Le Chansons de Café Chanson, Part 2

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Upstream Theater is presenting a flawed but nevertheless interesting new production through January 27th of Café Chanson, a new musical written and directed by Ken Page. The score consists of one new song by Mr. Page and his music director Henry Palkes. The rest of it is made up of (mostly) French popular songs from the 1920s through the early 1970s.

This is the second (and last) installment of a complete song list along with some background and random thoughts on some of the numbers. In cases where I had nothing intelligent to add about a particular song, I just listed it and left it alone.

The names in parentheses are the songwriters. In the few cases where the titles in the program were incorrect or misspelled, I’ve corrected them here. If there’s anything in here that I’ve gotten wrong, please let me know.

“Rain”

“Madame”

Mistinguett, circa 1927

“Mam’selle Josephine et Mistinguette” (Ken Page / Henry Palkes) In the show this is sung by The Man, the gay cross-dressing waiter at the Café, decked out in a flashy sequined Folies Bergère-style outfit. The Josephine of the title is, of course, Napoleon’s empress. Mistinguett (the final version of her stage name) was a celebrated French singer and actress of the early 20th century. Born Jeanne Bourgeois in 1875, she began her showbiz career at the age of 10, was appearing at the Casino de Paris by the age of 20, and went on to international celebrity. Her signature song, “Mon Homme” (1916) was not only a big hit for her but, in English translation (“My Man”) for Fanny Brice as well. She died in 1956.

“What Makes a Man (Comme ils dissent)” (Charles Aznavour) The great French singer/songwriter stirred up some controversy in 1972 with this sympathetic and tragic portrayal of a gay female impersonator.

Jacques Brel

“I’m Not Afraid” (Rod McKuen / Jacques Brel) The original title of the song was “Fils de” (“Sons of”). McKuen’s lyrics are completely different. Both English versions have had their share of recordings over the years; I remember the Judy Collins version of “Sons of” with considerable affection. In Café Chanson, the McKuen version is sung by The Young Soldier and The Mademoiselle as they try to deal with the disintegration of their relationship.

“If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)” (Jacques Brel) The version of this used in the show has lyrics by Rod McKuen. The original is more properly translated as “Don’t Leave Me.” Brel originally released the song on his 1959 LP “La Valse à Mille Temps”. The song has been amazingly popular, with versions in nearly two dozen languages.

“La Fanette” (Jacques Brel) Another story of love and betrayal, a recurring Brel theme. A 1965 performance by Brel is heartbreaking in its intensity.

“Bonsoir Mademoiselle”

Charles Aznavour in 1978

“Yesterday When I Was Young ” (Charles Aznavour) Original French title: “Heir Encore” (“Only Yesterday”); the English version is by Herbert Kretzmer. This lament for the lost opportunities of youth is especially affecting for those of us who have reached a certain stage in our lives. It’s kind of the yang to the yin of songs like “It Was a Very Good Year”. Roy Clark had great success with it in the USA, as have many other big-name vocalists.

Les Chansons de Café Chanson, Part 1

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Upstream Theater is presenting a flawed but nevertheless interesting production through January 27th of Café Chanson, a new musical written and directed by Ken Page. The score consists of one new song by Mr. Page and his music director Henry Palkes. The rest of it is made up of (mostly) French popular songs from the 1920s through the early 1970s.

You can see my review of the show for 88.1 KDHX for details on what works and what doesn’t. What I’d like to do here is provide you with the first installment of a complete song list along with some background and random thoughts on some of the numbers. In cases where I had nothing intelligent to add about a particular song, I just listed it and left it alone.

I'm a great admirer of classic French songs, but even so some of these were new to me. I love it when that happens.

The names in parentheses are the songwriters. In the few cases where the titles in the program were incorrect or misspelled, I’ve corrected them here. If there’s anything in here that I’ve gotten wrong, please let me know.

Édith Piaf

“La Vie En Rose” (Édith Piaf, Marguerite Monnot and Louis Guglielmi, a.k.a. Louiguy) Her songwriting team didn’t think it would be a hit initially, but after a live concert in October 1946 it took off and has remained strongly identified with Piaf ever since. Piaf performed the song in the 1948 French movie Neuf garçons, un coeur.

“J'ai Deux Amours” (Georges Koger, John Murray, Vincent Scotto, Barry Trivers, Henri Eugene Vantard)

“Sous Le Ciel de Paris” (Jean Drejac / Hubert Giraud) Another Piaf hit with wonderfully poetic lyrics. The English version (“Under Paris Skies”) substitutes some fairly banal stuff by Kim Gammon. Here’s my own attempt at a translation of the first verse (I'm still working on the second):

Under a Paris sky
There’s a song in the air, Hum,
Born in the heartfelt sigh
Of a boy young and fair.

Under a Paris sky
Lovers walking along, Hum;
Passion is in their eyes,
On their lips is a song.

Down at the Pont Bercy
A philosopher you see
A busker or two, some loafers, then
Everyone that you know.

Under a Paris sky
They’ll be singing ‘till dawn, Hum.
Their love for Paris is why
The song goes on and on.

Down by Notre Dame
Sometimes there is drama
But here in “Paname”
You’ll find it’s OK.

A few sun rays,
A summer day,
The accordion
A sailor plays.
There’s hope in our eyes
Beneath Paris skies.

“Parlez-moi D’Amour” (Jean Lenoir) This was written in 1930 and made popular by Lucienne Boyer, among others.

“La Boheme” (Jacques Plante and Charles Aznavour) The song is one of Aznavour’s signature tunes, originally recorded by him in 1966

“Le Grand Café”

Sophie Tucker

“Fifty Million Frenchmen Can’t be Wrong” (Fred Fisher / William Raskin / Billy Rose) Sophie Tucker’s 1927 recording of this was famous enough to provide the title of a Cole Porter show in 1929. The lyrics compare French freedom unfavorably with repression and prohibition in the USA. The lyrics make a little less sense sung by a character in a French café during World War II, but the song still packs a punch.

“Der Fuehrer’s Face” (Oliver Wallace) Written for a 1943 Donald Duck propaganda short of the same name, the song became a hit before the movie was released due to the famous Spike Jones recording. It’s still pretty hilarious.

“Don’t Touch Me Tomato” (Arthur S. Reid) A calypso novelty originally performed by (I think) Josephine Baker

“Adieu Mon Coeur” (Contet / Marguerite Monnot) Recorded by Edith Piaf in 1946

“She”

“A Blue Like the Blue (Plus Bleux)”

“La Fille de Joie Est Triste (L'Accordéoniste)” (Édith Piaf / Michel Ermer) Another quintessential Paif song, about a woman of the streets and her love for a musician who goes off to war. This one was rather popular at the piano bars in Paris this past fall (or at least at the few I frequented).

More to come...