The Poor People of Paris
Encyclopedia
"The Poor People of Paris" is a popular
song
, with "Paris" being pronounced as "pa-REE".
It was adapted by Jack Lawrence
in 1954
from the French language
song "La goualante du pauvre Jean" ("The Ballad of Poor John") (words by René Rouzaud, music by Marguerite Monnot
). The title arises in part from a misinterpretation of the French title, as "pauvre Jean" was taken for the same-sounding "pauvre gens," which translates as "poor people."
's orchestra (Capitol Records
catalog number 3336, with the flip side "Theme from 'Helen of Troy'") was a number-one hit on the Billboard Singles Charts in the US
in 1956
: for four weeks on the Best Sellers in Stores chart, for six weeks on the Most Played by Jockeys and Hot 100
charts, and for three weeks on the Most Played on Jukeboxes chart. This recording was also released in Australia
by Capitol under catalog number CP-1044.
(Decca Records
catalog number F10681) was number one in the UK Singles Chart
from April 13 to 27.
catalog number 29835, with the flip side "Annabelle") and Chet Atkins appeared in the US Top 100. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney recorded a version containing the seldom-heard Jack Lawrence lyrics. On the Cash Box Magazine
best-selling record charts (combining all versions of the song), the song was number 1 from March 24 through April 14, 1956, and on the chart 21 weeks . Billy May
also recorded a Latin-styled version that appears in the Ultra-Lounge CD Volume 10: "A Bachelor in Paris", that was edited together with Les Baxter's version.
Edith Piaf
had one of her great hits with the original French version of the song.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, with "Paris" being pronounced as "pa-REE".
It was adapted by Jack Lawrence
Jack Lawrence
Jack Lawrence was an American songwriter. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975.- Biography :...
in 1954
1954 in music
-Events:*January 14 - First documented use of the abbreviated term "Rock 'n' Roll" to promote Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Jubillee, held at St. Nicholas Arena in New York, New York...
from the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
song "La goualante du pauvre Jean" ("The Ballad of Poor John") (words by René Rouzaud, 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....
). The title arises in part from a misinterpretation of the French title, as "pauvre Jean" was taken for the same-sounding "pauvre gens," which translates as "poor people."
Les Baxter version
A recording of the song by Les BaxterLes Baxter
Les Baxter was an American musician and composer.Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer...
's orchestra (Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
catalog number 3336, with the flip side "Theme from 'Helen of Troy'") was a number-one hit on the Billboard Singles Charts in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1956
1956 in music
-Events:*January 26 – Buddy Holly's first recording sessions for Decca Records take place in Nashville, Tennessee*Roy Orbison signs with Sun Records*January 27 – Elvis Presley's single "Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" is released...
: for four weeks on the Best Sellers in Stores chart, for six weeks on the Most Played by Jockeys and Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts, and for three weeks on the Most Played on Jukeboxes chart. This recording was also released in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
by Capitol under catalog number CP-1044.
Winifred Atwell version
In the same year, the piano version by Winifred AtwellWinifred Atwell
Una Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell (27 February or April 1910 or 1914There is some uncertainty over her date and year of birth. Many sources suggest 27 February 1914, but there is a strong suggestion that her birthday was 27 April. Most sources give her year of birth as...
(Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
catalog number F10681) was number one in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
from April 13 to 27.
Other versions
Cover versions by Lawrence Welk, Russ Morgan (Decca RecordsDecca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
catalog number 29835, with the flip side "Annabelle") and Chet Atkins appeared in the US Top 100. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney recorded a version containing the seldom-heard Jack Lawrence lyrics. On the Cash Box Magazine
Cash Box magazine
Cashbox magazine was a weekly publication devoted to the music and coin-operated machine industries in the USA which was published from July 1942 to November 16, 1996...
best-selling record charts (combining all versions of the song), the song was number 1 from March 24 through April 14, 1956, and on the chart 21 weeks . Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
also recorded a Latin-styled version that appears in the Ultra-Lounge CD Volume 10: "A Bachelor in Paris", that was edited together with Les Baxter's version.
Edith 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...
had one of her great hits with the original French version of the song.