here,
On est bercé par la chanson du vent
We are lulled by the song of the wind,
On a pas chaud mais on fait pourtant
We are not warm, yet we manage,
Des rêves enivrants...
Into intoxicating dreams...
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@galinapungina155
Magnificent !!!❤
@galinapungina155
Good for the Word !
@galinapungina155
High qality ! ! ! ❤
@galinapungina155
Super,super ! ❤
@galinapungina155
Dearist ! ❤❤❤
@voituriezclaude6944
une belle chanson que me chantait ma Maman 😍😍♥️♥️
@roberthuttle
Magnifico
@djino3111
Vraie vie
@annielu-ann5153
❤❤❤💖
@stephenVocalist9480
Always an Inspiration !