Édith Piaf (December 19, 1915 – October 11, 1963) was one of France's most loved singers, who became a national icon. Her music reflected her tragic life, with her specialty being the poignant ballad presented with a heartbreaking voice.

"La vie en rose" is her signature song, in French it means "life through rose-coloured glasses", or literally, "life in pink". The song has become a standard and has been performed by many artists like Louis Armstrong, Plácido Domingo, Ella Fitzgerald. It was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998.

- More @ Wikipedia

Good stuff.

See also http://www.videosift.com/video/Requiem-for-VS-10-Non-je-ne-regrette-rien-No-Regrets

That heartbreaking voice...she had more vibratto that a cobblestone alley!! More than what, 5000 people showed up for her funeral??... Cantessa du Impacto Universial!..fuck it, ya perfectionists, it's all latin!

This posted to the front page in an hour and 30 minutes. I salut my fellow sifters good taste.

Very nice...

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Re-promoting this video to the front page as a VideoSift Classic. Originally published on Monday 1st January 2007 (promotion called by gold star member lucky760)

It's worth noting she wrote the lyrics for this song.

Reading her biography on Wikipedia gives the feeling fate wasn't so kind to her:
- She lived in a brothel as a kid.
- She became blind from age 3 to 7 and deaf from age 8 to 14.
- She lost her only child to meningitis.
- Her agent was murdered and she was accused of being an accomplice.
- The love of her life died in a plane crash.
- She had a serious car accident she never really recovered from and became addicted to drugs as a consequence.
- She died of cancer at age 47. (same age as Judy Garland)

Yet she became the most loved (and probably the greatest) French performer of all time.

I have adored Piaf since i experienced some of her music some years ago and realized everytime in every TV or film venue when Paris is shown Piaf songs are used for the background. i have encouraged the kids (college students) to experience her music. I saw her 1983 bio and thought it very good. then this new one comes out. Fantastic.

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This published video has been declared non-functional; embed code must be fixed within 2 days or it will be sent to the dead pool - declared dead by mauz15.

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