Saturday 12 September 2009

No, no regrets

I listened to a Radio 4 programme this afternoon about the song The Look of Love (3 days left to listen). The song is well known from the 1967 James Bond film Casino Royale; but somehow, as cool as Dusty Springfield's version was, there is an underlying laidbackness to 'The Look of Love' which even Dusty fell short of. I remember a much better version in French, and I don't think it was Mireille Mathieu either, who is oft cited online. I have a memory of the song much slower, a deep woman's voice, breathy, quiet and sensual. I can't find it online, but then I thought of Édith Piaf.

Sadly Édith had left the stage before 'The Look of Love' was even written, so I was wrong there, but then I found this timeless gem:

Edith Piaf - Non, je ne regrette rien (1961)


To compare, the studio version is here.

2 comments:

delicate flower said...

Have you ever heard Patricia Kaas? She has a CD of wonderful music including some of Piaf's. Sultry, sexy stuff
I discovered her in the movie "And Now...Ladies and Gentlemen", with Jeremy Irons.

Andy Holroyd said...

Hmm, don't know Patricia Kaas (or the Jeremy Irons film). I would YouTube her now but we're listening to the cricket (England v Australia) and it's a tight match. Noted in my 'stuff to look up folder'.