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Азнавур за Азнавур
В тази книга световноизвестният певец, композитор, театрален и филмов актьор разказва за себе си, за своя път в изкуството, за трудностите, които е трябвало да преодолява и за славата, постигната с цената на много упоритост и трудолюбие. Освен с автобиографичния си характер книгата привлича със сведенията за известни звезди на естрадата, за техния творчески път и принос в изграждането на облика на френския шансон. Може да се каже, че тя представлява панорама на френската естрадна песен в периода от началото на Втората световна война до седемдесетте години на миналия век.
- GenresBiography
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
4 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Charles Aznavour
77 books20 followersBeloved French chanson entertainer Charles Aznavour, who wrote more than 800 songs, recorded more than 1,000 of them in French, English, German and Spanish and sold over 100 million records in all, was born Chahnour Varinag Aznavourian on May 22, 1924, in Paris, the younger of two children born to Armenian immigrants who fled to France. His mother was a seamstress as well as an actress and his father was a baritone who sang in restaurants. Both Charles and his sister waited on tables where he performed. He delivered his first poetic recital while just a toddler. Within a few years later he had developed such a passion for singing/dancing, that he sold newspapers to earn money for lessons.
He took his first theatrical bow in the play "Emil and the Detectives" at age 9 and within a few years was working as a movie extra. He eventually quit school and toured France and Belgium as a boy singer/dancer with a traveling theatrical troupe while living the bohemian lifestyle. A popular performer at the Paris' Club de la Chanson, it was there that he was introduced in 1941 to the songwriter Pierre Roche. Together they developed names for themselves as a singing/writing cabaret and concert duo ("Roche and Aznamour"). A Parisian favorite, they became developed successful tours outside of France, including Canada. In the post WWII years Charles began appearing in films again, one of them as a singing croupier in Goodbye Darling (1946).
Eventually Aznavour earned a sturdy reputation composing street-styled songs for other established musicians and singers, notably Édith Piaf, for whom he wrote the French version of the American hit "Jezebel". Heavily encouraged by her, he toured with her as both an opening act and lighting man. He lived with Piaf out of need for a time not as one of her many paramours. His mentor eventually persuaded him to perform solo (sans Roche) and he made several successful tours while scoring breakaway hits with the somber chanson songs "Sur ma vie" and "Parce que" and the notable and controversial "Après l'amour." In 1950, he gave the bittersweet song "Je Hais Les Dimanches" ["I Hate Sundays"] to chanteuse Juliette Gréco, which became a huge hit for her.
In the late 50s, Aznavour began to infiltrate films with more relish. Short and stubby in stature and excessively brash and brooding in nature, he was hardly leading man material but embraced his shortcomings nevertheless. Unwilling to let these faults deter him, he made a strong impressions with the comedy Une gosse sensass' (1957) and with Paris Music Hall (1957). He was also deeply affecting as the benevolent but despondent and ill-fated mental patient Heurtevent in Head Against the Wall (1959). A year later, Aznavour starred as piano player Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan in 'Francois Truffaut''s adaptation of the David Goodis' novel Shoot the Pianist (1960) [Shoot the Piano Player], which earned box-office kudos both in France and the United States. This sudden notoriety sparked an extensive tour abroad in the 1960s. Dubbed the "Frank Sinatra of France" and singing in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese), his touring would include sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall (1964) and London's Albert Hall (1967).
Aznavour served as actor and composer/music arranger for many films, including Gosse de Paris (1961), which he also co-wrote with director Marcel Martin, and the dramas Three Fables of Love (1962) [Three Fables of Love") and Dear Caroline (1968) [Dear Caroline]. The actor also embraced the title role in the TV series "Les Fables de la Fontaine" (1964), then starred in the popular musical "Monsieur Carnaval" (1965), in which he performed his hit song "La bohême."
