La Vie en rose

Infobox Song
Name = La Vie en Rose


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Artist = Édith Piaf
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Language = French
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Writer = Édith Piaf
Composer = "Louiguy" (Louis Gugliemi)
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"La Vie en Rose" (French for "Life in pink") was the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf.

Piaf first popularized the song in 1946. The lyrics were written by Piaf and the melody of the song by "Louiguy" (Louis Gugliemi). Initially, Piaf's peers and her songwriting team did not think the song would be successful, but it became a favorite with audiences.ref|RFI An English version of the lyrics was written later by Mack David. Owing to its popularity, the song appeared on most of Piaf's subsequent albums. A 1998 documentary about Édith Piaf was called "La Vie en Rose", as was the 2007 biographical feature film "La Vie En Rose", which won Marion Cotillard, who played Piaf from 19 until her death at 47, an Academy Award for Best Actress.

The song has become a standard and has been performed by many artists. It was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998. It has also become a generic song representing the French, as "Rule, Britannia!" and "Stars and Stripes Forever" have for Britain and the US, respectively.

Notable covers

Grace Jones version

Infobox Single
Name = La Vie en Rose


Artist = Grace Jones
from Album = Portfolio
B-side = "I Need a Man"
Released = 1977
Format = 7" single
Recorded =
Genre = Disco
Length = 3:35
Label = Island Records IS-098
Writer = Edith Piaf, Louigny
Producer = Tom Moulton
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Sorry" (1977)
This single = "'La Vie en rose" (1977)
Next single = "Do or Die" (1978)
Misc =

"La Vie en Rose" was the third single by American singer and actress Grace Jones, her first single release on Island Records after having signed with the label and released her debut album "Portfolio" in 1977. The single version was heavily edited, the original album version being more than seven minutes long. Jones' fairly radical bossanova/disco intepretation of Edith Piaf's signature tune became her first international hit single and a staple of her repertoire and later performed as part of her 1981 "A One Man Show", then the only track from her disco era to be included in the show. Jones' recording of "La Vie en Rose" was released as a single in both 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1985. The single finally reached #12 in the UK charts when re-released as a double A-side with "Pull Up To The Bumper" in 1985.

Track listings

*US 7" single (1977) IS-098
#"La Vie En Rose" (7" Version) - 3:34
#"I Need A Man" - 3:22

*CA 7" single (1977) IS-098
#"La Vie En Rose" (7" Version) - 3:35
#"I Need A Man" - 3:22

*GE 12" single (1980) Island 600 266-213
#"La Vie En Rose" - 7:27
#"I Need A Man" - 3:22

*IT 7" single (1977)
#"La Vie En Rose"
#"Tomorrow"

*CA 12" promo (1982) IS 865
#"La Vie En Rose" - 7:24
#"My Jamaican Guy"
#"Pull Up To The Bumper"

*US 12" single (1985)
#"La Vie En Rose" - 7:24
#"Nipple To The Bottle" - 5:55
#"Pull Up To The Bumper" (Remix) - 6:29
#"Demolition Man" - 4:04 Infobox Single
Name = La Vie En Rose


Artist = Donna Summer
from Album = Tribute To Edith Piaf
B-side =
Released = 1993, 1994
Format = CD single 12" Single
Recorded = 1993
Genre = Pop
Length =
Label = AB Disques BMG France Amherst Records
Writer = Louiguy/E.Piaf/M.David
Producer = Jacques Arnoul
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Carry On" (1992)
This single = "La Vie en Rose" (1993)
Next single = "Melody of Love (Wanna Be Loved)" (1994)
Misc =

Donna Summer version

American singer Donna Summer covered "La Vie en Rose" in 1993 for the tribute album, "Tribute to Edith Piaf", released in France and the United States, on which several contemporary stars recorded interpretations of some of Piaf's best known songs.

Released on both vinyl and CD, the American release of the album and single contain a different mix of Summer's synth-driven performance than the French release. These releases are among the most sought after of Summer's collectables.fact|date=April 2008

Track listing (CD single - France)

#"La Vie en Rose" (US Radio Mix - Remixed by Humberto Gatica) - 3:43
#"La Vie en Rose" (Full Bass Mix - Remixed by Colin Peter & Carl Ward) - 4:25
#"La Vie en Rose" (Extended Soul Mix - Remixed by Colin Peter & Carl Ward) - 7:40
#"La Vie en Rose" (Stringapella Mix - Remixed by Colin Peter & Carl Ward) - 5:43

The US single features a variety of remixes by DJ Chris Cox.

List of other notable artists who have performed "La Vie en Rose"

Films that feature "La vie en rose"

*"Stage Fright" (1950)
*"Sabrina" (1954) as Sabrina Fairchild's song
* "The Cheap Detective" (1978)
*"Bull Durham" (1988)
*"Christo in Paris" (1990)
*"Prêt-à-Porter" (1994)
*"Natural Born Killers" (1994)
*"French Kiss" (1995)
*"Sabrina" (1995)
*"A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries" (1998)
*"Summer of Sam" (1999)
*Flip's "Sorry" (2002)
* "Something's Gotta Give" (2003)
* "Jeux d'enfants" (2003)
* "La notte di Totò" (2003)
* "View from the Top" (2003)
* "Modigliani" (2004)
* "A World Without Thieves" (2004)
* "Lord of War" (2005)
* "Valiant" (2005)
* "The Yacoubian Building" (2006)
* "La Môme" (2007)
* "Fred Claus" (2007)
* "Jellyfish" (2007)
* "WALL-E (2008)
* "The Wackness (2008)
* "Chrístabel Bertrand (2008)

Books and television

*"'La Vie en Rose?'" is the title of the thirteenth chapter of Ian Fleming's novel, "Casino Royale". The song also is mentioned in his James Bond novels "You Only Live Twice" and "Diamonds Are Forever" as it brings back memories of Bond's relationship with Vesper Lynd.
*"La Vie en Rose" appeared in the television show "I Love Lucy" in the episode entitled "Hollywood Anniversary" right before Desi Arnaz sang the song "The Anniversary Waltz".
*La Vie en Rose was also the name of a 'dock ship' in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" and "Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ"
*In the anime "Di Gi Charat", the name Rabi~En~Rose is based in "'La Vie en Rose'"
*"La Vie en Rose" appears in an episode of "The Relic Hunter" entitled "Memories of Montmarte".

References

# [http://www.rfimusique.com/siteEn/biographie/biographie_6057.asp Édith Piaf biography from Radio France International]

External links

*fr icon [http://edith-piaf.narod.ru/piaf2a.html La vie en rose (1946)] by Édith Piaf
* [http://edith-piaf.narod.ru/ Édith Piaf]
* [http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/donna_summer/la_vie_en_rose__us_radio_mix_full_bass_mix_extended_soul_mix_stringapella_mix_/ Donna Summer discography, Rate Your Music]