In the past, I have focused on current artists who are not prevalent in the international music industry. For today's featured artist, however, I will be focusing on an international superstar from the 1940s. Edith Piaf experienced much turmoil in her personal and professional life. Despite this, she is one of France's most well-known and critically acclaimed singers.
Edith's extreme range and vocal ability is reflected in the seriousness and professionalism of her music. She utilized vocal effects such as trilling, big band style ballads, drastic dynamics, and progressively dramatic pauses. Her skilled enunciation made her French very clear to both foreign and native listeners.
Hits such as "Padam Padam," "La Vie En Rose," "La Foule," and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" made her a household name across the world. She is best known as a French Cabaret star. Cabaret music was France's crown jewel between the '40s and '60s. As such, she was a key element in France's revival on the international stage.
The songs previously listed show her extensive vocal ability. "Padam Padam" is a wonderful example of her dramatic flare in certain songs, while "Non Je Ne Regrette Rien" shows her ability to channel an inspirational tone. Power was always her best quality. Each of her songs, no matter the emotion elicited, show exactly how strong she was vocally. She was the definition of a powerhouse.
Edith's strongest quality can be heard clearly in "Padam Padam." If you listen carefully to the recording below, you will be able to hear her extreme ability to sustain notes for extensive periods of time without faltering. This legend will go down in history as one of the world's greatest musicians.
