CABARET
VILLE MAGAZINE. P262. CONT'D FROM
P261
BETWEEN RAQUEL BITTON, EDITH PIAF AND THE FRENCH AMERICAN
CABARET. Cont'd.
Some
of Bitton’s answers might astonish you, disturb you, confuse you, elevate
your soul, energize you mind, stimulate your determination to succeed in
life, and some other answers might throw you off wall. Some of Bitton’s
answers will most certainly shed bright and new lights on Raquel Bitton, the
“woman”, the “honest human being”, the “fighter”, the “survivor”, the
“visionary” and the free-spirited artist…a strong woman with strong personal
conviction, a very predominant individual philosophy sweetly, strongly and
honestly expressed in sweet, strong and honest answers. Were Bitton’s
answers aimed at defining her style, her character, her unique “genre” and
mastery, or were they a strong personal reaction and an attempt to distant
herself from Edith Piaf? I think, both! Some of Bitton’s answers were
unexpected. Some readers might welcome them with a new understanding of
Bitton the woman and artist, while some others might pose for a wile and
wonder why Raquel Bitton did answer the questions in that fashion with such
intensity? Once you read the interview, you will immediately understand that
Bitton is not Piaf the “sad-soul-woman” nor “the street-born and raised
singer”!! I
did not know Bitton was so different from the picture and the conceptualized
image I created of her. Otherwise, I would have asked different questions,
even though, I researched Bitton’s impressive accomplishments…life…where she
grew up in Casablanca…stories about the remarkable parents she had,
observant Jews who worked at the U.S. Air Force Base there…the Bitton’s
house which was a sanctuary for music and songs…charming stories about the
atrium her father built and filled it with birds…Bitton’s first performance
at 8 at the Marrakesh Casino…how American Jewish organizations helped the
Bittons emigrate from Morocco…how the Bittons left Morocco with only the
clothes on their back and settled in San Francisco, where Bitton's aunt
lived….but obviously, this was not enough! Raquel Bitton appeared to be
bigger than the events of her life and quite different from the conventional
portrayal of a young singer who was taken by her idol. The interview will
clearly invite you to like and admire Bitton’s presence and personality but,
some readers might believe that Bitton was too strong, too independent, too
critical, too “individual” and very distant and different from Edith Piaf!
But no one will ever contest the amazing talent of this woman, I mean Bitton.
Raquel Bitton stated very clearly to me that Piaf did not affect her life.
Bitton made it clear to me that she admired Piaf’s great sense of
choosing and creating her repertoire, but in no way she needed to be her.
Bitton, frankly, strongly and straightforwardly explained that Piaf’s voice
echoed hers (meaning Bitton’s voice).
Thus,
she felt “safe”. Bitton added: “I don't think I
look like her. We both are brunet, she had blue eyes, mine are brown, she
was smaller in stature, fragile, I am not. The face you see is mine, the
expressions are mine, the interpretation of my repertoire is mine.” However,
Raquel Bitton acknowledges that she has one very obvious thing in
common with Piaf. “We respect the lyrics of a song.” Bitton said. Before
her audience, Raquel explained: "We may carry the same intensity, but
certainly my voice is different than hers in many ways. We carry the same
passion and I will not lie that it comes from my heritage as a Jewish
Sephardic girl growing up listening to Latino songs.”
Bitton wants you to know and remember
that she did not need to hide behind the Phenomenon Piaf, and that she had
hers to build upon. Grosso modo, Britton is categorically separating
herself from Edith Piaff. She told WACJ “ How else would I have gained the
respect of Michel Rivgauche, Henri Contet, Francis Lai, if I did not
separate myself from the subject? I never lived in the Universe of Piaf. I
sang the text in French, “a ma facon” (my way), I conquered with
simplicity.” Don't try to flatter Bitton by comparing her to Edith
Piaf. It would be a mistake. She will not consider it a compliment. For
Bitton, Raquel Bitton is Bitton, and Piaf is Piaf!! Wow!! In
1964, the entertainment division of the RTF in Paris (Radio Television
Française: The Consortium of Radio and Television of France) decided to air
a special show on France’s great, the late Edith Piaf. Georgette Lemaire
(Born in Paris on February 15, 1943), one of France’s most respected singers
was selected to star in that show called “"Télé-Dimanche", hosted by Roger
Lanzac and Raymond Marcillac. She fell sick. At the very last minute, on
November 21st 1965, Lemaire was replaced by a new talented and
relatively unknown singer who just won a "radio-crochet" (a singing
competition) in Avignon, France in 1964.
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