Mon légionnaire
Encyclopedia
Mon légionnaire is a French song created in 1936 by Marie Dubas
, with lyrics by Raymond Asso
and music by Marguerite Monnot
. Marie Dubas
toured the United States with this song in 1939.
Raymond Asso was a veteran of the French Foreign Legion
, who also wrote "Le Fanion de la Légion
" (The Flag of the Legion), and was taken up by Dubas and afterwards by Piaf - but with less success.
The song is now mainly identified with Édith Piaf
, who took it up as a central element of her repertoire, and appears in most records of Piaf's songs. The romantic theme of a woman's longing for an embittered Legionnaire with whom she had a brief affair and who refused to tell her his name fits well with Piaf's image.
"Mon légionnaire" was recorded by Serge Gainsbourg
in 1987; the male voice singing the lyrics made famous by Piaf gave the song a strong homoerotic undertone. The new version of "Mon légionnaire" was a hit on French dance floors, both gay and heterosexual.
French jazz singer Raquel Bitton
performed the song as part of her Piaf tribute show "Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs".
Marie Dubas
Marie Dubas was a music-hall singer, diseuse and comedienne.Born in Paris, France, Marie Dubas began her career as a stage actress but became famous as a singer. Using the great Yvette Guilbert as her model, Dubas started singing in the small cabarets of Montmartre mixing comedy into her routine...
, with lyrics by Raymond Asso
Raymond Asso
Raymond Asso was a French lyricist.Born in Nice, France, his parents separation saw him leave for Morocco at the age of 15. After his arrival he tried numerous professions, including: shepherd, factory worker, chauffeur and nightclub manager. Between 1916 and 1919 he worked as a Spahi, a type of...
and music by Marguerite Monnot
Marguerite Monnot
Marguerite Monnot was a French songwriter and composer best known for having written many of the songs performed by Édith Piaf and for the music in the stage musical Irma La Douce....
. Marie Dubas
Marie Dubas
Marie Dubas was a music-hall singer, diseuse and comedienne.Born in Paris, France, Marie Dubas began her career as a stage actress but became famous as a singer. Using the great Yvette Guilbert as her model, Dubas started singing in the small cabarets of Montmartre mixing comedy into her routine...
toured the United States with this song in 1939.
Raymond Asso was a veteran of the French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
, who also wrote "Le Fanion de la Légion
Le Fanion de la Légion
Le Fanion de la Légion , is a French song created in 1936 by Marie Dubas, with lyrics from Raymond Asso and music from Marguerite Monnot, and which was later taken upby Edith Piaf and became identified with her.- The song :...
" (The Flag of the Legion), and was taken up by Dubas and afterwards by Piaf - but with less success.
The song is now mainly identified with Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
, who took it up as a central element of her repertoire, and appears in most records of Piaf's songs. The romantic theme of a woman's longing for an embittered Legionnaire with whom she had a brief affair and who refused to tell her his name fits well with Piaf's image.
"Mon légionnaire" was recorded by Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
in 1987; the male voice singing the lyrics made famous by Piaf gave the song a strong homoerotic undertone. The new version of "Mon légionnaire" was a hit on French dance floors, both gay and heterosexual.
French jazz singer Raquel Bitton
Raquel Bitton (singer)
Raquel Bitton is a critically acclaimed French jazz singer and interpreter of Edith Piaf's songs.-Life and career:...
performed the song as part of her Piaf tribute show "Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs".