Non, je ne regrette rien
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(February 2023) |
| "Non, je ne regrette rien" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyÉdith Piaf | |
| Language | French |
| Released | 1960 |
| Composer(s) | Charles Dumont |
| Lyricist(s) | Michel Vaucaire |
"Non, je ne regrette rien"(pronounced[nɔ̃ʒənəʁəɡʁɛtʁjɛ̃];transl. "No, I do not regret anything") is a French song composed in 1956 byCharles Dumont,with lyrics byMichel Vaucaire.Édith Piaf's 1960 recording spent seven weeks atop the French Singles & Airplay Reviews chart.[1]
Background
[edit]The song's composer,Charles Dumont,states in the bookÉdith Piaf, Opinions publiques,by Bernard Marchois (TF1 Editions 1995), that Michel Vaucaire's original title was "Non, je ne trouverai rien" (No, I will not find anything) and that the song was meant for the French singer Rosalie Dubois. However, thinking of Piaf, he changed the title to "Non, je ne regrette rien" (No, I Regret Nothing).
According to journalist Jean Noli, in his bookÉdith(Éditions Stock 1973), when Dumont and Vaucaire visited Piaf's home at Boulevard Lannes in Paris, on 24 October 1960, she received them in a very impolite and unfriendly manner. Dumont had tried to offer Piaf his compositions on several occasions, but she disliked them and refused them. On that day she was furious that her housekeeper Danielle had arranged a meeting with the two men without informing her, so she let them wait an hour in her living room before she appeared. She told them she would listen to one song only. Dumont sangNon, je ne regrette rien,to which Piaf reacted extremely positively, saying "This is the song I have been waiting for. It will be my biggest success! I want it for my coming performance at L'Olympia!"
Piaf dedicated her recording of the song to theForeign Legion.[2]At the time of the recording, France was engaged in a military conflict, theAlgerian War(1954–1962), and the 1st REP (1st Foreign Parachute Regiment)—which backed the failed1961 putschagainst presidentCharles de Gaulleand the civilian leadership of Algeria—adopted the song when their resistance was broken. The leadership of the Regiment was arrested and tried but the non-commissioned officers, corporals and Legionnaires were assigned to otherForeign Legionformations. They left the barracks singing the song, which has now become part of the Foreign Legion heritage and is sung when they are on parade.
Song
[edit]The song begins,Non, rien de rien / Non, je ne regrette rien( "No, nothing at all / No, I regret nothing" ). It goes on to describe how the singer has swept away all of her past and cares nothing for it, endingCar ma vie, car mes joies / Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi( "For my life, for my joys / Today, it starts with you" ).
Other recordings
[edit]The song has been recorded by other performers, including:
- Piaf herself recorded an English version, titled "No Regrets".
- Shirley Basseyin 1965, (reaching No. 39 on the UK charts).
- Karen Akerson her 1981 albumPresenting Karen Akers.
- German singer Martinique released a Disco/Synth-Pop version "No Regrets (Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien)" in 1984
- Bad Boys Bluein 1989, on albumThe Fifthrecorded an English version titled "No Regrets".
- The rock bandHalf Man Half Biscuitrecorded a 1991 English version titled "No Regrets".
- La Toya Jacksonin her 1992Moulin RougerevueFormidable.
- Emmylou Harriscontributed an English version to the 1994 multi-artistTribute to Edith Piafalbum.
- Elaine Paigeon 1994 albumPiaf,released to coincide with her portrayal of the lead character in the play of the same name.
- Brazilian singerCássia Elleron her 2001Acústico MTValbum.
- Vicky Leandroson her 2010 albumZeitlos(Timeless) sung in German with the title "Nein, ich bereue nichts".
- CajunbandSteve Riley and the Mamou Playboyson their 2011 albumGrand Isle.
- ActressFrances McDormandas Captain Chantel DuBois sang the song inMadagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.
- Raquel Bittonsang "No Regrets" in the filmPiaf..Her story..Her songsand in the CDRaquel Bitton sings Edith Piaf.
Other languages
[edit]- "Nej, jag ångrar ingenting" (Swedish) byAnita Lindblomin 1961
- "Ne oplakujem" (Croatian) byTereza Kesovijain 1962
- "Ne oplakujem" (Croatian) by Ana Štefok in 1964
- "Ne, ne žalim ni za čim" (Serbian) byLola Novakovićin 1964
- "Nej, jag ångrar ingenting" (Swedish) by Gun Sjöberg in 1966
- "Nelituj" (Czech) by Světlana Nálepková in 2005
- "Ne, ni mi žal" (Slovenian) by Aleš Polajnar in 2014
- "No dico no" (Italian) byDalida
- "No me puedo quejar" (Spanish) by Dalida
- "Nah de Nah" (Spanish) byJaviera Mena
- "Nem, nem bánok semmit sem" (Hungarian) by Vári Éva
- Elvina Makarian (Armenian Jazz Singer).
