The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf [Best of]

Unless you speak French you may find the idea of purchasing songs sung in French a little off-putting. I myself speak what you might call "hotel French"--which is to say handful of standard phrases that would get me through in a pinch. When I listen to Piaf I occasionally understand a term here and there, but the specific meaning of the words escape me. But this no hindrance at all. Piaf has a passion that truly transcends the limits of language. No one need tell you that her tone is ironic; no one need tell you that the song is about poverty, lost love, a plea to God; it is there, it is inescapable. Her voice has the delicacy and strength of a steel wire, alternating sharp and flat tones in a uniquely French style, setting forth a meticulously rolled "r" in such a way as to give you chills and flying into a series of electrifying vibratos that are unique in all of music.

Although it would take a box set to do this artist justice, THE VOICE OF THE SPARROW is a very nice introduction to eighteen of Piaf's most famous songs. In a general sense, Piaf typically sang love songs--and had an uncanny ability to shift from bright to dark tones, allowing the listener to feel a dozen different shades of each emotion that colors any single selection. Be it the internationally celebrated "La Vie en Rose," the intense "Mon Dieu," the defiant "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rein" or the super-sophisticated "T'es Beau, Tu Sais," once Piaf adopted a song it became hers alone; every other rendition seems pale in comparison. Sadly, the recordings on this CD have not been remastered--but it doesn't really matter. For one who could escape the limitations of language it is hardly difficult to leap the boundaries of recording technology with the sound of the heart.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

She is an artiste whose life story is as fascinating as her art. Her father was a street acrobat, her mother was an aspiring caberet singer. Rumoured to live the life of a Dickens-like street urchin, she was a sickly child who ended up putting all that passion and pain in rather stirring singing of French folk tunes and caberet favorites to street audiences. She earned enough change to survive and one day, as the story goes, the right guy comes along and places the sparrow where she belongs. The rest, as they say, is history.

And to those Piaf purists out there, I know I've barely scratched the surface of this great artist. I've not intended to give biography here. I'll simply leave that to better voices to do. But I would say this.

Few Americans actually know about Piaf's music, let alone her life story. Maybe that's because Americans would rather not work too hard for their music enjoyment. Her body of work is exclusively done in French. I say, C'mon. Can't you hear that she's pouring her heart and soul in each of those tunes? Get with it, Dudes. Emotion is limitless. Passion knows no bounds. Piaf takes you to a place so real, you don't need to know the meaning of everything she says.

This CD is where I got to know her sound, but these are more like 'late' Piaf recordings. There are many pre-WWII and occupied France recordings (found in other CDs and box sets) which will make you love the woman. Since this CD is a Capitol Records productions, I get the feel that many of the orchestrators of the time were involved here...some sound like Nelson Riddle has arranged and orchestrated the tune and Ol' Blue Eyes or Dino was a minute from strolling in and adding voice.

This is excellence. Period. Get it and listen to it. You'll be surprised at how many of the tunes you know already...Plus, get the live CD, and you will truly be a fan for life.