CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE.
P263. CONT'D FROM
P262
RAQUEL BITTON AND THE FRENCH CABARET DRAMA
That
day, on November 21st 1965, this unknown and yet talented sort of
“understudy” vedette-singer became an instant sensation, a phenomenon. The
French audiences fell head over heels in love with the young girl who reminded
them so much of their beloved Edith Piaf. She had the same voice, the same
physical structure, the same size and the same melancholic fervor. A few weeks
later, she got 5 recording contracts. And two months later, she became one of
the most famous French singers in the world. She sold over 12 million records
within two years. Within 18 months, the world’s greatest superstars joined her
auditorium appearances around the globe, to name a few, Englebert Humperdincks
when he was on the top of the world, Johnny Hallyday and Yves Montand. Who is
this French superstar? She is Mireille Mathieu (Born on July 22nd 1946 in the
Provençal town of Avignon, France).
Before and after Mathieu, many very well established as well as
aspiring singers tried hard to personify the art, soul and spirit of Edith
Piaf. They failed. Even, the great Georgette Lemaire eclipsed in her attempts.
Georgette Lemaire, the original choice of the giants of the French recording
industry and national hope to bring Edith Piaf back to life lost her
popularity and her many attempts and comebacks to personify Piaf remained in
vain.
It is so hard to sing like Piaf. It is almost impossible to
project on stage what Piaf represented and evoked through her
magical-melodramatic persona, in her music, in the way she lived life and
transcended it. Even Mireille Mathieu, the baptized “New Piaf” knew this, for
short after her Piaf interpretation successes, she decided to sculpt her own
style and forget all about singing the songs of Piaf… Only one singer in the
world today, just one singer can bring Piaf to live. And this superb singer is
the Great Raquel Bitton, one of the greatest singers who ever sang in French.
SELECTED
REVIEWS:
"Dear Raquel, your singing is superb,
and I was so happy to find out to which extent you possess the "Climat" PIAF.
Your voice, your heart, your talent would have pleased her so much, I assure
you.
HENRI CONTET
(Author of more than 40 of Piaf's songs..Le Vieux Piano, T'es
beau tu sais...)
“Bigger than
life, this tiny woman fills the grandest concert halls with awe-inspiring
voice and giant persona. She captivates, moves and utterly consumes every
person in the house. Her audience gasps, cries, reels, remembers - and finds
their heart. Her voice resonates with passion at the core. One cannot avoid
being smitten by her instrument of amour. French singer and recording artist
Raquel Bitton is an inspirational, American dream success…
S
he worked her way up from the small jazz clubs to sold-out performances at
Carnegie Hall and notable concert halls throughout North America.
Raquel
Bitton is considered by everyone who had the fortune to attend her concerts,
the
most passionate and powerful artist on the stage today -- anywhere! "Powerful,
emotional, mesmerizing...musically stunning - - Bitton's impassioned delivery
has a trance-like effect on a listener. Piaf and Billie Holiday share a
poignancy that few others have mastered; Bitton, here, is one. "
Philip
Elwood, San Francisco Examiner
"Passion is at the core of the "Piaf" Persona, in this case there is a
surrogate, she is RAQUEL BITTON." Anna Kisselgoff. New York Times
CONTINUES NEXT