They have not yet expressed themselves and, yet, they have their say. Asked by Le Parisien about the idea of seeing songs by Edith Piaf performed on the occasion of the Paris Olympic Games by Aya Nakamura, Catherine Glavas and her sister Christie Laume were completely enchanted by this prospect. Heirs and beneficiaries of La Môme, the sisters of Théo Sarapo, Edith Piaf’s last great love, do not hide the fact that they are not familiar with the singer. But both are resolutely convinced that the idea is not bad.
“She’s pretty,” said Christie Laume. She has a lovely voice and style. Edith liked girls with personality and was very concerned about the international world. I’m very open and I think it’s an interesting idea. We live in a mixed world – I myself am of Greek origin, raised in France, Franco-American today – and it is a good idea of the French president to want to show that.”
“From what I’m told, it’s Aya Nakamura who will sing and it’s the president who chose her. She certainly has talent. She is also very successful in the world. But I don’t know her,” comments Catherine Glavas.
Also read: Patrick Bruel: “I would be delighted to hear Aya Nakamura sing Édith Piaf”
The two women were asked to agree to the use of Piaf songs as part of the ceremonies for the Paris Olympic Games. Although almost all recordings are now in the public domain, the texts can still be subject to copyright which runs up to 70 years after the death of the lyricist. Catherine Glavas thus explains to Le Parisien that she gave her “agreement” to “use for free with a new orchestration and a singer” L’Hymne à l’amour, one of Piaf’s flagship songs. “Without giving us a name,” she explains. I obviously accepted, it’s so magnificent to open the Paris Olympics with Edith. This moves me a lot.”
According to Le Parisien, the organizing committee for the Paris Olympics also made contacts for the use of La Vie en rose, another flagship title by Edith Piaf. “It’s quite logical, because it’s Edith’s most famous song in the world,” recalls Catherine Glavas. Grace Jones actually did a fantastic version of it. In his style. So why not give it to Aya Nakamura? I would just like to hear him sing before the ceremony, to see what it sounds like. »
