Milord (song)
Encyclopedia
"Milord" or "Ombre de la Rue" (ɔmbʀə dø la ʀy) is a 1959 song (lyrics by Georges Moustaki
, music by Marguerite Monnot
), famously sung by Édith Piaf
. It is a chanson
that recounts the feelings of a lower-class "girl of the port" (perhaps a prostitute) who develops a crush on an elegantly attired apparent upper-class British traveller (or "milord
"), whom she has seen walking the streets of the town several times (with a beautiful young woman on his arm), but who has not even noticed her. The singer feels that she is nothing more than a "shadow of the street" (ombre de la rue).
The song was a #1-hit in Germany in July 1960. In UK it reached #24 (1960), and Norway #6 (1959).
, Lale Andersen
, and Corry Brokken
. The latter also recorded the song in Dutch
. An English version was recorded by Lolita.
Italian
versions were recorded by Dalida, and Milva
, a Swedish
version was cut by Anita Lindblom.
This song was also covered by male crooner, Bobby Darin
in 1964.
Benny Hill
produced a skit modeled on the musical Cabaret
, and included the song "Milord," sung — in English — by Louise English
, a member of Hill's Angels. It is the closing number in the skit and the refrain is repeated as the patrons toast each other and throw confetti
.
Cher
sang an English version of "Milord" on her second solo album The Sonny Side of Cher
which was released in 1966. It has also been sung by the all-girl punk group the Mo-dettes
in 1980, Candan Erçetin
, Mercan Dede
at 2003.
In-grid
sang a remix of "Milord" in her album La Vie en Rose released in 2004. The song was edited to have a faster speed than the original.
French jazz singer Raquel Bitton performed the song as part of her Piaf tribute show "Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs".
Paris Saint-Germain supporters from the Auteil stand of the Parc des Princes
have a chant based on "Milord".
Georges Moustaki
Giuseppe Mustacchi, known as Georges Moustaki , is a French singer and songwriter of Italo-Greek Jewish origin, best known for his poetic rhythm, eloquent simplicity and his hundreds of romantic songs...
, music by Marguerite Monnot
Marguerite Monnot
Marguerite Monnot was a French songwriter and composer best known for having written many of the songs performed by Édith Piaf and for the music in the stage musical Irma La Douce....
), famously sung by Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
. It is a chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
that recounts the feelings of a lower-class "girl of the port" (perhaps a prostitute) who develops a crush on an elegantly attired apparent upper-class British traveller (or "milord
Milord
In the nineteenth century, milord was well-known as a word which continental Europeans whose jobs often brought them into contact with travellers commonly used to address Englishmen or male English-speakers who seemed to be upper-class – even though the English-language phrase "my...
"), whom she has seen walking the streets of the town several times (with a beautiful young woman on his arm), but who has not even noticed her. The singer feels that she is nothing more than a "shadow of the street" (ombre de la rue).
The song was a #1-hit in Germany in July 1960. In UK it reached #24 (1960), and Norway #6 (1959).
Cover versions
"Milord" was one of Germany's biggest selling songs of 1960. Aside from Edith Piaf's original French version, there have also been German cover versions by DalidaDalida
Dalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
, Lale Andersen
Lale Andersen
Lale Andersen was a German chanson singer-songwriter born in Bremerhaven, Germany. She is best known for her interpretation of the song "Lili Marleen" in 1939, which became tremendously popular on both sides during the Second World War.- Early life :She was born in Lehe and baptized Liese-Lotte...
, and Corry Brokken
Corry Brokken
Corry Brokken is a former Dutch singer.Brokken won the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest, representing the Netherlands singing "Net als toen"...
. The latter also recorded the song in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
. An English version was recorded by Lolita.
Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
versions were recorded by Dalida, and Milva
Milva
Maria Ilva Biolcati , known as Milva, is an Italian singer, actress and television personality. She is also known as 'La Rossa', , due to the colour of her hair, and additionally as the 'Panther of Goro', which stems from the Italian press having nicknamed the three most popular Italian female...
, a Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
version was cut by Anita Lindblom.
This song was also covered by male crooner, Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin , born Walden Robert Cassotto, was an American singer, actor and musician.Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country...
in 1964.
Benny Hill
Benny Hill
Benny Hill was an English comedian and actor, notable for his long-running television programme The Benny Hill Show.-Early life:...
produced a skit modeled on the musical Cabaret
Cabaret (musical)
Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
, and included the song "Milord," sung — in English — by Louise English
Louise English
Louise English is a British actress with many roles in West End plays and nationally touring musical theatre productions, and was a regular performer on the The Benny Hill Show from 1978 to 1986 ....
, a member of Hill's Angels. It is the closing number in the skit and the refrain is repeated as the patrons toast each other and throw confetti
Confetti
Confetti is a multitude of pieces of paper, mylar or metallic material which is usually thrown at parades and celebrations, especially weddings . Confetti is made in a variety of colors, and commercially available confetti is available in imaginative shapes...
.
Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
sang an English version of "Milord" on her second solo album The Sonny Side of Cher
The Sonny Side of Cher
-Credits:*Cher - lead vocals*Sonny Bono - record producer*Harold Battiste - musical arranger*Larry Levine - sound engineer*Stan Ross - sound engineer*Woody Woodward - art direction-Chart positions:...
which was released in 1966. It has also been sung by the all-girl punk group the Mo-dettes
The Mo-dettes
The Mo-dettes were an all-female punk band, formed in 1979 by Kate Korris, an original member of The Slits and brief member of The Raincoats, and Jane Crockford, former member of The Bank of Dresden.-Biography:...
in 1980, Candan Erçetin
Candan Erçetin
Candan Erçetin, is a Turkish singer and songwriter.-Biography:Candan Erçetin was born on 10 February 1963 in Kırklareli, Turkey in an Albanian family. She studied at Lycée de Galatasaray, and graduated from Istanbul University with a degree in Archaeology...
, Mercan Dede
Mercan Dede
Mercan Dede , also known as DJ Arkin Allen, is a Turkish composer, ney and bendir player, DJ and producer. He divides his time between Turkey, Europe and North America...
at 2003.
In-grid
In-Grid
Ingrid Alberini is an Italian dancer and singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 2003 international club smash "Tu es foutu", also known as "You Promised Me"...
sang a remix of "Milord" in her album La Vie en Rose released in 2004. The song was edited to have a faster speed than the original.
French jazz singer Raquel Bitton performed the song as part of her Piaf tribute show "Piaf: Her Story, Her Songs".
Paris Saint-Germain supporters from the Auteil stand of the Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
have a chant based on "Milord".