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What Can I Do? (Edith Piaf song)
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Wikipedia article
'"What Can I Do?"' ('"Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai?"') is a French popular song composed in 1947 by Henri Betti with the lyrics by dith Piaf.[http://www.chansonsretros.com/index.php?param1=BO00654.php 'Chansons Retros'] The English lyrics were written in 1949 by Harold Rome.
Story
In 1947, dith Piaf and Yves Montand had just quit amicably and dith Piaf had written the lyrics of a song in memory of their love story whose departure was "Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai tant l'aimer que a me donne envie de crier!". She asked Henri Betti to put the music on his lyrics inspired by the style of Yves Montand.
When they finished writing the song, Henri Betti left to propose it to Yves Montand and he also proposed to him "C'est si bon" that he had written with the lyrics of Andr Hornez at the same time "Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai?" and registered at the SACEM the same day (18 August 1947).
On November 3, 1947, Yves Montand recorded the song with Jean Marion and his Orchestra[http://www.encyclopedisque.fr/disque/66625.html 'Encyclopdisque'] but before recording it in the studio, he sang the song at the Thtre de l'toile on 9 October 1947. On 6 October 1958, he recited the song at the Thtre de l'toile with Bob Castella and his Orchestra.
In 1959, he sang the song for the concert 'An Evening with Yves Montand' presented at the Henry Miller's Theatre from September 22 to October 31. In 1961, he sang the song for another concert presented at the John Golden Theatre from October 24 to December 16.
Cover versions
On January 5, 1948, Bernard Hilda recorded the song with his Orchestra. On the other side of the disk, he recorded "C'est si bon".
On May 20, 1948, Henri Betti performed the song on the piano on the radio program 'Un quart d'heure avec' where he also performed "Dictionnaire" (lyrics by Jacques Pills) and "La Chanson du Maon" (lyrics by Maurice Chevalier and Maurice Vandair).
On September 27, 1948, Raymond Girerd recorded the song with Louis Ledrich and his Orchestra. On the other side of the disc is recorded "C'est si bon" by Maria Sandrini with Louis Ledrich and his Orchestra.
In 1949, Yvonne Blanc recorded the song on the piano. On the other side of the disk, she also recorded on the piano "C'est si bon".
In 1950, Nila Cara recorded the female version of the song, always with lyrics by dith Piaf, for the album 'Les Chanteuses de la Place Pigalle'.
In 1958, Lo Chauliac recorded the song with his Orchestra for the album '25 ans de succs'.
In 1960, Roland Bourque recorded the song on the piano for the album 'Piano Moods la Franaise'.
In 1963, Henri Leca recorded a medley of music with his Orchestra for the album 'Surprise-Partie Monstre' where he also recorded a medley of three other musics composed by Henri Betti: "La Polka des Barbus", "C'est si bon", and "Matre Pierre".
In 1965, Raymond Berthiaume recorded the song with Roger Gravel and his Orchestra for the album 'L'inoubliable'. In 1958, he recorded "C'est si bon" with his instrumental group Les 3 Bars for the album 'Rver'. In 1993, he re-recorded "Mais qu'est-ce que j'ai ?" for the album 'Les Grands Succs'.
In 1974, Bruno Lorenzoni recorded the song with his Orchestra for the album 'Danse avec Moi' where he also recorded "C'est si bon" and "La Chanson du maon".
In 1985, Nelly Gustin sang the song with Robert Quibel and his Orchestra at the TV show 'Th Dansant' hosted by Charles Level.
In 1993, Stphane Chomont sang the song with Jean Sala and his Orchestra at the TV show 'La Chance aux chansons' hosted by Pascal Sevran.
In 2013, Clark Baxtresser recorded the song playing the Wurlitzer electric piano.
In 2015, Lambert Wilson recorded the song with the musical arrangements by Bruno Fontaine for the album 'Wilson chante Montand'.
In 2020, Tssia Minuzzo recorded the song with accordion accompaniment. The next year, she performed it with guitar accompaniment at the Centro Cultural 25 de Julho on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the creation of the association.
Adaptation
In 1949, Harold Rome wrote the English lyrics and the song is recorded in March 1950 by Madelyn Russell with Mitch Miller and his Orchestra. The title song became "What Can I Do?".
Filmography
In 1951, the narrator of 'Compositeurs et Chansons de Paris' hums the song and he also hums "La Chanson du Maon", "Le Rgiment des mandolines", and "C'est si bon".
In 1953, the melody of the song is played by an orchestra in 'Soyez les bienvenus' in which the melodie of "C'est si bon" is also played.
Anecdotes
In 1925, a song with the same title was written by Henri Christin (music) and Rip (lyrics) for Marie Dubas who performed in the operetta 'P.L.M' played at the Thtre des Bouffes-Parisiens.
In 1993, another song with the same title was written and performed by Christian Vidal.
References
Category:1947 songs
Category:Yves Montand songs
Category:French songs
Category:Songs with music by Henri Betti
Category:Songs with lyrics by dith Piaf
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