Raymond Asso
Encyclopedia
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 foreign French soldier, being deployed in Turkey
and Syria
. After a lack of success and satisfaction with these occupations, he eventually turned to writing in 1933, working on his own lyrics and poetry.
but success eluded him until he met Édith Piaf
in 1935. The French
chanteuse became his lover and muse
. Asso's writing became focused on providing lyrics for his new partner, penning numerous lyrics inspired by her. Asso became more than a partner to Piaf, acting as her mentor and teaching her how to dress and write well. This liberated her from the scandal involving the murder of her manager, Louis Leplée
. Asso's songs from this era were put to the music of Marguerite Monnot
, who became the regular composer for la Môme
. During this period, Asso also wrote songs for Marie Dubas
including "Le Fanion de la Légion
" ("The Legion's Flag") and "Mon légionnaire
" ("My Legionnaire").
and his collaborations with Piaf were brought to an end. Asso was succeeded by Paul Meurisse as Piaf's wordsmith. After his service in the war Asso went on to write lyrics for other artists including Lucienne Delyle
, Marcel Mouloudji and Renée Lebas. The fifties were a prolific period for the writer and he also found commercial success with songs such as "Y’a tant d’amour" (sung by Renée Lebas) and "Un petit coquelicot" which was written for Marcel Mouloudji. Asso wrote songs for many of the French stars of the era:
In addition to his work as a chanson
lyricist, Asso also recorded some albums of musical stories for children such as La légende du Père-Noël (The Legend of Father Christmas). Towards the end of his life Asso moved away from writing lyrics and between 1962 and 1968 he was administrator of the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique
(SACEM). He died in 1968.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
.
Born in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, his parents separation saw him leave for Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
at the age of 15. After his arrival he tried numerous professions, including: shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
, factory worker, chauffeur and nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
manager. Between 1916 and 1919 he worked as a Spahi
Spahi
Spahis were light cavalry regiments of the French army recruited primarily from the indigenous populations of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. The modern French Army retains one regiment of Spahis as an armoured unit, with personnel now recruited in mainland France...
, a type of foreign French soldier, being deployed in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. After a lack of success and satisfaction with these occupations, he eventually turned to writing in 1933, working on his own lyrics and poetry.
Chanson
He began working in chansonChanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
but success eluded him until he met 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...
in 1935. The French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
chanteuse became his lover and muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
. Asso's writing became focused on providing lyrics for his new partner, penning numerous lyrics inspired by her. Asso became more than a partner to Piaf, acting as her mentor and teaching her how to dress and write well. This liberated her from the scandal involving the murder of her manager, Louis Leplée
Louis Leplée
Louis Leplée was a nightclub owner who discovered the French singer Édith Piaf singing on a Paris street corner in 1935. Leplée starred Piaf at the popular Parisian nightspot "Le Gerny" as "La Môme Piaf" ....
. Asso's songs from this era were put to the music of 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....
, who became the regular composer for la Môme
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...
. During this period, Asso also wrote songs for 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...
including "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 Legion's Flag") and "Mon légionnaire
Mon légionnaire
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....
" ("My Legionnaire").
Post-Piaf
In August 1939, Asso was called up to the French army due to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and his collaborations with Piaf were brought to an end. Asso was succeeded by Paul Meurisse as Piaf's wordsmith. After his service in the war Asso went on to write lyrics for other artists including Lucienne Delyle
Lucienne Delyle
Lucienne Delyle was a French singer.After the very famous song Mon amant de Saint-Jean , in 1942, Lucienne Delyle became the most popular French female singer of 1950s....
, Marcel Mouloudji and Renée Lebas. The fifties were a prolific period for the writer and he also found commercial success with songs such as "Y’a tant d’amour" (sung by Renée Lebas) and "Un petit coquelicot" which was written for Marcel Mouloudji. Asso wrote songs for many of the French stars of the era:
- Yves MontandYves Montand-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in...
("Ninon, ma ninette") - Catherine SauvageCatherine SauvageCatherine Sauvage , born 26 May 1929 in Nancy, France and died on 20 March 1998 in Bry-sur-Marne was a French singer and actress.- Early life :...
("Berceuse pour demain", "Mon coeur battait", "Mon ami m’a donné", "Mais les vrais amoureux") - Jean Bretonnière ("C’est tant pis, c’est tant mieux")
- Odette LaureOdette LaureOdette Laure was a French actress and cabaret singer. She appeared in 57 films and television shows between 1950 and 2001. She was nominated for the César Award for Best Supporting Actress for Daddy Nostalgia...
("Je suis nerveuse") - Tino RossiTino RossiTino Rossi was a singer and film actor.Born Constantino Rossi in Ajaccio, Corsica, France, he became a tenor of French cabaret and one of the great romantic idols of his time. Gifted with an operatic voice, a "Latin Lover" persona made him a movie star as well...
("Mon printemps", "O ma mie o ma Mireille") - André Dassary ("Des pays merveilleux")
In addition to his work as a chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
lyricist, Asso also recorded some albums of musical stories for children such as La légende du Père-Noël (The Legend of Father Christmas). Towards the end of his life Asso moved away from writing lyrics and between 1962 and 1968 he was administrator of the Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique
Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique
Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique is a French professional association collecting payments of artists’ rights and distributing the rights to the original songwriters, composers and music publishers.-History:...
(SACEM). He died in 1968.
Works
- "Mon amant de la Coloniale" (1936)
- "Mon légionnaireMon légionnaireMon 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....
" (1937) - "Un jeune homme chantait" (1937)
- "J'entends la sirène" (1937)
- "Le Chacal" (1937)
- "Le contrebandier" (1937)
- "Le mauvais matelot" (1937)
- "Partance" (1937)
- "Tout fout l'camp (1937)
- "Le Fanion de la LégionLe Fanion de la LégionLe 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 :...
" (1938) - "Paris-Méditerranée" (1938)
- "C’est lui que mon cœur a choisi (avec Paul Colline)" (1938)
- "Le grand voyage du pauvre nègre" (1938)
- "Les marins ça fait des voyages" (1938)
- "Madeleine qu'avait du coeur" (1938)
- "Elle fréquentait la rue Pigalle" (1939)
- "Je n’en connais pas la fin" (1939)
- "Le petit monsieur triste" (1939)
- "Les deux copains"
- "Browning"
- "On danse sur ma chanson" (1940)
- "C’est l’histoire de Jésus"
- "La java du bonheur du monde"
- "Y’a tant d’amour" (1950)
- "Comme un petit coquelicot" (1952)
- "Ninon, ma ninette" (1954)
- "C’est tant pis, c’est tant mieux" (1954)
- "Berceuse pour demain" (1955)
- "Je suis nerveuse" (1955)
- "Mon cœur battait" (1956)
- "Mon printemps" (1956)
- "Mon ami m’a donné"
- "Mais les vrais amoureux"
- "O ma mie o ma Mireille"
- "Des pays merveilleux"
- "Un petit bouquet de violettes"
- "La chanson du Marsupilami" (1960)
- "Si les tambours" (1963)
Further reading
- Piaf: Crosland, Margaret ISBN 0-340-41370-0
- Chansons Sans Musique; Paris, Salabert, 1946
- Auteurs et Compositeurs Biography