The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf

Unless you speak French you may find the idea of purchasing songs sung in French a little off-putting. I myself speak what you might call "hotel French"--which is to say handful of standard phrases that would get me through in a pinch. When I listen to Piaf I occasionally understand a term here and there, but the specific meaning of the words escape me. But this no hindrance at all. Piaf has a passion that truly transcends the limits of language. No one need tell you that her tone is ironic; no one need tell you that the song is about poverty, lost love, a plea to God; it is there, it is inescapable. Her voice has the delicacy and strength of a steel wire, alternating sharp and flat tones in a uniquely French style, setting forth a meticulously rolled "r" in such a way as to give you chills and flying into a series of electrifying vibratos that are unique in all of music.

Although it would take a box set to do this artist justice, THE VOICE OF THE SPARROW is a very nice introduction to eighteen of Piaf's most famous songs. In a general sense, Piaf typically sang love songs--and had an uncanny ability to shift from bright to dark tones, allowing the listener to feel a dozen different shades of each emotion that colors any single selection. Be it the internationally celebrated "La Vie en Rose," the intense "Mon Dieu," the defiant "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rein" or the super-sophisticated "T'es Beau, Tu Sais," once Piaf adopted a song it became hers alone; every other rendition seems pale in comparison. Sadly, the recordings on this CD have not been remastered--but it doesn't really matter. For one who could escape the limitations of language it is hardly difficult to leap the boundaries of recording technology with the sound of the heart.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer


She was such a babe!!!   January 1, 2004
poor-farmer-can't-get-chickens-to-lay-eggs (Kentucky)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful

I wish I could go back it time, so I could have an affiar with her. I'm completely infatuated with her, like Dana Andrew was with Gene Tierney's pertait in Laura! Her vocie is haunting, sexual, sensual, oozing with pain, laughter, humor, and SEX, SEX, SEX! A true legend, heck the woman had an affiar with Marlene Dietrich and was a legendary performer in her time, and conyinues to thrill young poeple liek me(I'm 19!). A great cd which covers ler last years on record, best in a french version of "Laugh clown." It's all good and poignient stuff, for us artistic types.


La voix d'un ange   December 23, 2003
Tachi (Bay Area, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

this is definitely a must-have for edith piaf fans. it covers all her most famous songs, and for anyone who either grew up in a french-speaking country [like i did], or even in europe, it is hard NOT to know who she is... "la vie en rose" and "non je ne regrette rien" are her true classics... i dont think anyone can hear "non je ne regrette rien" without knowing immediately who the singer is. it is simply her signature song, or at least one of them for sure. her voice is amazing and unique, and many try to cover some of her songs and they simply offer edith no justice watsoever. [patricia kaas being an eception-- their voices are interestingly similar].
whether you understand french or not, this is a great record, with many ballads and a few uptempo songs to make you happy to be in love, or contrastingly, feel the pain of a broken heart. but all i gotta say is she makes a broken heart sound SOOO good... :)
allez milord, souriez moi milord!


Imagine the Champs-Elysee without the Sparrow...   July 31, 2003
yygsgsdrassil (Crossroads America)
...nope, I can't see Paris or France without that voice.

She is an artiste whose life story is as fascinating as her art. Her father was a street acrobat, her mother was an aspiring caberet singer. Rumoured to live the life of a Dickens-like street urchin, she was a sickly child who ended up putting all that passion and pain in rather stirring singing of French folk tunes and caberet favorites to street audiences. She earned enough change to survive and one day, as the story goes, the right guy comes along and places the sparrow where she belongs. The rest, as they say, is history.

And to those Piaf purists out there, I know I've barely scratched the surface of this great artist. I've not intended to give biography here. I'll simply leave that to better voices to do. But I would say this.

Few Americans actually know about Piaf's music, let alone her life story. Maybe that's because Americans would rather not work too hard for their music enjoyment. Her body of work is exclusively done in French. I say, C'mon. Can't you hear that she's pouring her heart and soul in each of those tunes? Get with it, Dudes. Emotion is limitless. Passion knows no bounds. Piaf takes you to a place so real, you don't need to know the meaning of everything she says.

This CD is where I got to know her sound, but these are more like 'late' Piaf recordings. There are many pre-WWII and occupied France recordings (found in other CDs and box sets) which will make you love the woman. Since this CD is a Capitol Records productions, I get the feel that many of the orchestrators of the time were involved here...some sound like Nelson Riddle has arranged and orchestrated the tune and Ol' Blue Eyes or Dino was a minute from strolling in and adding voice.

This is excellence. Period. Get it and listen to it. You'll be surprised at how many of the tunes you know already...Plus, get the live CD, and you will truly be a fan for life.


all excellent   June 9, 2003
Everything she has sung was excellent.

I am looking for a song

that starts with the words:"Le long des rues ils se promènent,
de la Bastille à l'Opéra,.....

Sorry, there were so many (some are even banned)