Charles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour
Officer of the Order of Canada

Aznavour at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
Background information
Birth name Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian
Born May 22, 1924 (1924-05-22) (age 86)
Origin Paris, France
Genres Pop
Chanson
Jazz
Occupations Singer-songwriter, actor, public activist, diplomat
Years active 1936–present
Labels EMI
MusArm Records
Associated acts Claude Lombard
Katia Aznavour
Website www.c-aznavour.com

Charles Aznavour OC, (born Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian[1], May 22, 1924, Paris) is a French-Armenian singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world. Aznavour is known for his characteristic short figure and unique tenor[2] voice; clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. He has appeared in more than 60 movies, composed about 1,000 songs (including 150 at least in English, 100 in Italian, 70 in Spanish, and 50 in German[3]), and has sold well over 100 million records.[4]

In 1998, Charles Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. He has sung for presidents, popes, and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events, and is the founder of the charitable organization Aznavour for Armenia along with his long-time friend and impresario Levon Sayan.

Aznavour started his global farewell tour in late 2006, which continues through this day. In 2009 he was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as Armenia's permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva[5].

Contents

Biography

A young Charles with his mother Knar (1920s)

Background

Aznavour was born in Paris, the son of Armenian immigrants Michael Aznavourian (from Akhaltsikhe in Georgia) and Knar Baghdasarian (from Turkey)[6]. His artistic parents (his mother was an actress and his father was a baritone who sang in restaurants) introduced him to the world of theatre at an early age. He dropped out of school at the age of nine, already aspiring to the life of an artist. He began to perform at this time, and soon took the stage name "Aznavour". His big break came when the singer Édith Piaf heard him sing and arranged to take him with her on tour in France and to the United States.

Aznavour's voice is shaded towards the tenor range, but possesses the low range and coloration more typical of a baritone, contributing to his unique sound.

Music

Often described as "France's Frank Sinatra ", Aznavour sings frequently about love. He has written musicals and about a thousand songs, and made more than one hundred records. Aznavour speaks and sings in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese, Neapolitan), which has helped him perform at Carnegie Hall and other major venues around the world. He also recorded at least one song from the 18th century poet Sayat Nova, in Armenian. Que C'est Triste Venise, sung in French, Italian (Com'è Triste Venezia), Spanish (Venecia Sin Ti), English (How Sad Venice Can Be), and German (Venedig in Grau), is one of Aznavour's most famous multilingual songs.

In 1974 Aznavour became a major success in the United Kingdom where his song "She" went to Number One in the charts. His other well-known song in the UK was "Dance in the Old Fashioned Way".

Aznavour and Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø performing in Vienna

Artists who have covered his songs and collaborated with Aznavour include Fred Astaire, Andrea Bocelli, Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan[7], Liza Minnelli, Josh Groban, Shirley Bassey, José Carreras, Laura Pausini, Nana Mouskouri and Julio Iglesias. Fellow French pop legend Mireille Mathieu has sung and recorded with Aznavour on numerous occasions. In 1974, Jack Jones recorded an entire album of Aznavour compositions entitled "Write Me A Love Song, Charlie", re-released on CD in 2006 [8]. Aznavour and Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti sang Gounod's aria Ave Maria together. He performed with famed Russian cellist and friend Mstislav Rostropovich to inaugurate the French presidency of the European Union in 1995. Elvis Costello recorded "She" for the film Notting Hill. One of Aznavour's greatest friends and collaborators from the music industry is legendary Spanish operatic tenor Plácido Domingo, who often performs his hits, most notably a studio recording of "Les bateaux sont partis" in 1985, as well as multiple live renditions Aznavour's "Ave Maria". In 1994, Aznavour performed with Domingo and Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø at Domingo's third annual Christmas in Vienna concert. The three singers performed a variety of carols, medleys, and duets, and the concert was televised throughout the world, as well as released on a CD internationally.[9]

At the start of autumn in 2006, Aznavour initiated his farewell tour, performing in the US and Canada, and earning very positive reviews. Aznavour started 2007 with concerts all over Japan and Asia. The second half of 2007 saw Aznavour return to Paris for over 20 shows at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, followed by more touring in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the rest of France. He has repeatedly stated that this farewell tour, health permitting, will likely last beyond 2010. At 85, Aznavour is in excellent health, although admittedly 60 years on stage have made him "a little hard of hearing".[10] He still sings in multiple languages and without persistent use of teleprompters, but typically sticks to just two or three (French and English being the primary two, with Spanish or Italian being the third) during most concerts.[11] On 30 September 2006, Aznavour performed a major concert in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia to start off the cultural season "Arménie mon amie" in France. Former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and French president Jacques Chirac, at the time on an official visit to Armenia, were in front-row attendance.[12]

Charles Aznavour in concert (1988).

