Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. Since the 17th century, Paris has been one of the world’s major centres of finance, diplomacy, commerce, fashion, gastronomy, and science. For its leading role in the arts and sciences, as well as its early and extensive system of street lighting, in the 19th century, it became known as “the City of Light”.
“Under the Bridges of Paris” is a 1913 popular song with music written by Vincent Scotto, the original French lyrics (entitled “Sous les ponts de Paris“) by Jean Rodor (1913), and English sections of lyrics added by Dorcas Cochran (1952) resulting in the released version (1954) containing both French and English sections. Recordings by both Eartha Kitt (released as a B-side to “Santa Baby”) and Dean Martin charted in the UK 1955, but failed to chart in the USA, though both were subsequently released as album tracks as well.
“I Love Paris” is a popular song written by Cole Porter and published in 1953. The song was introduced by Lilo in the musical ‘Can-Can’. A line in the song’s lyrics inspired the title of the 1964 movie ‘Paris When It Sizzles’. The song was covered and popularized by many artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
“April in Paris” is a popular song composed by Vernon Duke with lyrics by Yip Harburg in 1932 for the Broadway musical ‘Walk a Little Faster’. The original 1933 hit was performed by Freddy Martin, and the 1952 remake (inspired by the movie of the same name) was by the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, whose version made the Cashbox Top 50. Composer Alec Wilder writes, “There are no two ways about it: this is a perfect theatre song. If that sounds too reverent, then I’ll reduce the praise to ‘perfectly wonderful,’ or else say that if it’s not perfect, show me why it isn’t.
“Voila Paris” is a track from an album of the same name which tells of the love story between the iconic American-born Josephine Baker and Paris, the city that adopted and applauded her! Some 35 years after her death, the iconic Josephine Baker still fascinates with her story of a young and unknown black American performer who conquered Paris, then France, and then the European continent before taking on the world. The songs are mainly in French but the timeless melodies will be familiar to all for they are standards.
“Paris sera toujours Paris” (English: Paris will always be Paris) is a song by Maurice Chevalier released in 1939. The song was written by A;bert Willemetz and was released in 1939. In 2014 Zaz released a new version which made the charts and was a minor hit in Belgium and France.
