National Post, Canada
Nov 22 2008

The wisdom of chansonnier Charles Aznavour

Ben Kaplan, Weekend Post
Published: Friday, November 21, 2008

In July, Charles Aznavour was named an honorary officer of the Order
of Canada, one of a select few non-Canadians to receive the
honour. The French singer – who was discovered by Edith Piaf, starred
in François Truffaut’s films, recorded more than 1,000 love songs and
will soon return to Canada on a new tour – shares some of his life
experience:

Advice? I don’t have any advice. I have more to learn from the young
man than a young man could possibly learn from me.

You see young Jewish people, they don’t want to go live in Israel. But
to help, they’re always ready. Armenians have the same thing. I don’t
want to live in Armenia. It’s not my country, my country is
France. But I’m ready – we’re always ready to help.

I never deny anything. People want to talk? Let them talk. What do I
care about what people say?

I am obliged to say this, though: This is not a farewell tour. The
"farewell tour" was invented by a newspaperman.

The best way to write a love song is to not be in love. If you’re in
love, you’re going to talk about your problems. If you’re not in love,
whether unhappy or happy, you can write like somebody writing a book.

Not to be involved is more important than being involved.

People can’t stay in their own countries. In Africa, in Asia – they’re
dying in their homes. Then they arrive somewhere, they don’t know the
language, they don’t have the ability to work. You can’t help. You
want to help? Give them a job.

I’m always writing for me. Even when I write for a woman, I write for
me. I’m the one who’s going to be singing the song.

I’m coming to the end of my life. I know that. I’ve seen many
things. Life, you have to live it. You want to learn something from
me? Come see me onstage. Then you can judge what I believe is good or
bad.

Most of the time, the father never talks to the son. It’s the mother
who usually does the talking. I try and talk to my children. If they
listen? I don’t know. I said I try.

Religion has never been important to me, but it’s important for people
today. It’s a morality. I don’t need it. But young people need
it. Life today has changed.

Most of the time in France, they didn’t know what "Armenian"
meant. It’s not even my country. It’s the country of my parents and
grandparents. But in France, they’d say, "Oh, you’re Armenian, like
Aznavour" My profession was able to help.

I didn’t marry any Armenians. My kids are Swedish, French. But this is
what I love: My Jewish grandson married an Armenian. He met her in
America. Another one met his wife in Montreal. Italian, Spanish,
English, German, Canadian? What does it matter? More than
Armenian. More than French. I am a man of the Earth.

I’ve never sung the same song. Every song is different every time.

Charles Aznavour’s new record, Duos, is out Dec. 9. He will play
Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto next year.

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From: Baghdasarian