In 2006, 82-year old Aznavour traveled to Cuba, where he, together with Chucho Valdes, recorded his new album Colore Ma Vie, presented at Aznavour's Moscow concert in April 2007. Later, in July 2007, Aznavour was invited to perform at the Vieilles Charrues Festival.

"Forever Cool" (2007), an album from Capitol/EMI, features Aznavour singing a new duet of "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime" with the voice of the late Dean Martin.

Aznavour finished a tour of Portugal in February 2008. On 18 January 2008 he participated as guest vocalist with the contestants of the French reality show Star Academy and sang his famous Emmenez-Moi with contestant Jérémy Chapron. Throughout the spring of 2008, Aznavour toured South America, holding a multitude of concerts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Summer saw him in Quebec, and a return to Latin America followed in autumn.

Charles Aznavour's newest album, the highly-anticipated international release of Duos, is a collaborative effort featuring Aznavour and his greatest friends and partners from his long career in the music industry, including Celine Dion, Laura Pausini, Josh Groban, Plácido Domingo, and many others.[13] It was released on various dates in December 2008 across the world.[14] His next album, Charles Aznavour and The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (previosuly known as Jazznavour 2), is a continuation in the same vein as his hit album Jazznavour released in 1998, involving new arrangements on his classic songs with a jazz orchestra and other guest jazz artists. It was released on November 30, 2009.[15]

Aznavour's current tour, Aznavour en liberté [16], which started in late April 2009 with a wave of concerts across the United States and Canada, will again take him across Latin America in the autumn, as well as the USA once again.

Charles Aznavour, Armen Martirosyan and Djivan Gasparyan in Yerevan

Film

See also: Charles Aznavour#Filmography

Aznavour has had a long and varied parallel career as an actor, appearing in over 60 films. In 1960 Aznavour starred in François Truffaut's Tirez sur le pianiste, playing a character called Édouard Saroyan. He also put in a critically acclaimed performance in the 1974 movie And Then There Were None. Aznavour had an important supporting role in 1978's The Tin Drum, winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1979. Aznavour starred in the 2002 movie Ararat playing Edward Saroyan, a movie director.

Armenia and abroad

Charles Aznavour Statue in Gyumri, Armenia.

Since the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Aznavour has been helping the country through his charity, Aznavour for Armenia. Together with his brother in-law and co-author Georges Garvarentz he writes the song "Pour toi Arménie", which was performed by a group of famous French artists and topped the charts for 18 weeks. There is a square named after him in central Yerevan on Abovian Street, and a statue erected in Gyumri, which saw the most lives lost in the earthquake. In 1995 Charles Aznavour was appointed an Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Armenia to UNESCO. Aznavour is a member of the Armenia Fund International Board of Trustees. The organization has rendered more than $150 million in humanitarian aid and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia since 1992. Charles Aznavour was appointed as "Officier" (Officer) of the Légion d'honneur in 1997.

In 2004 Aznavour received the title of "National Hero" of Armenia for his humanitarian work, Armenia's highest award. On December 26, 2008, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan signed a presidential decree for granting citizenship for the Republic of Armenia to Charles Aznavour whom he called a "prominent singer and public figure" and "a hero of the Armenian people".[17]

An admirer of Québec, where he played in Montréal cabarets before becoming famous, he has helped the career of Québécoise singer-songwriter Lynda Lemay in France, and has a house in Montreal. On 5 July 2008, he was invested as an honorary officer of the Order of Canada and performed the following day on the Plains of Abraham as a feature of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.[18]

Also in Egypt , The Ministry of Culture , did a concert respect for his name and it was performed by the International Egyptian Singer Tony Kaldas in Chateau de Ghouri in December 2006 singing a big Aznavour's repertoire.

Aznavour and famed Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, with the collaboration of over 40 of France's most celebrated singers and musicians, recorded a music video band aid in the aftermath of the catastrophic 2010 Haitian Earthquake, titled "1 geste pour Haïti chérie".[19]

Personal life and cultural impact

Charles Aznavour, a photo by Xavier Thomas.

Aznavour married his third wife, Swede Ulla Thorsell, in 1968. He has 6 children - Seda, Katia, Misha, Nicolas, Charles, and Patrick. He currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland.[20]

His musicality and fame abroad is present in many other areas of pop culture. Aznavour's name was used as the basis for the name of the character Char Aznable by Yoshiyuki Tomino in his anime mecha series, Mobile Suit Gundam. His song "Parce Que Tu Crois" was sampled by Hip Hop producer Dr. Dre for the song "What's the Difference", from his album "2001". He is mentioned in The Psychedelic Furs song "Sister Europe" ("The radio upon the floor/ is stupid, it plays Aznavour").

He has often joked about his physicality, the most infamous feature of which is his limited height; he stands only 160 centimetres (5.2 ft), and Aznavour has made this a source of self-deprecating humour over the years. He has had a nose surgery to reduce what he considers its "massive length" during his youth to appeal more to the public as a singer. Jokingly on a TV5 interview, he said that he used to twist his nose to one side when passing by a lady, saying "excuse me".

