| I have been a fan of Edith Piaf's for many years. | | | | critic describes as "an any note could be the last sort |
| Among her esoteric US following was the basketball | | | | of conviction". When she turns to the orchestra (in |
| team at my college, which used to warm up to her | | | | the movie) and tells them to play "Padam" you hear |
| song, "Milord." I was also a student of French, and | | | | this. Padam ... Padam ... Padam... ( ) When he told her |
| learned to sing along with many of her songs. Even | | | | to articulate, she said she could not sing that way, at |
| though I knew nothing of her life, and no one off my | | | | which he gave her motivation. "Do what I say," he |
| college campus had ever heard of her, her singing | | | | told her, "or go back to the gutter." |
| was inspirational to me at the gut level. It is | | | | Motivation, however, we coaches know, is only |
| something in the voice itself. | | | | temporary. What it boils down to is determination, |
| The story of Edith Piaf's life, told in the movie "La Vie | | | | and having someone join you in the difficult journey |
| en Rose," is so turbulent and full of tragedy and | | | | is often the key to success. In the movie, we watch |
| success that it lends itself to mythologizing, though | | | | them working together for hours and hours and he |
| that isn't necessary. The verifiable facts are enough. | | | | encourages her when she becomes negative, tired, |
| With parents who were a street singer (mother) and | | | | or both. What a coach! |
| a circus performer and/or street-performing | | | | Raymond Asso also noticed the natural beauty of her |
| contortionist (father), both likely alcoholics, Edith was | | | | hands, and taught her how to use them when she |
| born in the streets of Paris (or thereabouts). She | | | | sang. If you watch the video of "Hymne a L'Amour" |
| was then tossed from parent to grandparent and | | | | ( ) you will see the incredible quality this brings to her |
| back again throughout her childhood. She was blind | | | | performances. Her coach also wrote "Mon |
| for several years as a child and possibly deaf for a | | | | Legionnaire," the song said to have made her a star. |
| period of time later on, she spent several years living | | | | Essentially what her coach did was develop the raw |
| in the brothel her grandmother ran, and her only child, | | | | talent, so the lump of coal could become a diamond, |
| born to her when was but a teenager, died before | | | | true to its nature, but refined and polished. Edith Piaf |
| the age of 2. | | | | said she learned everything from her coach about |
| How did Edith Piaf survive this life which always | | | | how to sing and perform. |
| seemed to be now-you-can-see, now-you can't, | | | | Other life events intruded, one more painful than the |
| much less become an international superstar, icon for | | | | next. The movie makes it clear that what kept Edith |
| France, and personification to many of the sheer will | | | | Piaf going was being able to sing on stage, before an |
| to survive? | | | | audience. "Life without singing did not interest me," |
| Among the many scenes that captured me in the | | | | she said. The voice and natural talent were given to |
| movie, were the scenes with her coach, perhaps | | | | her, but it is entirely likely that without the expert |
| because I'm a personal life coach. Raymond Asso | | | | guidance and support of her coach, she would have |
| basically turned her from a street singer into an | | | | remained singing "in the gutter," without the audience |
| international super star in the way that coaches work | | | | she desired, and none of us would have had the |
| - recognizing the raw talent, seeing what needed to | | | | opportunity to hear this truly unique singer. |
| be done, giving feedback and motivation, and most | | | | Hymne a L'Amour, by the way, was voted the #4 |
| of all sticking with the client as they do the work | | | | most beautiful French song ever written. It is about |
| which quite often includes the phrase "I can't." | | | | Marcel Cerdon, the boxer, who was the great love |
| First he realized she needed a name change. Edith | | | | of Edith Piaf's life. She recorded it early in 1949, and |
| Gassion was not going to work. He suggested "Piaf" | | | | Marcel Cerdon died in a plane crash in October of |
| which meant little sparrow, fitting because Edith Piaf | | | | that year. While the song defies literal translation, the |
| was only 4'8" tall. | | | | cover in the US is called "If You Love Me (Really |
| Next he told her she needed to articulate and taught | | | | Love Me), and the last line is "God reunites those |
| her how to spit the words out in a way that one | | | | who love each other. |