La Vie en Rose – Edith Piaf
Suggested by Neil Rigby
Genre: Traditional Pop
Artist: Édith Piaf 1947
Written by: Édith Piaf, Louiguy, Marguerite Monnot
Difficulty Rating: Easy/Intermediate
Chords: 9
Note: E
Time Signature: 4/4
Count: 1…2…1234
BPM: 72
Another classic song for the ukulele featuring the swing strum. A good introduction to jazz ukulele.
Lesson
Original song
Background
‘La Vie en rose’ is the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf, written in 1945, popularized in 1946, and released as a single in 1947. The song became very popular in the US in 1950 with no fewer than seven different versions reaching the Billboard charts. These were by Tony Martin, Paul Weston, Bing Crosby, Ralph Flanagan, Victor Young, Dean Martin, and Louis Armstrong.
A 1977 version by Grace Jones was also a successful international hit. It has been covered by many other artists over the years, including a 1993 version by Donna Summer. Harry James also recorded a version in 1950.
The song’s title’s literal meaning is ‘Life in Pink’.
Édith Piaf (19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963) was a French singer-songwriter, cabaret performer and film actress noted as France’s national chanteuse and one of the country’s most widely known international stars.
