I watched the film La Vie En Rose last night and was impressed by Marion Cotillard’s portrayal of the legendary French singer.
In one scene, a young Edith Piaf is admonished by her mentor Raymond Asso for not living the song she was singing. He picked on her bad articulation, her stiffness and her lack of emotion. To be a good singer, he told her, one had to live the song; to be able to put yourself in the mind and soul of the song. If you haven’t actually experienced the situation depicted in the lyrics, you would have to be an actress and think like the character.
I was then led to think of the msn conversation I had with monoceros the day before. She had emailed me a very beautiful song by Linda Eder called Why Do People Fall In Love. She told me she had found her eyes turning moist while listening to the song. This sad song with a tinge of hope had the same effect on me.
Ten years ago, we wouldn’t have had this reaction to the song. But with age and the life experiences that come with it, we could identify with it. The lyrics and the emotion put into the song by Eder resonated with us. Eder lived the song. One can feel the emotions flowing through in the cadence and lilt of her voice accompanied by the simple tinkling of the piano keys and strains of violins in the background.
There are songs which can only be sung by people who have passed a certain age or have been through particular situations. It’s because it is only with age and experience that the songs come alive. I can understand when the judges on American Idol comment that a contestant has picked a song that is ‘too old’ for him/her. Most of these teenage contestants lack the life experience that many of the songs they choose to sing are trying to depict. Their youth is no fault of theirs – it’s just that it prevents them from bringing out the pain and emotional depth of the lyrics. The delivery may be technically perfect, but the song still feels empty.
Edith Piaf eventually came to realise what her mentor meant and went on to become one of the greatest French singers. Her tumultuous and tragic life added much emotional depth to her voice and delivery of her songs. I guess that is why her audiences were mesmerized. When a singer or musician is able to do that, it’s akin to a sorcerer at work where a spell is being woven round the audience who are bound captive by this magic. I would be a willing prisoner in such situations.
Why Do People Fall In Love
Lyrics: Jack Murphy
Why do people fall in love?
Don’t we know love is full of dangers?
Letting loose our foolish hearts
In this world full of perfect strangers
Maybe this time you will find
The moon will treat you kinder
Yes, I’m sure that I recall
That’s the reason people fall…
Love is needing to belong
Right or wrong, when you feel the fire
Love is living in mid-air
Young and rare, on a sky-high wire
Hoping this time it will last
You feel your heart beat faster
Yes, I’m sure that I recall
That’s the reason people fall in love
Taking chances you would never take
When wide awake, you risk it all
Half afraid he’ll only break your heart
Still you will close your eyes and simply fall
Why do people fall in love?
Are we fools with no hope of winning?
Or perhaps we always see
One last chance for a new beginning
Holding on and letting go
But never really knowing
Well, I guess that after all
That’s the reason people fall in love