In popular culture
[edit]- In the United Kingdom, the song was at one time associated with the formerConservativepoliticianNorman Lamont,formerChancellor of the Exchequer,who quoted the song's title to sum up his political career.[3]
- The song was adopted as "a personal anthem" by the formerDutch colonialsoldierJohan Cornelis Princen(better known asPoncke Princen).[4]
- The song is used in many movies, includingBull Durham(1988);Doris Dörrie's filmNobody Loves Me(1994);Babe: Pig in the City(1998);Bernardo Bertolucci's filmThe Dreamers(2003), the Coen Brothers' filmIntolerable Cruelty,the 2005 filmMonamour,the 2006 filmPiaf Her story Her songs,the French criminal biopicMesrine(2008),Valiant(2005), a British animated film about World War II;Inception(2010), where the song is connected withhypnic jerk;[5]andMadagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted(2012). Piaf's English version is used in Luc Besson'sDogman.
- The song features prominently in the biographic movieLa Vie en Rose,which tells the story of Édith Piaf (portrayed by French actressMarion Cotillard)
- A Spanish version of the song performed byJaviera Mena,plays during the end credits of the 2012 Chilean filmYoung and Wild.
- The song has been featured in many episodes of television and streaming programs, including episode 14 of season 11 ofSupernatural,season 4 episode 12 ofThe Good Wife,season 23 episode 13 ofthe Simpsons,season 3 episode 10 ofDruck,season 2 episode 6 ofWhy Women Kill,season 3 episode 6 ofIn the Dark,the conclusion of episode 10 of the first season of the seriesTed Lasso,the SBS Korean DramaThe Penthouse,season 2 episode 9 of the seriesPreacher,season 1 episode 1 ofWednesday,in several episodes during season 2 ofStar Trek: Picard,season 1 episode 4 ofThe Gentlemenand episode 1 of the miniseriesKnuckles.
- This song was added toThe Boring Companywebsite when 50,000 "boring hats" were sold.[6]
- Lyrics from this song are featured inRammstein's"Frühling in Paris" fromLiebe ist für alle da(2009).
- Édith Piaf's recording has been used in numerous television commercials in the United Kingdom, notably forSpecsaversandZoflora.[7]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1960–2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Billboard)[8] | 6 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50Flanders)[9] | 6 |
| Belgium (Juke Box Flanders)[10] | 1 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50Wallonia)[11] | 1 |
| France (IFOP)[12] | 1 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40)[13] | 37 |
| Italy (AFI)[14] | 8 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] | 1 |
| Spain (Discomania)[16] | 20 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 5 |
Sales
[edit]| Region | Sales |
|---|---|
| France | 800,000[18] |
| Netherlands | 125,000[19] |
References
[edit]- ^Archives on "InfoDisc" site.Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ^Cooke, James J. (1990). "Alexander Harrison,Challenging de Gaulle: The O.A.S. and the Counterrevolution in Algeria, 1954–1962".The International Journal of African Historical Studies.Boston: Boston University African Studies Center.
- ^Johnston, Philip (16 March 2004)."It ain't over till the Home Secretary sings".The Daily Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2007.
- ^McWilliams, Ed (28 February 2002)."Princen sided with people".The Jakarta Post.Archived fromthe original(Letter from Ed McWilliams, former US foreign Service Officer)on 9 July 2012.
- ^"Hans Zimmer Explains the Intersection Between Edith Piaf and the Inception Score – /Film".Slashfilm.28 July 2010.Retrieved1 November2017.
- ^Hern, Alex (31 December 2017)."Tesla founder mines rich marketing seam by selling Boring hats".The Guardian.Retrieved15 April2018.
- ^Heldenfels, Rich (8 October 2020)."TV Mailbag: What's the song in the Allstate commercial?".Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^"Billboard Magazine, June 26, 1961".Billboard.26 June 1961.
- ^"Edith Piaf – Non, je ne regrette rien "(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^"Billboard Magazine, May 29, 1961".Billboard.29 May 1961.
- ^"Edith Piaf – Non, je ne regrette rien "(in French).Ultratop 50.Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^"Toutes les Chansons No. 1 des Années 60"(in French).Institut français d'opinion publique.Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2013.Retrieved1 April2021.
- ^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ "(in Hungarian).Single (track) Top 40 lista.Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^"Tutti i successi del 1961"(in Italian). Hit Parade Italia.Archivedfrom the original on 28 July 2013.Retrieved1 April2021.
- ^"Edith Piaf – Non, je ne regrette rien "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^"Billboard Magazine, April 17, 1961".Billboard.17 April 1961.
- ^"Édith Piaf – 26 Top 50"(in French). Chartsventes. 7 June 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 25 March 2019.Retrieved1 April2021.
- ^Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique(SNEP). Fabrice Ferment (ed.).Avant 1962.40 ans de tubes: 1960–2000: les meilleures ventes de 45 tours & CD singles. p. 6.OCLC469523661.
enfin enorme succès commercial pour edith piaf et non je ne regrette rien qui se vend a 800 0000 exemplaires en 61, chiffre absolument incroyable pour l'époque ou vendre 150 000 est deja difficile
- ^"Benelux - Holland"(PDF).Cash Box.15 July 1961. p. 36.Retrieved29 October2024.
