The Little Sparrow
"The Little Sparrow" decades after her death, is still revered as an icon and arguably France's greatest popular singer.
She was the epitome of the classic French chanson: supercharged, even melodramatic, and emotionally extracting every last drop of sentiment from a lyric.
The singer gained popularity as she toured France, her petite frame concealing an energy which would drive her to the pinnacle of her profession, singing in cabarets and vaudeville theatres and, from 1936, performing on radio and recordings. Her great fame came after World War II, with her song "Le Vie en Rose" becoming an international standard.
During World War II she worked with the French Resistance by using her popularity to have herself photographed with French prisoners that she had performed for. These photos were then used to make identity papers that would be smuggled back to the prisoners during her return engagements.
***Oscars 2008: Marion Cotillard wins Best Actress for her outstanding portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose***
***Bafta's 2008: Marion Cotillard wins the award for Leading Actress for her outstanding portrayal of Edith Piaf in the celebrated movie La Vie en Rose***
La Vie en Rose - the movie....out now on DVD
La Vie en Rose (Extended Version)
Amazon Price: $22.99 (as of 11/27/2009) 
La Vie en Rose
Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)
La Vie en Rose - The movie - released June 8th, 2007
View the trailer, learn more and listen to some great songs at this superb site.
Highly Recommended!
The stupendous, heartbreaking Marion Cotillard whose Edith Piaf is nothing less than monumental, a performance for the ages.
Written (in French, with English subtitles) and directed by Olivier Dahan; director of photography, Tetsuo Nagata; edited by Richard Marizy; music by Christopher Gunning; production designer, Olivier Raoux; produced by Alain Goldman; released by Picturehouse. Running time: 140 minutes.
No Regrets?
The strength of songs like "Je Ne Regrette Rien", Mon Légionnaire," and "La Vie en Rose" captured the essence of the French soul.She sang about heartache, tragedy, poverty, and the harsh reality of life on the streets; much of which mirrored her own true life and tragic experiences, in lyrics written specifically for her. Her life was the stuff of legend, beginning from her dramatic rise as uneducated Paris street urchin to a star of international renown.
Birth and Discovery....
Piaf was born Edith Gassion on December 19, 1915, in Ménilmontant, a poor district of Paris. Legend has it she was born under a street light on the corner of the Rue de Belleville, with two policeman in attendance.A difficult and exploited childhood led eventually to her being found singing on a street corner in the Pigalle area in 1935 by Louis Leplée, a cabaret owner. Leplée took the young singer under his wing and renamed her "La Môme Piaf" (which in Parisian slang translates roughly as "the little sparrow".
Watch and be moved....
Music of Piaf
Best of the Best
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 11/27/2009)
List Price: $13.98
Eternelle: The Best Of
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 11/27/2009)
List Price: $11.94
Departure....
When Piaf died on October 11th 1963 the news heralded a nationwide outpouring of grief, two million people jammed the streets of Paris, stopping traffic to watch her funeral procession. Her towering status has diminished little in the years since.Her grave at Père-Lachaise has become a shrine for thousands of visitors every year, and her music continues to stir the heartstrings with vibrant, passionate and yet vulnerable emotions.
Edith Piaf on Film
Her life story was truly remarkable: from her birth in 1915 on a policeman's cape, under gaslight, to her extraordinary love affairs and heart-breaking tragedies, she was a true artist that lived to sing.
Edith Piaf - A Passionate Life
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 11/27/2009)
List Price: $14.99
Edith Piaf on eBay
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Leave your thoughts about Edith here...
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- FarAwayJoe FarAwayJoe Jul 17, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
- Wonderful. I really did not regret reading your very fine lens. 5 stars.
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- Suzie-Shine Suzie-Shine Jun 9, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
- All I knew previously about Edith was the No Regrets song which my grandfather loved. Her voice had a lovely vibration to it. Super lens.
Suzie
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- Spook Spook Jan 28, 2009 @ 9:21 am
- A bit before my time but have a dim memory of hearing her singing. Great lens.
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- chefkeem chefkeem Oct 26, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
- In Germany, we called her "Der Spatz von Paris". I grew up with her songs playing on the radio, all the time. A hearty SquidAngel Blessing for this fine tribute, Paul.
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- Piksychick Piksychick Jun 8, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
- I get goose bumps every time I hear her sing! The greatest things come in the smallest packages. A wonderful tribute.
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