La vie en rose

The song La Vie en Rose was composed in 1945 by French singer Edith Piaf. The title translates to “Life in Pink,” or “Life Through Rose-Colored Glasses.” Piaf’s lyrics and musicality describe the wonderful feeling of being in love, where she sees everything around her with a joyous attitude. The song’s theme of love represents how being in love can suddenly change your perspective on life, eliminating any pessimistic thoughts and replacing them with optimistic ones. In the song, Piaf reflects, “Il est entré dans mon cœur…Une part de bonheur…Dont je connais la cause.” In English, this translates to “He entered my heart…a piece of happiness…I know the cause.” Here, Piaf declares that the man whom she loves has created a strong, undeniable feeling of happiness within her. The song’s optimism and catchiness touched hearts around the world, causing it to become a global hit even 80 years later.

La Vie en Rose, having been released just as World War II had ended, became very popular as it allowed people to feel a sense of joy and hope after a painful and traumatizing period. Many people who had survived the war felt that they could not feel optimistic anymore after such a horrible experience, but the song uplifted them and reminded them that love and happiness still existed. It was played on many French and other European radios, and other international soldiers stationed in France brought records home that led the song to become an international sensation.

The song, filled with love, was symbolic of French romanticism and national identity through its charm and worldliness. Piaf went on tour around Europe, the United States, South America, introducing iconic French culture and music to people across the world. Artists such as Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby covered La Vie en Rose to add an American interpretation to it. More recently, Lady Gaga covered the song to revive Edith Piaf’s legacy and keep the song as popular and relevant as ever after generations. Now, La Vie en Rose has become not only a French song, but everyone’s song.