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Born on the streets of Paris, which she would later sing about so passionately in her songs, Edith Piaf was the daughter of an acrobat and a failed singer. She inherited their legacy and carried it forward with resilience, constantly facing life’s circus while building an unshakable music career. Edith Piaf—also known as “La Môme Piaf” or “The Little Sparrow,” a pseudonym she chose for herself—is now, decades later, considered the queen of French chanson, a true symbol of French culture, and an emblem of Paris.
Loss, pain, and loneliness were her close companions, and she became so accustomed to them that they became part of her identity. She began singing her sorrows on the streets of Paris, where she grew up, using her voice to earn a living. But it was also there that she encountered vulgarity, brutality, and once again, suffering, which accompanied her throughout her life. At 17, due to her promiscuous lifestyle in Paris’ seedy neighborhoods, she gave birth to a daughter named Marcelle. The child was soon placed in the care of her father, but tragically died of meningitis at the age of two. After that, Edith Piaf could have no other children except for her music.
At 19, she was discovered by Louis Leplée, the owner of the Le Gerny nightclub, who transformed her into a true diva. He educated, coached, and, as she herself admitted in a candid and grateful statement, "healed" her of the Place Pigalle syndrome, turning her into a respected, admired, and envied woman—a true musical phenomenon. As her success grew, extending beyond France's borders, so did her entourage. However, true friends were few, with opportunists mostly dominating her circle, eager to profit from her, whether financially or materially, matters to which she paid little attention.
Her romantic relationships were many, too many even for the most dedicated biographers to count. Yet, they often proved superficial. The great love of her life was undoubtedly boxer Marcel Cerdan, whom she lost in a tragic plane crash when she was 34. Perhaps what made her see Cerdan as the love of her life was precisely the regretful ending—the drama of the love story feeding her melancholy side. Her close friend Momone, with whom she lived on the streets, wondered what would have happened if Cerdan hadn’t died in that crash. She assumed that he would have likely ended up like the rest of Edith Piaf's former lovers, whom the singer parted ways with once they started to bore her. What she truly loved was being in love—not with a particular person, but with the very feeling of love itself, which had always been missing from her lonely, burdensome life.
She was thirsty for love and passion, and she poured all of that passion into her music. The melodies, lyrics, and songs were the only things that truly managed to tame her. On stage, she fully submitted to the music, letting it possess her, comfort her, and heal her. Nothing, not even the severe health issues she faced after Cerdan’s death, which required powerful painkillers, could keep her away from the stage. That’s because the stage was her home, the place where she belonged, giving her audience all the beauty she had to offer.
Her most important concert, Paris – Olympia 1960, where she performed “Je ne regrette rien” for the first time, was a personal triumph over her illness. The song became an instant favorite, not just for her but for millions of people worldwide.
Cancer, however, spared her no mercy, despite her touching the hearts of countless fans. Three years later, on October 10, 1963, at just 48 years old, she fell victim to the relentless disease. Despite her talent and contributions to France’s global image, the Archbishop of Paris refused to give her a funeral service, citing her "promiscuous and sinful" lifestyle as the reason. She was buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and it wasn’t until 50 years later that the French state made amends by granting her the memorial service she deserved from the beginning.
It is said that her last words, spoken on her deathbed, were: “In this life, for every crazy thing you do, you have to pay.” She did. Countless times. But she paid for it all with music. And because of that, thanks to her, whenever the longing for Paris resurfaces, I and many others like me can soothe that yearning by listening to a song performed by Edith Piaf, with those nasal tones we love so much and would recognize anywhere.
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