Calli Perry, French Culture, A1

 Nom

Edith Piaf

Born as Edith Giovanna Gassion 

Nicknamed the "Little Sparrow"

 

 Pays/Ville

Belleville, Paris, France 

 Details Personnels:

Blindness. Something no one ever wants to happen to them. I was struck

with an illness, conjunctivitis, during my childhood which caused me to go blind

for a period of time. I had a 'miraculous' recovery at the shrine of Saint Teresa

at Lisieux, though everyone thinks I was 'cured' after my illness had already gone

away. Though I had many lovers throughout my 47 years, I had one true love: a boxer named Marcel Cerdan. Sadly, he died in a fatal plane crash in 1949.

When I died, I was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, the same cemetary

that holds Colette, Sarah Bernhardt, Oscar Wilde, Chopin, and Balzac. Many

people (about 40,000) attended my funeral.

  

 My grave in Père Lachaise Cemetery.               A sign marking my birthplace.

 

 Date de Naissance:

December 19, 1915;

Born to: 

*Mother,  Anetta Maillard (Gassion)- she was a café singer, called "Line Marsa".

She was unstable and left me many times during my childhood- I have never forgiven

her.

*Father, Louis Alphonse Gassion- he was from Normandy and performed acrobatic

acts in the circus. 

 Date de Mort:

October 11, 1963, almost 48 years old;

Died of liver failure (due to liver cancer) and internal hemorrhages

due to my life of drinking, drug dependency (morphine) and many

near-fatal car accidents.

 Sexe:

Female 

 Croyances Politiques:

I never had much interest in politics, since my life revolved around my

singing career. 

 Croyances Religieuses:

I don't have many religious beliefs, though the incident at Saint Teresa's may

have given a slight influence to my thoughts, since St. Teresa's is a Catholic 

church. 

 Situation de Famille:

I got married to Jacques Pills (a singer) in September of 1952, but divorced him in 1957.

Towards the end of my life at age 47, and on October 9, 1963, I married a 27 year old singer named Théo Sarapo.

 Enfants:

(With Louis DuPont, a lover) Marcelle, 1933-1935. My poor daughter died of meningitis at age 2.

 En Cherchant:

Friendship.

 Metier:

Singer/Actress/Composer.

Was originally known as a chanteur des rues, or a streetsinger. 

 Interets/Loisirs:

I often sang on the streets, then later moved to cafes and other public establishments. I got a contract, thanks to a manager of mine, Raymond Asso, at the Théâtre de L'ABC, and it went very well.

 Accomplissements: 

I starred in the films: La Garçon (1936), Montmartre-sur-Seine (1941), Etoile sans lumiere, (1946), Neuf Garçons-Un CÅ“ur (1947), Paris Chante Toujours (1951), Boum sur Paris (1952), Si Versailles M'était Conte (1953), French Cancan (1954), and Les Amants de Demain (1958).

Also, a play was written for me by Jean Cocteau, called La Belle Indifferent, which was later turned into a movie in which I also starred.

 

 Education: 

I was never truly put into a schooling system- I was raised in the performance business  from a young age. 

 Romans Favoris:

I never really read books. I spent most of my time singing and, later in life, acting. I did, however, write two autobiographies, the first called Au Bal de la Chance, written in Paris in 1958, and the second was called Ma Vie, which I wrote in Paris in 1964. There were many people who pretended to be related to me in order to write my biographies, though they only supply half-truths, if even the truth.

 Films Preferes:

La Belle Indefferent.

This was originally a play, but was turned into a film, which I starred in. 

 Musique Preferee:

I like to listen to the types of music like I sing, which is "bluesy" and

mainly love ballads.

 

 Personnage que je voudrais rencontrer et pourquoi:

I would love to see Marcel Cerdan again. Oh, how I miss him. I was so upset when he was killed in the crash, and to see him again would be wonderful. He was my true love, and if only he had lived, we could have shared a wonderful life.

 Amis:

• Simone Berteaut (Companion)
• Louis DuPont (nicknamed P'tit Louis)
• Louis Leplée (Lover)
• Raymond Asso ("Manager")
• Paul Meurisse (Lover, actor)
• Jean Cocteau (Playwright)
• Marcel Cerdan (True love)
• Eddie Constantine, Charles Aznavour, Yves Montand (I coached them in singing)
• Jacques Pills (Husband-Divorced)
• Théo Sarapo (Husband, singer) 

 Sports:

I didn't play any sports, my time was dedicated to my chosen career. 

 Citation Memorable:

"Miracle or not, I am forever grateful."- Said by Edith Piaf regarding the supposed 'cure' of her blindness.

From Ma Vie:

"Peut m'arriver n'importe quoi, J'm'en fous pas mal... J'etais heureuse, et prête."

     (No matter what happens)         (I couldn't care less...)     ( I am happy, and ready.)      

 Mon Influence sur la Culture Francaise

     I mainly influenced the musical branch of French culture, with "a voice too big for my body," as I frequently overheard. My life became well known to Parisians, but it became extended across the borders and into other countries. I guess you could say I was kind of a big deal.

     It was always hard for me to believe that I could get stardom, and once it came, I felt the rush and excitement. I started street-performing when I was still very young, a man named Louis Leplée invited me to sing in his club called Le Gerny's, which was located on les Champs-Elysées. He was he one who nicknamed me Little Sparrow, because my last name, Piaf, is a Parisian slang term for the word sparrow. That was very clever!

     I had a few composers who wrote songs for me throughout my career, and they helped me become the international star I was. After World War II, I traveled to the United States and established my fans there. While I was there, I met my true love, whom I have spoken about many times, Marcel Cerdan, and when he tragically died, I wrote a song called "L'hymne à l'amour". After that incident, my life went downhill, which I thought to be a bad thing, but really was the launch of my career. I was depressed and put all of my emotions into the songs I wrote, and I guess the public really could relate. I influenced the many singsers of France and Paris and even abroad with my heartfelt and dramatic songs, and for that, I am a legend.

 

  

 Resources:

"Edith Piaf." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.

Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills: Gale, 4 June 2009.

<http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC>.

 

"Edith Piaf." Contemporary Musicians, Volume 8. Gale Research, 1992.

Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills: Gale, 4 June 2009.

         <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC>.

 

"Piaf, Edith." Encyclopedia of Modern Europe: Europe Since: 1914: Encyclopedia

          of the Age of War and Reconstruction. Vol. 4. 2013-2014. 5 vols. Gale, 6 June 2009.

          <http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?...&contentSet>.