Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina (née Simoni) and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in 1923. He grew up in Marseille, where, as a young man, he worked in his sister's barber shop, and later on the docks. He began a career in show business as a music-hall singer. In 1944, he was discovered by Édith Piaf in Paris and she made him part of her act, becoming his mentor and lover.
Montand went on to international recognition as a singer and actor, starring in numerous films. His recognizably crooner songs, especially those about Paris, became instant classics.
He was one of the most famous performers at Bruno Coquatrix's famous Paris Olympia music hall.
In 1951, he married the actress Simone Signoret, and they co-starred in several films throughout their careers. The marriage was, by all accounts, fairly harmonious, lasting until her death in 1985, although Montand had a number of well-publicised affairs, notably with Marilyn Monroe, with whom he starred in one of her last films, Let's Make Love. During his career, Montand acted in a number of American motion pictures as well as on Broadway. He was nominated for a Cesar Award for "Best Actor" in 1980 for "I comme Icare" and again in 1984 for "Garçon!"
In the French dubbings of Looney Tunes, the character Pepé Le Pew is an Italian skunk named "Pépé le putois". The voice characterization was often based on Montand's performances.
In 1986, after his international box-office draw power had fallen off considerably, the 65-year-old Montand gave one of his most memorable performances, as the scheming uncle in the two-part film: Jean de Florette, co-starring Gérard Depardieu, and Manon des Sources, co-starring Emmanuelle Béart. The film was a worldwide critical hit and raised Montand's profile in the U.S., where he made an appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman."
Montand's only child, Valentin, his son by his second wife Carole Amiel, was born in 1988. In a paternity suit that rocked France, another woman accused Montand of being the father of her daughter and went to court to obtain a DNA sample from him. Montand refused, but the woman persisted after his death. In a court ruling that made international headlines, the woman won the right to have Montand exhumed and a sample taken. It subsequently showed that he was not the girl's father.
Montand embarked on an affair with Marilyn Monroe during filming of the ill fated film Let's Make Love. He had been personally recommended by Arthur Miller after Miller saw him acting in a foreign movie version of his play The Crucible called Les Sorcières de Salem. Montand always expressed regret over the affair as he considered Miller a "good friend".
In his later years he maintained a home in St Paul de Vence, Provence until his death.
Montand died from a heart attack. In an interview, Jean-Jacques Beineix said, "[H]e died on the set [of IP5: The Island of Pachyderms]... On the very last day, after his very last shot. It was the very last night and we were doing retakes. He finished what he was doing and then he just died. And the film tells the story of an old man who dies from a heart attack, which is the same thing that happened!"
He is buried next to Simone Signoret in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France.
In 2004, Catherine Allégret, Montand's stepdaughter and Simone Signoret's daughter from her first marriage, published a book titled World Upside Down (Un monde à l'envers ISBN 2-253-11442-1) in which she contended that Montand had abused her sexually since she was five years old.
Faubourg Saint-Martin
Yves Montand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nous a donné son coeur, tout son coeur
Il l'a donné dans ses chansons tout un tas de chansons
Que nous chantons en choeur, tous en choeur
Et si vous entrez par hasard dans un de ces sombres couloirs
Vous pourrez entendre en secret bien des secrets
Faubourg Saint-Martin, berceau des romances d'amour
Tes vieilles maisons, aux murs noircis par les années
Chantent les chansons qui volent par monts et vallées, les chansons
Faubourg Saint-Martin qui chante pour le monde entier l'éternel refrain
Du bonheur de vivre et d'aimer, Faubourg Saint-Martin
Tu seras toujours le plus beau faubourg, celui de l'amour
Parfois un fantôme léger semblera vous frôler
Un esprit du passé est passé
C'est l'âme d'un grand disparu qui plane dans la rue
Soufflant aux petits gamins son refrain
C'est peut être le père Voubliez, Vincent Scotto ou Cristiné
Qui revient dans son vieux faubourg chanter l'amour
Faubourg Saint-Martin, berceau des romances d'amour
De tous les refrains que nous fredonnons chaque jour
Tes vieilles maisons, aux murs noircis par les années
Chantent les chansons qui volent par monts et vallées, les chansons
Faubourg Saint-Martin qui chante pour le monde entier l'éternel refrain
Du bonheur de vivre et d'aimer, Faubourg Saint-Martin
Tu seras toujours le plus beau faubourg, celui de l'amour
Faubourg Saint-Martin
Tu seras toujours le plus beau faubourg, celui de l'amour.
