Perhaps no other city has inspired so many popular songs as the famed French capital of Paris. Singing Paris pleasantly showcases many (although not in full performances), sung by artists such as Edith Piaf, Maurice Chevalier, Brigitte Bardot, and Yves Montand, as well as performers less familiar to American audiences. These musical excerpts are juxtaposed with descriptions of the regions the songs reflect, sometimes shared by the singers themselves but also by historians and novelists, and in a few instances by ordinary Parisians like café owners or booksellers, who offer up memories about the metropolis during the last century. Comments are accompanied by sepia-colored footage of the various districts, which range from the docks to the colorful entertainment areas that feature venues favored by tourists, like the famous Moulin Rouge. The overall result is an affectionate tribute to Paris, mixed with a painless history lesson and a soupçon of concern that some of its character is being lost to modern redevelopment. A jaunty musical tour of one of the world's most beautiful places, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Singing Paris: The City of Lights in 20th-Century French Music
(2009) 52 min. DVD: $169.95. Films Media Group. PPR. ISBN: 978-1-61616-670-0. Volume 26, Issue 3
Singing Paris: The City of Lights in 20th-Century French Music
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