His continental star continued to shine and Aznavour acted in films outside of France with more dubious results. While the sexy satire Candy (1968), with an international cast that included Marlon Brando, Richard Burton and Ringo Sta
He took his first theatrical bow in the play "Emil and the Detectives" at age 9 and within a few years was working as a movie extra. He eventually quit school and toured France and Belgium as a boy singer/dancer with a traveling theatrical troupe while living the bohemian lifestyle. A popular performer at the Paris' Club de la Chanson, it was there that he was introduced in 1941 to the songwriter Pierre Roche. Together they developed names for themselves as a singing/writing cabaret and concert duo ("Roche and Aznamour"). A Parisian favorite, they became developed successful tours outside of France, including Canada. In the post WWII years Charles began appearing in films again, one of them as a singing croupier in Goodbye Darling (1946).
Eventually Aznavour earned a sturdy reputation composing street-styled songs for other established musicians and singers, notably Édith Piaf, for whom he wrote the French version of the American hit "Jezebel". Heavily encouraged by her, he toured with her as both an opening act and lighting man. He lived with Piaf out of need for a time not as one of her many paramours. His mentor eventually persuaded him to perform solo (sans Roche) and he made several successful tours while scoring breakaway hits with the somber chanson songs "Sur ma vie" and "Parce que" and the notable and controversial "Après l'amour." In 1950, he gave the bittersweet song "Je Hais Les Dimanches" ["I Hate Sundays"] to chanteuse Juliette Gréco, which became a huge hit for her.
In the late 50s, Aznavour began to infiltrate films with more relish. Short and stubby in stature and excessively brash and brooding in nature, he was hardly leading man material but embraced his shortcomings nevertheless. Unwilling to let these faults deter him, he made a strong impressions with the comedy Une gosse sensass' (1957) and with Paris Music Hall (1957). He was also deeply affecting as the benevolent but despondent and ill-fated mental patient Heurtevent in Head Against the Wall (1959). A year later, Aznavour starred as piano player Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan in 'Francois Truffaut''s adaptation of the David Goodis' novel Shoot the Pianist (1960) [Shoot the Piano Player], which earned box-office kudos both in France and the United States. This sudden notoriety sparked an extensive tour abroad in the 1960s. Dubbed the "Frank Sinatra of France" and singing in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese), his touring would include sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall (1964) and London's Albert Hall (1967).
Aznavour served as actor and composer/music arranger for many films, including Gosse de Paris (1961), which he also co-wrote with director Marcel Martin, and the dramas Three Fables of Love (1962) [Three Fables of Love") and Dear Caroline (1968) [Dear Caroline]. The actor also embraced the title role in the TV series "Les Fables de la Fontaine" (1964), then starred in the popular musical "Monsieur Carnaval" (1965), in which he performed his hit song "La bohême."
His continental star continued to shine and Aznavour acted in films outside of France with more dubious results. While the sexy satire Candy (1968), with an international cast that included Marlon Brando, Richard Burton and Ringo Sta
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 24, 2021
خاطرات بچگی تا بعد از معروفیت و درخشیدن آزناوور به قلم خودش. چیز خاصی نداشت و صرفاً چون صدای این مرد خیلی برام عزیزه تا آخر خوندم.
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October 2, 2018կարդացել եմ դեռահաս ժամանակ... շատ տպավորվել եմ... նորից եմ ուզում կարդալ.. հաստատ լրիվ ուրիշ կերպ եմ ընկալելու
October 6, 2018
"Իմ ճանապարհը հեշտ ու հանգիստ չի եղել: Շատ դառնություննեռ եմ ճաշակել այդ ճանապարհին՝ երեսիս փակված դռներ, հեգնանքով ու արհամարանքով լի ժպիտներ, կատակի տակ քողարկված չարախոսություններ...
November 1, 2023
What a personality! Booze, late nights, women and song. And what energy and drive to suffer through years of cat calls and insults before he was "discovered." Uneducated, small with a raspy voice and a long nose, a child singer and dancer, he succeeded by sheer determination, stubbornness and no other choice but to write songs and perform. A fascinating story, telling on his own warts and faults, but endearing nonetheless. A rave review for this brilliant man. Many vignettes about Edith Piaf included.