Yves Montand's song Faubourg Saint-Martin is a tribute to the Parisian neighborhood of the same name, known for its romantic and artistic atmosphere. The lyrics describe how the neighborhood has given its heart to the world through its songs, which are sung in unison by its residents and visitors. The old houses with blackened walls sing of the eternal refrain of happiness in living and loving, as ghosts of past musicians and songwriters drift through the streets, passing on their melodies and memories to the next generation.
The song celebrates the unique cultural heritage of Faubourg Saint-Martin, which has nurtured and inspired generations of artists, writers, and musicians. It also reflects on the fleeting nature of time and how the passing of the years has given the neighborhood's songs a timeless quality, connecting people across generations and borders. The lyrics invite listeners to enter the neighborhood's dark corridors and hear its secrets, to feel the presence of those who have come before, and to be touched by the magic of its music.
Overall, Faubourg Saint-Martin is a song that captures the essence of a place and time, evoking the nostalgia and romance associated with Paris and its cultural heritage. It also reminds us of the power of music to connect people, bridge differences, and tell the stories of our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Offrant un peu de paradis, un faubourg de Paris
This song is about a neighborhood in Paris called Faubourg Saint-Martin, which the singer considers to be a little piece of paradise.
Nous a donné son coeur, tout son coeur
The singer believes that the neighborhood has given its heart to him and to everyone who loves its music.
Il l'a donné dans ses chansons tout un tas de chansons
The heart of the neighborhood is expressed through the songs that have come from there.
Que nous chantons en choeur, tous en choeur
The people who love Faubourg Saint-Martin come together to sing these songs in unison.
Et si vous entrez par hasard dans un de ces sombres couloirs
If you happen to walk down one of the dark alleys in the neighborhood,
Vous pourrez entendre en secret bien des secrets
you might overhear some secrets being whispered in secret.
Faubourg Saint-Martin, berceau des romances d'amour
Faubourg Saint-Martin is known for being the birthplace of romantic love songs.
De tous les refrains que nous fredonnons chaque jour
The neighborhood is beloved for the many songs that people sing and hum every day.
Tes vieilles maisons, aux murs noircis par les années
The old buildings in Faubourg Saint-Martin have blackened walls and are worn by time.
Chantent les chansons qui volent par monts et vallées, les chansons
But despite their age, these buildings seem to sing the songs that have spread far and wide.
Faubourg Saint-Martin qui chante pour le monde entier l'éternel refrain
Faubourg Saint-Martin is a neighborhood that has won the hearts of people all over the world, thanks to its timeless songs.
Du bonheur de vivre et d'aimer, Faubourg Saint-Martin
These songs celebrate the joys of life and love, which are the essence of Faubourg Saint-Martin.
Tu seras toujours le plus beau faubourg, celui de l'amour
In the eyes of Yves Montand, Faubourg Saint-Martin will always be the most beautiful neighborhood because of its music and its love.
Parfois un fantôme léger semblera vous frôler
Sometimes, when you walk through the neighborhood, you might feel a light ghostly presence nearby.
Un esprit du passé est passé
This presence is the spirit of a great musician from the past who once lived in Faubourg Saint-Martin.
C'est l'âme d'un grand disparu qui plane dans la rue
The soul of this musician lingers in the streets of Faubourg Saint-Martin, whispering his melodies to anyone who will listen.
Soufflant aux petits gamins son refrain
His songs are so powerful that even the children who play in the streets of the neighborhood can hear them echoing in the wind.
C'est peut être le père Voubliez, Vincent Scotto ou Cristiné
The musician haunting Faubourg Saint-Martin could be any number of legendary French composers, such as Voubliez, Vincent Scotto, or Cristiné.
Qui revient dans son vieux faubourg chanter l'amour
Who have returned to their beloved neighborhood to sing once again about love.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GET OUT
on Les Amoureux (1952)
pk ya pas ????
GET OUT
on Les Amoureux (1952)
pk ya pas !!