Politics

Charles Aznavour has been increasingly involved in French, Armenian, and international politics as his career has progressed. During the 2002 French presidential elections, when radical right-wing nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front made it into the runoff election, facing incumbent Jacques Chirac, Aznavour signed the "Vive la France" petition, and called on all French to "sing the Marseillaise" in protest.[21] Chirac, a personal friend of Aznavour's, ended up winning in a landslide, carrying over 82% of the vote.

He has written a song about the Armenian Genocide, titled Ils sont tombés (in English "They fell").

He has also campaigned fervently for international copyright law reform. In November 2005 he met with President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso[22] on the issue of the review of term of protection for performers and producers in the EU, advocating an extension of the EU's term of protection from the current 50 years to the United States' law allowing 95 years, saying "[o]n term of protection, artists and record companies are of the same mind. Extension of term of protection would be good for European culture, positive for the European economy and would put an end the current discrimination with the U.S." He has also notably butted heads with French politician Christine Boutin over her defense of a "global license" flat-fee authorization for sharing of copyrighted files over the Internet, claiming that the license would eliminate creativity. In May 2009 the French Senate approved one of the strictest internet anti-piracy bills ever with a landslide 189-14 vote. Aznavour was a vocal proponent of the measure and considered it a rousing victory:

"If the youth can't make a living through creative work, they will do something else and the artistic world will be dealt a blow... There will be no more songs, no more books, nothing at all. So we had to fight," said Aznavour.[23]

Along with holding the mostly ceremonial title of French ambassador-at-large to Armenia, Aznavour agreed to hold the position of Ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland on February 12, 2009:

"First I hesitated, as it is not an easy task. Then I thought that what is important for Armenia is important for us. I have accepted the proposal with love, happiness and feeling of deep dignity," said Aznavour.[24]

Awards and recognition

Discography

UK discography

French discography

Spanish discography

Italian discography

German discography

Concerts

Collaborations and performances as guest star

Complete discography and songs catalogue

CD box set

Filmography

Actor

Concerts

Video

Laserdisc

DVD

Others

See also

References

  1. ↑ ArmeniaPedia
  2. ↑ ...highly distinct tenor voice
  3. ↑ Tableau des équivalences
  4. ↑ Thomas, Rebecca (10 April 2001). "Aznavour leaves on high note". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1269362.stm. "Aznavour has sold more than 100 million records..." 
  5. ↑ Singer Aznavour named Armenian ambassador to Switzerland
  6. ↑ http://www.billetnet.fr/en/wiki/Charles_Aznavour
  7. ↑ http://www.covermesongs.com/2010/08/bob-dylan-the-times-weve-known.html
  8. ↑ "Write Me A Love Song, Charlie", by Jack Jones, also at Amazon.com
  9. ↑ Sissel Kyrkjebø (Soprano)
  10. ↑ Aznavour's log goodbye
  11. ↑ Riding, Alan (18 September 2006). "At 82, Charles Aznavour Is Singing a Farewell That Could Last for Years". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/18/arts/music/18azna.html?ex=1167368400&en=5b722c96ea2a5172&ei=5070. "There are some people who grow old and others who just add years. I have added years, but I am not yet old..." 
  12. ↑ Charles Aznavour Biography, RFI Musique, February 2007
  13. ↑ Prochain album
  14. ↑ Charles Aznavour pays himself "it all" in his new album
  15. ↑ Tournée / Sortie CD
  16. ↑ Aznavour en Liberté
  17. ↑ New York Times article "Aznavour Granted Armenian Citizenship"
  18. ↑ globeandmail.com: Aznavour receives Order of Canada honours in Quebec
  19. ↑ French music stars mobilise for Haiti
  20. ↑ Aznavour in Switzerland
  21. ↑ Biography - Charles Aznavour
  22. ↑ Charles Aznavour meets EC President José Manuel Barroso
  23. ↑ French bill to combat Internet piracy clears final hurdle
  24. ↑ Charles Aznavour Ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, Panorama.am, Feb. 13, 2009
  25. ↑ Edison Award Official Site, 2008
  26. ↑ Delegation of Armenia to UNESCO
  27. ↑ Charles Aznavour and Kirk Kerkorian National Heroes of Armenia
  28. ↑ Charles Aznavour receives Order of Canada honours in Quebec City
  29. ↑ Aznavour to receive MIDEM award, PanArmenian.net, 15.01.2009
  30. ↑ Именем Шарля Азнавура в Степанакерте назван культурный центр, Regnum, 2009

External links

Live performances

Awards
Preceded by
Maxime Le Forestier		 Male artist of the year
at the Victoires de la Musique
1997		 Succeeded by
Florent Pagny
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Zohrab Mnatsakanian		 Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations in Geneva
since 26 June 2009		 Incumbent
Ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland
since 30 June 2009