October 24, 2024
Прекрасна автобиография, за съжаление твърде кратка - писал я е докато е бил относително млад. Проникновена, самоиронична, пълна с много интересни детайли. Увлекателно и позитивно четиво.
November 21, 2020
Aznavour is my all-time favourite male singer. I've always wanted to read this, but I had to wait until I could get a used copy of the book. This was an utterly wonderful memoir. Aznavour is a true storyteller, focusing on the positives while still being honest. This book also has many hilarious moments throughout. His reasoning for not focusing on the negatives, which he gives in the preface, I can fully stand behind. It's the kind of book you can read with a glass of wine and just enjoy. Warmly recommended.
September 3, 2018
Yesterday when I was young
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame
Ես սեր ունեմ սրտի չափով,
Ցնծություններ՝ լեցուն ցավով,
Ուրեմն խիստ բնական է,
Որ և՛ վիշտը զգամ շատ խոր:
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame
Ես սեր ունեմ սրտի չափով,
Ցնծություններ՝ լեցուն ցավով,
Ուրեմն խիստ բնական է,
Որ և՛ վիշտը զգամ շատ խոր:
August 18, 2025
Приятно написана автобиография, благодарение на която научих доста за Шарл Азнавур. Певец, за когото доскоро не знаех нищо. С целия френски шик и непринуденост, които излъчва Азнавур, книгата му неусетно ме пренесе във Франция, и ме обгради с шансони, романтика и изящество.
July 7, 2015
I'm so proud...
December 12, 2018
Հրաշալի գիրք մեծ Շանսոնյեի կյանքի մասին՝ մի շնչով կարդացվող: Ցավոք տարեգրություն չկա եւ միայն երիտասարդ կյանքի պատմությունն է ներառում: Վստահ եմ դեռ շատ կգրվի Շառլ Ազնավուրի մասին:
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October 30, 2018-Ինչ է կուլ տվել?
Ամեն անգամ Աիդան մի տարօրինակ իրի անուն էր տալիս ու հպարտությամբ ավելացնում. "դուրն եկավ": Եվ ամեն անգամ բժիշկը ճգնում էր հասկացնել նրան, որ ստամոքսը աղաց չէ: Աիդան սև աչքերը թերահավատությամբ հառում էր նրան ու չէր համոզվում: Հիմնականում ինձ մի լավ լուծողական էին տալիս, գալարվում էի, կուլ տված իրը վերադարձնում ու կյանքի գալիս: Իսկ Աիդան շարունակում էր.
"Կե'ր, աղբարիկ", իսկ ես պատասխանում էի. "Այո, աղբարիկ",- համոզված, որ եթե նա ինձ "աղբարիկ" է ասում, ուրեմն ես էլ նրան "աղբարիկ" (փոքր եղբայր) պիտի ասեմ:
Ամեն անգամ Աիդան մի տարօրինակ իրի անուն էր տալիս ու հպարտությամբ ավելացնում. "դուրն եկավ": Եվ ամեն անգամ բժիշկը ճգնում էր հասկացնել նրան, որ ստամոքսը աղաց չէ: Աիդան սև աչքերը թերահավատությամբ հառում էր նրան ու չէր համոզվում: Հիմնականում ինձ մի լավ լուծողական էին տալիս, գալարվում էի, կուլ տված իրը վերադարձնում ու կյանքի գալիս: Իսկ Աիդան շարունակում էր.
"Կե'ր, աղբարիկ", իսկ ես պատասխանում էի. "Այո, աղբարիկ",- համոզված, որ եթե նա ինձ "աղբարիկ" է ասում, ուրեմն ես էլ նրան "աղբարիկ" (փոքր եղբայր) պիտի ասեմ:
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews