Love Is Blue

By Andre Popp, Pierre Cour and Bryan Blackburn
1967

This "easy listening" classic began life as the French song "L'amour est bleu" by Popp and Cour, introduced by Greek vocalist Vicky Leandros as part of the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest. The following year, Blackburn would add English lyrics, first recorded by Ray Coniff. But by far the most memorable version of the song would be from French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat. Mauriat's haunting version, steeped in the "baroque pop" aesthetic that briefly reigned in the late 1960s, soared to number one on the American charts, becoming the first record by a French artist to do so. Alongside Percy Faith's recording of "Theme from a Summer Place", it is probably the most popular pop instrumental of all time.

Lyrics: 

Blue, blue, my world is blue
Blue is my world now I'm without you
Gray, gray, my life is gray
Cold is my heart since you went away

Red, red, my eyes are red
Crying for you alone in my bed
Green, green, my jealous heart
I doubted you and now we're apart

When we met how the bright sun shone
Then love died, now the rainbow is gone

Black, black, the nights I've known
Longing for you so lost and alone

Recorded By:

Al Martino
Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra
Nancy Wilson
Jerry Vale
Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra

My Way

By Claude Francois, Jacques Revaux & Paul Anka
1968

Although Frank himself never considered it one of his best, we celebrate his birthday today with what is undoubtedly one of his signature records, and a song that is second only to Lennon & McCartney's "Yesterday" as the most recorded of all time. Originally a French tune by Francois and Revaux, the young Anka heard it and decided to repurpose it for an aging, disillusioned Chairman, who had all but decided to quit the business. Anka slightly altered the melody and gave it English lyrics, and presented it as a gift to Frank, whose recording would result in one the legendary singer's most massive hits. It may not be Porter, Gershwin or Mercer, but it's undeniably Frank, and a song that kept him relevant in the Beatles era. It's been attempted by everyone from Elvis to Sid Vicious, but no one made it his own to the degree that Sinatra did. For whom could those lyrics ever be more true?

Happy Birthday, Francis Albert!

Lyrics:

And now, the end is nearAnd so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do , I saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
And through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
The right to say the things he feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

Recorded By: 

Nina Simone
Elvis Presley
Sid Vicious
Gipsy Kings
Andy Williams
Gonzo the Great
Shirley Bassey
Tom Jones
Andrea Bocelli
Patti Lupone

Autumn Leaves

By Joseph Kosma & Johnny Mercer

1947

Yet another song of French origin, this one was first written in 1945 with French lyrics by poet Jacques Prevert. Originally titled "Les feuilles mortes" ("The Dead Leaves"), it was composed for the film Les Portes de la Nuit, in which it was introduced by Yves Montand. Nat King Cole sang the American version in the 1956 movie Autumn Leaves. One year prior, a piano version by Roger Williams became the only piano instrumental to become a number-one hit. Ah, different times...

Lyrics:

The falling leaves drift by the window,

The autumn leaves of red and gold.

I see your lips, the summer kisses,

The sun-burned hands I used to hold.

Since you went away the days grow long,

And soon I'll hear old winter's song.

But I miss you most of all, my darling,

When autumn leaves start to fall.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra

Ella Fitzgerald

Ferrante & Teicher

Eva Cassidy

Miles Davis

The Good Life

By Sacha Distel & Jack Reardon
1962

Originally written as "La Belle Vie" by French composer Distel, the easy-going cabaret tune made its way to American shores almost immediately, and its English translation was turned into a signature hit by Tony Bennett. It made it to the top 20 on the pop charts, and remains part of Bennett's regular repertoire to this day.

Lyrics:

Oh, the good life--
"Full of fun" seems to be the ideal.
Yes, the good life
Lets you hide all the sadness you feel.

You won't really fall in love,
For you can't take the chance.
So be honest with yourself,
Don't try to fake romance.

It's the good life--
To be free, and explore the unknown.
Like the heartaches
When you learn you must face them alone.

Please remember I still want you,
And in case you wonder why,
Well, just wake up, kiss the good life goodbye.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Ray Charles
Shirley Horn
Matt Monro
Jack Jones

Fascination

By F.D. Marchetti & Dick Manning
1932

This song took quite a unique journey. It began its life in 1905 as a French tune by Marchetti and lyricist Maurice de Feraudy. Twenyy-seven years later, American lyricist Manning added English words, and the renamed song was published in the U.S. by the Southern Music Company. It remained in obscurity for another 25 years, when it was used as the main theme for the Audrey Hepburn/William Holden film Love in the Afternoon. The unforgettable recording by Jane Morgan soon followed, and the song was immortalized.

Lyrics:

It was fascination, I know,
And it might have ended
Right then, at the start.
Just a passing glance,
Just a brief romance,
And I might have gone on my way
Empty hearted.

It was fascination, I know,
Seeing you alone
With the moonlight above.
Then I touched your hand,
And the moment I kissed you,
Fascination turned to love.

Recorded By:

Nat King Cole
Dinah Shore
Dick Jacobs
Paul Mauriat
Maya Barsony

I Wish You Love

By Leo Chauliac & Albert A. Beach
1957

Beginning its life as a French song entitled "Que reste-t-il de nos amours?", the original lyrics for this tune were written by one Charles Louis Trenet. Sticking to the original's wistful theme of young love matured, Beach added English lyrics, and Keely Smith introduced the soon-to-be standard. 

Lyrics:

Goodbye,

No use leading with our chins.

This is where our story end;

Never lovers, ever friends.

Goodbye,

Let our hearts call it a day.

But before you walk away,

I sincerely want to say...

I wish you bluebirds in the spring,

To give your heart a song to sing.

And then a kiss, but more than this,

I wish you love.

And in July, lemonade,

To cool you in some leafy glade.

I wish you health, but more than wealth,

I wish you love.

My breaking heart and I agree

That you and I could never be,

So with my best, my very best,

I set you free.

I wish you shelter from the storm,

A cozy fire to keep you warm,

But most of all, when snowflakes fall,

I wish you love.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra & Count Basie

Barbra Streisand

Jerry Lee Lewis

Gloria Lynne

Nat King Cole