Une Chanson C'Est Une Lettre
Encyclopedia
"Une chanson c'est une lettre" (English
translation: "A Song is a Letter") was the Monegasque
representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975
, performed in French
by French
singer Sophie.
"Une chanson c'est une lettre" was composed by André Popp
, who previously had written Vicky Leandros
' 1967 entry "L'amour est bleu", which only finished 4th in the Contest but still went on to become a worldwide hit when covered by French band leader Paul Mauriat
.
The song is a ballad, in which Sophie explains that one can say things in song or poetry that one ordinarily could not in real life. The classic example of this is the phrase "I love you", which prompts the comment that "Love on stage doesn't match love/In real life". Sophie also sings that the phrase "Let's both leave on that ship" is something she could not say in real life but finds easy to sing. Sophie also recorded an Italian language
version of the song, entitled "Una canzone".
"Une chanson c'est une lettre" was performed fourteenth on the night, following Turkey
's Semiha Yanki
with "Seninle Bir Dakika
" and preceding Finland
's Pihasoittajat
with "Old Man Fiddle
". At the close of voting, it had received 22 points, placing 13th in a field of 19.
It was succeeded as Monegasque representative
at the 1976 Contest
by Mary Christy
with "Toi, la musique et moi
".
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation: "A Song is a Letter") was the Monegasque
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975
Eurovision Song Contest 1975
The Eurovision Song Contest 1975 was the 20th edition of the contest hosted by SR and held in Stockholm, Sweden. The arena for the event was the newly built Stockholm International Fairs in Älvsjö in southern Stockholm. ABBA's victory in Brighton the previous year gave Sweden the right to host the...
, performed in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
by 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...
singer Sophie.
"Une chanson c'est une lettre" was composed by André Popp
André Popp
André Charles Jean Popp is a French composer, arranger and screenwriter.Born in Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée, he started his career as a church organist, filling the place of his father who had been called up to serve in World War II in 1939. Popp studied music at the Saint Joseph Institute...
, who previously had written Vicky Leandros
Vicky Leandros
Vicky Leandros is a Greek singer with a long international career. She is the daughter of singer, musician and composer Leandros Papathanasiou...
' 1967 entry "L'amour est bleu", which only finished 4th in the Contest but still went on to become a worldwide hit when covered by French band leader Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat
Paul Mauriat was a French orchestra leader, specializing in light music. He is best known in the United States for his million selling remake of André Popp's "Love is Blue", which was #1 for 5 weeks in 1968...
.
The song is a ballad, in which Sophie explains that one can say things in song or poetry that one ordinarily could not in real life. The classic example of this is the phrase "I love you", which prompts the comment that "Love on stage doesn't match love/In real life". Sophie also sings that the phrase "Let's both leave on that ship" is something she could not say in real life but finds easy to sing. Sophie also recorded an Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
version of the song, entitled "Una canzone".
"Une chanson c'est une lettre" was performed fourteenth on the night, following 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...
's Semiha Yanki
Semiha Yanki
Semiha Yankı is a Turkish pop music singer, presenter and film actress. She is best known for representing Turkey for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song Seninle Bir Dakika.-Discography:...
with "Seninle Bir Dakika
Seninle Bir Dakika
"Seninle Bir Dakika" was the Turkish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, held in Stockholm, Sweden. The song was sung by Semiha Yankı....
" and preceding Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
's Pihasoittajat
Pihasoittajat
Pihasoittajat were a folk music band with modern popular music influences.In 1975 they represented Finland in the Eurovision song contest placing 7th in a field of 19. Members of the band for the contest were Arja Karlsson, Hannu Karlsson, Seppo Sillanpää, Harry Lindahl, Kim Kuusi and Hendrik...
with "Old Man Fiddle
Old Man Fiddle
"Old Man Fiddle" was the Finnish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, performed in English by Pihasoittajat....
". At the close of voting, it had received 22 points, placing 13th in a field of 19.
It was succeeded as Monegasque representative
Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest
Monaco first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959. The country's first and only win in the contest came in 1971, when Séverine performed "Un banc, un arbre, une rue". In 1972 Monaco was expected to host the contest, but declined...
at the 1976 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1976
The Eurovision Song Contest 1976, the 21st in the series, was held in The Hague, Netherlands, on 3 April 1976. With Corry Brokken as the presenter – the first time a previous winner of the contest had played hostess – the contest was won by Brotherhood of Man, representing the United...
by Mary Christy
Mary Christy
Marie Ruggeri, better known as Mary Christy, is a singer who represented Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 with the song "Toi, la musique et moi". Her entry received 93 points, ranking 3rd out of 18 participants.-References:...
with "Toi, la musique et moi
Toi, La Musique Et Moi
"Toi, la musique et moi" was the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in French by French singer Mary Christy...
".