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    Categories: 2018

France and Armenia mourn loss of ‘unique’ singing great Aznavour

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany
October 1, 2018


France and Armenia mourn loss of 'unique' singing great Aznavour

by Christian Boehmer, Sabine Glaubitz and Sebastien Kuenigkeit in
Paris and Robin Powell in Berlin

Paris (dpa) -

One of France's most beloved singers and songwriters, Charles
Aznavour, has died at the age of 94.

The French-Armenian musician composed some 1,300 songs during his
seven-decade career, and played roles in about 70 films.

Aznavour's heartfelt, often raw delivery, and songs of love, family,
life on the margins and his parents' native Armenia, won fans
worldwide. He sold more than 180 million albums.

President Emmanuel Macron described Aznavour as "profoundly French,
attached viscerally to his Armenian roots and celebrated around the
world."

"His masterpieces, his voice, his unique brilliance will endure long
after his death," Macron wrote on Twitter. His music had "accompanied
three generations of joy and grief."

"The French people will join the Armenian people in mourning," Macron said.

"This is truly a painful day for the history of our people and our
country," said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"Aznavour is a man who created not only national, but universal
values, which for many years will accompany mankind towards love and
solidarity, and will guide people for the righteous," Pashinyan said,
according to state news agency Armenpress.

A candle-lighting ceremony was being organized for 8 pm (1600 GMT) at
Charles Aznavour Square in the Armenian capital Yerevan to remember
the late singer.

Aznavour's death brought an outpouring of grief on social media as
soon as it was first reported, and was later confirmed by the mayor of
the southern French commune of Mouries, where he had a residence.

Born on May 22, 1924, he first started singing at his parents'
Armenian restaurant in Paris at the age of 9. Performing was in his
blood, following his singer father and his mother, an actress, who
both arrived in Paris after fleeing violence in Armenia.

A critical turning point for the singer, dubbed the "French Frank
Sinatra," came in 1946, when he met one of the most famous
songstresses at the time, Edith Piaf, who invited him on tour through
France and the United States.

Able to sing in eight languages, the diminutive Aznavour was regarded
as the last great singer of "chansons" - poetic lyric-driven songs
delivered in a half-sung, half-spoken style.

Among his most well-known songs were "La Boheme," "Du laesst dich
geh'n," and "She" - which was covered by Elvis Costello for the hit
Hollywood film "Notting Hill."

His own acting breakthrough came in the French New Wave, with "Don't
Shoot the Pianist," directed by Francois Truffaut in 1960. Dozens more
movie roles followed.

Aznavour received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August last
year. Organizers described him as "an international recording artist
and singing sensation."

Janet Ekmekjian: